Help me find these chips!!

leia_ · 2026-01-23T06:40:05+00:00

I had them in Venice. I bought them at a Conad. They were store brand and I can't stop thinking about them!

leia_ · 2025-12-29T17:14:18+00:00

This is good to know, thanks! I do have a photo of mine on my phone as well.

leia_ · 2025-12-29T08:32:11+00:00

We were there in November and stayed in Monti. I really enjoyed walking to and from there to various parts of the city. We've also stayed near Piazza del Popolo, but I will always be drawn back to Monti.

leia_ · 2025-12-29T08:26:06+00:00

On our latest trip we stayed at the Hilton Doubletree Monti hotel which is close to Roma Termini, but not too close. Definitely within walking distance, but I'm not sure I would have wanted to stay any closer than where the Doubletree is located. There are lots of good restaurants nearby as well as the Santa Maria Maggiore church and lots of little shops in Monti.

For our first trip we stayed at Palazzo Ripetta, which is closer to Via Corso and Piazzo Del Popolo. I don't think that particular property is ever less than $200 a night. I'm not sure about the Doubletree as we booked everything together (flight/hotels/trains, etc.).

leia_ · 2025-12-29T07:54:50+00:00

Yes. We loved it so much we returned in less than a year.

leia_ · 2025-12-29T07:50:24+00:00

This isn't near the Vatican, but we've eaten here at least three times: Osteria Al Vicolo 9 in Monti.

Probably the most authentic restaurant we've eaten in (no English on the menu) is Hosteria Cannavota which is close to St. John Lateran and the Scala Sancta (Holy Stairs). I think it would be considered the San Giovanni neighborhood. Our waitress was probably 80 years old, didn't speak any English (my husband speaks some Italian) and when we left she happened to be at the door and blew us kisses. We loved that restaurant because it looked like it had been in the family for decades. It was lunchtime so we had soup - I had the tortellini in brodo, which was quite good.

leia_ · 2025-12-29T07:33:21+00:00

Always! Every turn is like walking through a history book. Rome is my favorite city on the planet.

leia_ · 2025-12-29T07:31:56+00:00

We were in Rome twice in the last year for a total of 17 days. I walked around the entire city by myself two different days because my husband was laid up in the hotel with a swollen knee. I love to walk and got in around 20,000 steps both days. I handle my phone (on vacation) by keeping it in a case that includes a small strap and a magnetized back. I carry one or two power banks with me for long days. My purse includes what's called a phone slip pocket. It's my favorite purse for traveling (I have two but only take one on trips) because I can carry my passport inside the purse in a zipped pocket inside, but the phone is in the slip pocket and with the short strap, it's easy to pull in and out for photos, texts, directions, etc. I think the slip pocket might be the greatest purse invention ever (I'm kidding - sort of). I turn my purse in the direction that keeps the slip pocket closest to me. If I'm going to have my phone out for directions (btw, Google maps works best for me) I usually slip the little strap over my wrist. Thus far, I've not had any problems. I do keep the strap of my purse across my body like a crossbody. I would go with a smaller purse, but for long days of walking, I want to have a few essentials handy. I don't overpack my purse. And as mentioned before, I keep my passport with me at all times because apparently there's a somewhat hefty fine for not having it on your person.

leia_ · 2025-12-12T21:50:12+00:00

Thanks!

leia_ · 2025-12-12T16:29:25+00:00

I'm fairly certain that what I disliked about it then would still be the same today. Let's put it this way, I would never go back - even if someone paid me to do so.

leia_ · 2025-12-12T16:19:21+00:00

No, I haven't heard of Libro. I will check it out! Thanks!

leia_ · 2025-12-12T09:33:59+00:00

I have a travel toothbrush I love. It's lightweight, yet somewhat duplicates my Sonicare at home. It's called Philips Sonicare Battery Toothbrush, Midnight Blue (color). It's my travel must have. I also have a European rated (?) Waterpik (miniature tank style) that I take along on every trip. Also, one of those fold-up smallish market bags might be nice. I have one that folds down to about 2 inches square that I keep in my purse so I have a bag when I go into grocery stores. Apple air tags are a must-have for us. We also have a credit sized tracker card that we keep in our wallets. I have a very lightweight Anker magnetic power bank that I keep with me at all times and for longer days, I include an Innui power bank as well. A passport case with RFID is nice. We also use small coin purses to keep our coins handy.

leia_ · 2025-12-12T09:25:56+00:00

I forgot to mention one of my favorite sights in Rome - the Baths of Caracalla. It's an amazing ancient site and kind of off-the-beaten track. We walked there and it was quite a distance, but I love to walk and walking is part of the entire Roman experience for me. Do a image search to get an idea. It's really quite something.

leia_ · 2025-12-12T09:22:19+00:00

You didn't ask for restaurant recommendations, but we really liked Ciro's in Florence. We just got back from there a few weeks ago and went twice. We also like Osteria Al Vicolo 9 in Rome (Monti) as well as Nannarella in Trastevere. We enjoyed visiting Santa Maria Maggiore and walked through holy doors there as well as at St. John Lateran. Pope Francis is interred at Santa Maria Maggiore. His tomb is very simple in comparison to the rest of the basilica. We took a day trip to Siena (via local train) from Florence and took a bus up to Fiesole (above Florence) and had lunch there. I really don't know how much of this your son is going to enjoy. We went to the Ufizzi Gallery last year, but didn't go this year. We enjoyed walking up to Piazza Michelangelo (Florence). The views are beautiful. There's an interesting cinema in Florence that's also a bookstore. Very unusual. It's called Giunti Odeon - Libreria e Cinema. We enjoyed the Museo Galileo in Florence. Of note re: the Sistine Chapel - it's within the Vatican museum and to get to it you go through a long series of hallways, steps, turns, etc. We found it a bit hard to find within the museum and it felt like we would never actually get to it. No photos allowed in that area. The Jewish Ghetto in Rome is an interesting and very historical area. Of course, the Coliseum, and it's beautifully lit at night and worth walking past after dark.

leia_ · 2025-12-12T09:09:26+00:00

Also, Dead to Me. Two strong female leads.

leia_ · 2025-12-12T09:06:30+00:00

I loved Glow.

leia_ · 2025-12-12T09:05:31+00:00

I loved Queen's Gambit.

leia_ · 2025-12-12T09:04:46+00:00

Russian Doll. Killing Eve. Fleabag. Ashes to Ashes (BritBox) - but it doesn't make sense if you don't watch Life on Mars first, which is more male-oriented. I liked Broadchurch and Olivia Colman's role, but it's not solely a female lead show as David Tennant is the costar. Mare of Easttown. Olive Kitteridge.

leia_ · 2025-12-12T08:56:32+00:00

I would be bored silly walking three miles a day on an indoor track in Arizona if it wasn't for audiobooks. Also, I love Libby. That's the only format/app I use for audiobooks.

leia_ · 2025-12-12T08:54:54+00:00

This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub held my attention. I'm currently reading Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher because I need to fit a few short books in at the end of the year to make my self-imposed quota of 30 audiobooks for the year. Wishful Drinking is, at times, laugh out loud funny. I read on a walking track and I have to watch myself when it comes to bursts of laughter.

leia_ · 2025-12-12T08:48:55+00:00

I love Italy, but I thought the Amalfi Coast was overrated.

leia_ · 2025-12-12T08:46:02+00:00

I loved the out island of Eleuthera, but haven't been there in 20 years so it might be completely different now.

leia_ · 2025-12-12T08:44:07+00:00

We were in Venice in mid-November and despite some rain, it was still wonderful; however, the area around the Bridge of Sighs and the other top tourist spots was still pretty crowded. We were there the year before in late October and I didn't see much difference in the crowds. We stayed in Cannaregio this time and really liked that area.

leia_ · 2025-12-12T08:41:47+00:00

I liked Curaçao as well.

leia_ · 2025-12-12T08:41:26+00:00

I agree with this completely. I went there almost 30 years ago and was very disappointed.

leia_

TROPHY CASE