EternalCity1,

How do you "Set up my "Photo Bucket" account to upload my photos of Rome from an internet portal." Please advise.

Here is my "to-do"list: I will pack two extra passport photos. My husband will keep mine in his wallet and vice versa. A regular size of photo of my family; a map of USA and my city to share with new friends that I will meet. Address labels of friends and relatives that I plan to send postcards. Walk at least two miles every day. Most of all, practice my happy face.

OuisParis,

Thanks for the TSA release, that's good to know!

Discover,

It's easy, go to: PhotoBucket.com sign up, it's free, and practice uploading and downloading pictures from your camera before you go...

A friend showed me this site and told me that there are several companies that do this. I just found out about it last week!

Pinksoda,

I like your jet-lag cure with the exception that I'd probably fall asleep during the process! The James Bond accessories are a must! (you probably shop at Sharper Image)...

:-)

Great topic and very helpful info -

I am taking a card reader and memory stick for picture storage. The B and B I'm staying has a computer for our use and my plan is to upload pics to the computer and then download them on the memory stick for safe (backup) storage. I plan on using a couple of memory cards too - just in case. As mentioned by someone else I'm always a little paranoid using the same card for the entire trip.

Of course....best laid plans.....if the above doesn't work I know there are lots of places to make a CD of pics, so that is another option for backup.

Also, have back up prescriptions from our doctor in the event something happens to our RX bottles.

Question - I know about the rules of liquids on carry on, but if I'm correct, can't you take larger amounts in your checked luggage?

23 days and counting..........

Just thought of one other hint -

Take a picture of your luggage and keep it with you in case of any lost luggage problems. Also, remember to pack light and keep in mind your bag can't weigh more than 50 lbs. I know in our past travels, we never wore half the clothes we took.

My sister learned last year how little one needs when travelling. They were taking a Baltic cruise and were starting their journey in Copenhagen (via Heathrow in London). They flew out on the day when you couldn't take ANY carry on's and could only take what you needed in a plastic bag. Their luggage was lost the entire trip (along with 500 others on the cruise). Can you imagine having only the clothes you are wearing and nothing else.

Luckily they had travel insurance and re-imbursed for the little clothing, necessaties they purchased.

They realized what little they really needed for their travels.

It also taught them a lesson - when you see someone possibly not in the appropriate attire for dinner, etc. - maybe they have lost their luggage and that is all they have!

The rec'd their luggage one week after they returned home. Everything was there, including jewelry, camera, purse, etc. She said from now one she's wearing two pair of underwear when she leaves for a trip!!

For the record, our hotel was indeed upscape. Washcloths are just not commonly used in Italy. Similarly, no doubt Europeans miss having a bidet when they travel in the US as they are rare here.

Pinksoda, the Brisk Brew is just like any other coffee pot but it makes just one cup. It comes with its own cup and tiny compartment for sugar and milk/cream. About the size of a fat paperback. It's not the greatest coffee ever made but...it's COFFEE.

Whoops---meant "upscale".

EternalCity -

In regard to PhotoBucket, I'm more familiar with Shutterfly (received pictures from friends, but never used it myself) - do you know if they do the same thing or is PhotoBucket better, or does it have more options? Also, how do you set it up for the Rome internet portal? I looked up the website, but didn't register and wasn't sure where to go for all of this. Sorry, I'm a little computer illiterate, this will be my first trip using a digital camera so some of this language is foreign to me. Thanks for any help.

Allison57, thanks for info. Where can I buy the Brisk Brew? Do you need an adapter? Do you take your own loose coffee or are there little pre-packaged packets of coffee?

EternalCity: Alas, I live in an antique world and have not been in a sharper image store in many years, but if they had those Lotte Lenya shoes..... I do, however, have some antique travel items, but I believe they are intended more for the trunks-sailing-for-Europe-on-luxury-ship type of trip, which I've never done. But they are fun. The silver art deco flask with the rotting cork would leak one's cognac onto one's satin dancing shoes. You know what I mean.

Pinksoda

Quiltmaker,

Shutterfly might have this service as well, I don't think PhotoBucket is unique... I just signed up and uploaded a picture from my computer and then downloaded it and deleted it as a test. It took me about 5 minutes to figure it out, it's very intuitive.

By "internet portal" I mean a place where you can rent time on a computer to check email etc. There are lots of them in Rome and they're inexpensive although sometimes a little drab.

Pinksoda,

When my wife's great-grandparents went to Rome in the 1920s they took a grand piano with them... talk about not packing lightly! Of course that's the way you traveled then and they were to be in Rome for a few years so why not, eh?