Gladiator63

This city is just plain fantastic! I have always said, if I was ever to ‘get lost’ anywhere, and stay, I would choose Amsterdam! It is a wonderful, colorful place, with very friendly people and great food, low crime rates (So I have been told) and lots to do….from a simple bicycle ride through town, to a canal boat ride, to the trolly, to a cafe or the Red Light District…i would safely say that you could not be bored when visiting Amsterdam. I am sure it might get boring if you lived there, but visiting Amsterdam is positively wonderful. My wife has never been there, so I certainly plan on going one day with her…A great place!

Rumors? They probably are all true! There is not much that you cannot do here in the Red Light District of Amsterdam….for a fee. The “workers” are indeed licensed, with regular health certificates…. It is a pretty interesting place, but i mention it only at high risk of personal danger…if my wife finds out i am talking about it, I will be beaten! This place, of course, I visited prior to being married! My suggestions…Bring only your imagination and the necessary funds, and enjoy!

My father & family left Italia, to come to the USA, from Napoli. While the Guerriero family is originally from Parma, they were more recently in Napoli before leaving the Motherland to come to the states. I have been there many times. Generally, most people are disappointed with Napoli, viewing it as a dirty city, and of course it cannot be compared to Roma, or to the Amalfi Coast, but it is still a great city on the Med, with lots of great food, cathedrals, and a short driving distance to Pompeii, the Amalfi Coast, and many other great places in Italia! Ciao!

GUERRIERO

roma…..In my opinion, perhaps the greatest city on earth! Although my family, the Guerrieros are originally from Parma, my father’s family is more recently from Naploi and my mother’s family is more recently from Bari. However, and my wife agrees, Roma is the most fantastic city there is! Ancient history, magnificient art, right in the middle of a bustling metropolis congestes with thousands of scooters and gelato slurping tourists. In Roma, you can enojy the ancient while having the comforts of the modern. There is simply nothing that a city could possibly offer that cannot be found in Roma. Every time I go back i feel like I am coming home. My wife and I hope to retire to Roma, or the outerlying area. I have stayed in a villa 20 minutes north of Roma, in a nice small town, with Roma close by…who could ask for anything more. If you go anywhere in your life, go to Roma!

The Hermitage is a magnificent art museum. Second only to the Louvre, in my humbe opinion. Plan on 2 days to fully take in all the beautiful art and Russian history as well….Right down to the gold plated troika embedded with jewels, and the old, ornate Russian suits of Armor. A “must-see” for the art lover!

GUERRIERO

saint Petersburg, Russia! I have been there so many times i lost count. I first went there in 1994 with a group of physicians, for study at the I.P Pavlov Medical Institute…while I was there i fell in love, and 7 years I was engaged to be married to Julia, who was born and raised there. She works in Administration at the hospital there. St. Petersburg is a very unique, beautiful city, rich with history. The Romanov family was there, long ago… Peter the Great had his palace on the Neva…(it is now The Hermitage, a fantastic art museum, second only, in my humble opinion, to the Louvre!), Catherine had her beautiful blue palaces there too….it is the city where Czar Nicholas Romanov, Alexandra and family were shot to death, after the Bolshivik Revolution. Now at the site of their deaths, is a beautiful cathedral with exceptional mosiacs on the exterior, called the “Chaple on Spilled Blood” or something close to that… The Neva is big and beautiful, and it is an experience never to forget, White Nights in St. Petersburg, the bridges over the Neva are raised, wonderful festivals, music, dancing…. The people of St. Petersburg are mostly very kind and friendly (for Russians) and although much of the city reflects the ruins of communism, there is so much to see and do, a great experience…I would have loved it there even without Julia.. As for Julia, it’s a long story, things never worked out for her to leave Russia because she could not take Alexandra, her daughter, away… Again, long story, but forgetting matters of the heart, St. Petersburg should be on anyone’s list if they love to travel to places rich in culture, tradition, art, history. Just be prepared to eat cucumbers, and dont drink the local Vodka!

Ciao!

GUERRIERO

The Tour is fantastic! I think everyone should experience (Physically capable, of course) using both the stairs and the elevator, as both provide unique views and experiences. I am glad that i have climbed the stairs of Tour Eiffel already, since i cant do that anymore (I have had 7 knee surgeries and now have an artificial knee)... Anyway, the views from the top are fantastic! It is a MUST for anyone anywhere near Paris!

Ciao

Gladiator63

The entryway, i think, is kind of tacky, especially considering the priceless art inside. However, you just cant go anywhere near paris and not spend a day or two in the Louvre! I personally think you just cant fully enjoy the whole museum in just one day. I could spend an entire day just with the sculptures alone! (And I am no “refined, high culture god”!) I dont particularly like Paris that much, but a visit to the Louvre makes up for the rudeness of the people there.

I was last in Pompeii with my Wife 2 years ago. This should be a MUST SEE place for anyone who enjoys travel! This was a thriving city in 79 AD when Mt. Vesuvius eripted and destroyed the city. There is simply too much to say about this beautiful, historic place. Plan for 2 days in Pompeii if you really want to experience the real city and what life could have possibly been like in 79 AD. Be sure to spend the few extra Euros and get the travel phones that tell you about each place in the city that you visit. The place is phenomenal! You wont believe how advanced the city life was for 2000 years ago! This was one of my Wife’s most favorite places in Italia, and we will be going back for sure! Enjoy!

Ciao

Gladiator63

Paris, in my past experience, has always been associated with romance. I do not find much romance in this large and rather dirty city. The locals are generally rude to Americans and it can be quite difficult to even get a waiter to place ice cubes in your glass of soda. However, the historical sights are a must for the travel-inclined. Seeing the Eiffle (Spelling?) tower, going up the elevator and down the stairs, is a must. From the top of the tower you can see the whole city, and imagine Lindburg flying his airplane there many years ago. The food is great but getting a seat on the sidewalk along famous streets like Champs… is difficult, but worht the wait. I have found some of the best chocolate in the world in a small shop in Paris. Be sure to take the dinner boat ride down the Seine (again, not sure of the spelling) and of course, at least 2 days is required to properly visit the Louvre, which is magnificient, better than the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, Russia. I generally found Paris to be disappointing, but still think it is worth the trip to see the historical sites and palaces, and enjoy some of the good food and local wines. As for the french people, it seems that they have quickly forgotten that without Americans, they would most porbably be speaking German today. As they say….Do you know why there are so many trees in France?....So that the Germans can march in the shade!.... A little joke but not too unrealistic.