A public Thank You to Ron in Rome

Ron...no A/C?...in Rome?....pazzo americano...:)

I would like also like to thank Ron...but let's not forget Claire, Kent, Jona and Andreas as well. They have made this board incredibly responsive, timely and relevant.

Thanks Mary for the acknowledgment... and I think Bill is right on the mark! There are MANY FOLKS who contribute regularly to this board including Claire, Kent, Patrick, Frank, Larry, Pat, Doug, Jona, Andreas, Michael ... and too many others to name! I keep a Word document detailing their contributions and I learn SO MUCH... those posts help me LEARN/ENJOY more opportunities here in Italy!

Claire and I are very fortunate to be living here in Italy so our responses may be more timely... and on occasion we can run down the street and check something out for a poster - a great advantage! I've met many RS folks here in ROME and have enjoyed their enthusiasm and excitement - it's infectious!

Thanks again - Ciao, Ron

---- P.S. for those of you coming over in the next week or so... it is 97'F at our apartment today in Rome (the apt without AC!). So dress accordingly, as it's terribly hot these past two days! I know we have scaled back some of our plans. Yes, I AM wearing shorts downtown and we're carrying our water bottles!

I too want to thank Ron, it is GREAT having a " man on the street " so to speak , a prividlidge to have someone right there !!

Ron I have heard about the heat wave,, yikes. I must say one my main memories of my sole trip to Rome years ago was the HEAT!! And it is the one thing I dread about my return visit this July, but heck , Rome is worth roasting for I suppose! LOL

And thanks to everyone who makes the Helpline a special little corner of the internet. Some of those who have been around the Helpline awhile now are:Tim-MinotLarry-ElkGroveKen-VernonNorm-OttawaMichael-NewPaltzMichelle-OCSwanSamSnCLNancy-BloomingtonLee-DenverAdam-BostonDoug-PortlandBGDavid -PortlandJS-WCrkTim-KnoxvilleJona-ParisAndreas-FrankfurtRon,RomeClaire-BergamoTom-WashDCTom-NewportBeachPat-VictoriaFrank-CentennialFrank-USAFrank-WilmingtonSharon -AtlantaAl-NottinghamRon-MissouriBob-GettysburgJCBill-San LeandroRegina-LaFrette sur SeineisailtheseasMartineBradMichael -NewportBeachJack-SheboyganMichael-SeattleHelen-MelbourneSusan-CorteMaderaSusan-AtlantaFlight AttendantEliPat-WichitaPaulnSarahPerryCharles-HonoluluPamela-MadisonCharles-KatyMary Ann-NY/NJPaul-NetcongPaul-CedarJedJarrodJeff-BendAlan-BrightonGelaMartin-ShorelineDebra -LACeidlehBeatrixHenry-WichitaChere-KelsoGeoffClaregirlChris-AnchorageSally-LittletonToni-CharlotteJill-KailuaKaren-AtlantaLaurel-KirklandRobin-LondonRuss-ParadiseEric-ArdmorePatrick- ArkansasLiz-SnohomishMiss BJim-SlidellPat-WodongaElizabeth-StLouisLeslie HLaneJon-PortlandMarie-WilmingtonDenise-LakeForestNorma-MontrealBea-OHJB-AntiochMark-FLLinda-Somonauk

Yes Frank, Very Crazy American!!!

We're moving downtown Friday, and again, the new apartment has NO AC. But this time we have windows on both sides so we will get a cross-breeze. AC is a luxury item in many Italian communities and is "troppo caro!!!"

Ciao from hot & steamy Rome,
(where it's a wonderful 81' F at 10:15 PM)

Ron

I'm curious, Ron. Has that hot weather finally pushed the Italian men to start wearing shorts?

Kent, you are brillant, I could never recall all those names, although I do recoginize most of them.. you must have ( or still do ) work in accounting,, what recall.LOL

Michael,

The answer to your question is NO, not really. Many Italian men under the age of 30 do wear shorts, or the capri's (longer shorts), that are popular here. But older men STILL are NOT wearing shorts in this weather? I'm convinced Italians are on a different internal thermostat - I saw folks yesterday wearing jackets on the bus... Meanwhile, I can't shed enough clothes!

Shorts are very common in the younger set - perhaps as much as 40%... but almost everyone over 40 is in long pants. When you go into the country, the amount of shorts you see on men really drops off, despite this heat!

Ciao,
Ron

Ron, I'd also like to add my compliments! It's great to have someone "on the ground" so to speak, that can provide accurate answers on Rome and Italy.

I always enjoy reading your posts (although thinking about Italy always makes me want to return there!). I was in Rome in April for several days (staying in Trastevere) where our RS "South Italy" tour began, and had a great time!

Cheers!!

Kent's right about the shorts mentality. I even see it here in Arkansas, where local men never wore shorts, except at the beach, before 1970.

In fact, shorts on men over 50 is still somewhat rare here. It's common for us to ridicule* "Yankee" men who retire, move here, and go for their daily walks in shorts and black socks. On the whole, I'd say seeing old men in shorts looks almost as unusual to us as the socks.

*Being southerners, this ridicule is never to their faces, but behind their backs. We don't mind being two-faced, but we'd never want to offend someone!

It is hotter than Hades here, and yes, some men are wearing shorts to the supermarket. Ever since seeing this board I've become shorts obsessed.
Whoever is coming over to Italy right now be prepared, the rain is gone and it is boiling here!

Claire - sorry to hear you're having the same heat wave we are (only 92'F today here in Rome!)... I thought perhaps as far north as you were you might get spared... I cannot imagine what it's like south of Rome! I am in shorts every day... forget fashion, this is survival!

Stay cool - Ciao,
Ron

Here here to Ron and all the others. Some day I may make it on someone's list too :-)

I'd like to add my thanks to all the regulars as well (and thanks to Kent for considering me a 'regular'!). I think it's fantastic how each one has adopted a little niche and bring their own particular expertise to the boards, especially in situations we would otherwise never be able to get information about, such as Al's airline experience, F/A's cabin experience, etc.

I only hope that I can go to Europe many more times to increase my own knowledge...where's our "this is how to lower the euro" expert? ;-)

This is like watching the Academy Awards!

Well, I'm disappointed to hear about the heat wave -- after telling my kids for months about how hot it was going to be for our trip -- then, telling them that it has been cool and rainy -- well, at least I was right! (And, with kids, the value of that is not to be underestimated! ;^)

But, we're sooooooooo excited about the trip. We leave for the airport in 2 hours!

So, thanks to everyone for their help.

Leslie

I completely overlooked that my name is on the list! OK, so this inspires me to book another trip to further explore. Maybe back to Venice in December?

Ron said, "sorry to hear you're having the same heat wave we are (only 92'F today here in Rome!)..."

It's 95'F here in north Arkansas today, but the A/C is perfect, and there's ice in our drinks!

One more "atta boy" for all of those who help us with our travel concerns. I am glad to hear that the heat is finally showing up in Italy. I live in Oklahoma and just got back from a week in San Antonio. We are mid to high 90's every day (I don't do cold). We leave for our Italian venture on 07/05. Can we still expect the warmth? How about the Amalfi coast? I have checked the weather periodically and it has seemed cool (at least on the coast).

Debby

I second all the thanks for Ron, Kent, Claire, Larry et al. I also agree how hot it is! We're on a RS tour now on the way to Florence from Venice. It's been upper 80s low 90s our whole trip.

Yes, Thank you to all on Kent's list!! You are all super wonderful. I have been "flamed" a few times but I keep coming back :)

Ron, thanks for saying that you are wearing shorts!!!! My first time to Italy I did not bring shorts as everyone said that no one wears shorts in Italy. When I arrived in Rome, there were many people (and not only Americans) in shorts. People, It gets very, very hot in Italy. Why do so many people on this website say they are not acceptable (other than the not being able to enter a church)?

Well, seems like Kent should be on Kent's list, but that's up to Kent.

Next to traveling the next best thing is talking about it and thats what this is all about.Thanks to all of you,I learn somethin everyday.

Ron this is Cheryl from Boston/Danvers MA USA....It;s quite simple really--If the we all just had somewhere/someone to ask even the simplest of question without fear of being "flamed" maybe we would have world peace...I know this is kind of philosophic, But really, Life is short, Share your knowledge, and know that ALL of YOU on Kent;s list are cherished by us newbies?

Leaving for Paris on the 4th, Soriamo nel Cimino on the 12th....
Just a another newbie,
Cheryl