All About Pocket Knives

My boss was in from Italy this week and mentioned that he wants to send my family (Wife, son and I) on a trip this coming September courtesy of the company. It would be an all expense paid trip for 10 days to one of the following three places. I must make a choice...

1 - Rome, Florence
2 - London
3 - Paris

I have never been to London or Paris but have been to Rome & Florence a few years back (courtesy of the company) but it was just a one day trip to both city's and not for 10 days.

If you have an opinion or a thought I would appreciate it...I am kind of leaning toward going back to Italy again but who knows....All I know is that this weatherbeaten farmer boy has one heck of a boss...

Thanks,

Sunburst

I place them in the following order 1) Florence 2) Paris 3) London. I may be biased because of my proximity to London and my love of wine. You really can't go wrong with any of them though especially if you have not seen them before. If you go to Florence for any length of time (e.g 10 days) I recommend day trips to Pisa and Siena. Both are only an hour away by train. s-k

p.s. like your new avatar sunburst

Hey smiling-knife.

Thanks for the compliment on the avatar, I keep flip-floppin back and forth on what I have up there...Maybe I will just keep changing them every so often...

I appreciate your input on destination points, I believe at this point we are thinking Italy (Florence & Rome). Personally Paris does not do much for me in the way of wanting to go there, but that may be a slight prejudice with anything French...Those who have gone there love it and always go back....

I would love to go to London since my ancestry is traced back to England (The ancestor left England went to Ireland and crossed over to America about 1746) and so much history of what I identify with comes from England.

But we got a taste of Rome & Florence on a whirlwind 8 day tour several years ago where we stayed a night and a day in Rome and 1/2 a day in Florence that left us wanting more of those two places. My son (14 yrs old) wants to really go to London but his vote is a bit smaller in authority than Mom & Dad.

We did go to Sienna and Pisa on the fast pace tour a few years ago and Sienna stole my heart and I always wanted to spend much more time there than just a couple of hours....

We are going to research all three areas though to see how we feel after checking them out...I am just so appreciative of my employer in his generous offer and I am thankful my son can come with us to further stretch his thinking and limits...

Thanks again and if you have anything else you can think of let me know...

Regards,

Sunburst

Rome and Florence is an excellent choice. You get the variety of two major, yet different, places and the trip between the two is worthwhile in and of itself. For me, 10 days in one place, even London or Paris is too much. I like Paris for 3-4 days but that is more reasonable for me here. Definitely need to do UK and Ireland given your historical roots. 5 days in London and 5 in Ireland would be a great trip for you and your family.
If there is any information I can provide, please let me know.

Having undergone a little identity crisis in my time here, I understand the switching of the avitars. s-k

My personal choice would also be Italy. I was stationed in Naples back in 1986-87 in the Navy, and LOVED southern and central Italy. There are just so many ancient sites to explore. Paris wears on you after a while(I can only take just so many lights and snails). I did, however, enjoy a 4-day stop in London, and took a day trip to Stonehenge. That was WAAAAY COOL!! I haven't had the opportunity to travel in a couple of years, but I may have to plan a trip to Rome or Finale Ligura(Italian Riviera) later this year. Thanks for the inspiration!

calico jack: Italy is a good choice for sites, but my first
choice on the Mediterrainian would be Barcelona, Spain.

Barcelona is FANTASTIC, but in Spain, I'm partial to the Mallorcan Islands. Palma and Maggaluf are absolutly(!) the two best places. I want to die at age 85, lying in a hammock on Palma's beaches, watching the sun set, as an 18 year old seniorita feeds me grapes!!

How about you, sunburst? Have you made
that important decision? Are you leaning to any place in particular?

Hi SEVENTY,

Well without really putting a lot of research into the process yet, (work has kept me too busy to have the time) my wife and I have somewhat decided on Rome & Florence. The short time we were there a few years ago was one of the highlights of our trip and we always felt that we missed more than we had a chance to see.

It's hard to describe but for me the narrow streets with magnificent bakery's with their goods displayed is just so different than what I am used to it makes a smile automatically come to your face.

I need to go to work but I will post a picture of couple things we experienced on our last trip when I get the chance.

Thanks for asking, I like your avatar and especially like your signature take care and have a good day...

Sunburst

Excellent choice... IMO can't go wrong with Italy. When in Florence you have to try one of my all time favourite dishes... Cingale Parpedelle. Thick pasta noodles with sauce made from wild boar. It is a Tuscan classic. Wash it down with a Chianti Classico s-k

Here are a couple of pics from our one & only trip to Italy...Hopefully they are not too boring to ya'll....

Hey smiling-knife you just need to make plans and meet us there when we go...


Sunburst

sunburst
If you send me your tickets to Rome I'll send you my German switch. Being of Italian descent I always wanted to go to the old country.

Ah you gotta go !!!! Especially with your ancestry, it would be incredible for you. Do you know what part of Italy you come from??? I would literally move to Tuscany if given the chance, it's that incredible...

And this is a simple minded country boy talking here who goes through one red light on the way to work which is 45 miles one way... I like life simple....But I would still move to Tuscany...Here are another couple pics...

Oh by the way, I will pass on the knife for ticket swap...I don't want my wife cutting off my head with one of my knives...

Sunburst

Great pictures sunburst. Now I really want to go. By the way my father's Grandparents came from the north and my mother's mother came from southern Italy. So I have ties all over there.
I hope you could pick up some Italian blades while you're over there.
Anyway have a good time.

SEVENTY
It sure does seem that way.

Juswaddachewguyssayinzacly?

Bill

translation... Just what did you guys say exactly? s-k

Been to Paris and London about 20 years ago. Wouldn't mind going back. Would like to go to Italy but I'm too old. Don't get around well enough for all that sight seeing. Enjoy your trip.

How did you come across this one, Jerry?

Wow Jerry, you resurrected a 19 year old thread! An interesting one too.

I had a boss once that was fond of sending folks overseas, to one of our manufacturing sites that was having problems. He would only give you a one-way ticket. He would send the return ticket after the problem was resolved! True story.

Ken

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Thu Apr 03, 2025 2:07 am Wow Jerry, you resurrected a 19 year old thread! An interesting one too.

I had a boss once that was fond of sending folks overseas, to one of our manufacturing sites that was having problems. He would only give you a one-way ticket. He would send the return ticket after the problem was resolved! True story.

Ken

I guess, depending on the location, that could be a strong motivation to get the job done. I had a boss somewhat like that....U.S. Navy.

dlr110 wrote: ↑Thu Apr 03, 2025 9:55 am

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Thu Apr 03, 2025 2:07 am Wow Jerry, you resurrected a 19 year old thread! An interesting one too.

I had a boss once that was fond of sending folks overseas, to one of our manufacturing sites that was having problems. He would only give you a one-way ticket. He would send the return ticket after the problem was resolved! True story.

Ken

I guess, depending on the location, that could be a strong motivation to get the job done. I had a boss somewhat like that....U.S. Navy.

Makes sense. My boss was a Lt. Colonel in the Marine Corps Reserves.

Ken