Wanted in Rome

What a wonderful weekend! If you're in my area, can I encourage you to come to the MayFest on Saturday evening? Can't wait to see the Powderpuff game!

There are several magazines out there which offer information for tourists/locals, about the fun events, exhibits, and other opportunities in La Bella Citta. One you can only pick up in print form, while in Rome: Roma Che - way better than any Dallas informational magazine out there!

But my favorite website, when it comes to keeping up on the goings-on, is Wanted in Rome: www.wantedinrome.com . I learned about this magazine the first summer I lived in Rome, to study with Father Reginald Foster - several of my classmates arrived to Rome without any accommodations booked for our 8-week stay (incredible!), and used the magazine to find apartments for rent. Since then, I've found great appreciation for the "What's On" and "News" sections, as I plan for my group's best experience every year in Rome. It's how I knew where to find the "Ocean's 12" cast's trailers (we met them as they returned for their lunch break), and where to find some great spots for pictures of the Versace displays, when he celebrated his birthday a few years ago.

Did you see? They're working on restoring the Colosseum! Just for our visit next year! So kind of them to think of us!

Feel free to check out this fun website - maybe you, too, will find some fun apartment for rent, or might look into one of those job availabilities (can't tell you how many times I've read into the "English Teacher Wanted" ads)!

peace,

Laura :)

Booking Flights for March 2012

Can you believe we're already within the realm of flight booking? Ah, time's going to fly . . .

While SPI is looking into getting group reservations for a flight (so that you can be assured that your child is traveling with me), I know that some of you were planning to book your own flights, whether by miles or with a specific carrier. Even my own mom just booked her flight, which reminded me to mention some parameters to keep in mind:

Arrival into Rome on Sunday, March 11:

1. Try to arrive into FCO (Fiumicino/Leonardo da Vinci - the major airport in Rome goes by a few names . . . NOT Ciampino, the regional airport) on Sunday morning, March 11, before 11 AM. Most flights arrive from the US in a few shifts: 7 AM hour, 9 AM hour, and 11 AM hour.

2. This will probably have you departing from a major airport (Chicago O'Hare, JFK, Atlanta, Boston are the usual ones) in the early evening on Saturday, March 10. Always allow for decent connection times - don't want to be without bags during your week in Italy!

Return on Saturday, March 17:

3. The most comfortable departure time is around 11 AM or noon to 2 PM, which will get you home around dinnertime or afterwards - ideal for fighting jetlag - the less time you have to stay awake when you get home, the better.

As soon as SPI has found the chosen flight (based on ideal price and itinerary), I will inform you of this! But if you're planning to book your own flights, I'd suggest you start looking NOW - they're filling up!!! Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have questions regarding this!

HUGS,

Laura :)