- Why do the people in Rome drive so crazy? And why don't they stop when they see you are in a pedestrian zone? I told her: step out into the zone, look the drivers in the eye and they'll stop. After that, she'd remind me that she looked them in the eye and they did stop.
- Couldn't get over how beautiful the McDonald's by the Spanish Steps was.
- Would have liked to have seen St. Peter's but didn't want to wait in another line.
- Wine tastes great and she liked white better than red.
- The Italian boys were very cute. (She is a teenager, you know...)

- She absolutely loved Gelato. As do we...and her parents...and millions of others. But I go for Mango, Coconut and other exotic flavors.
- Long distance plane rides aren't that terrible and Grandma Sheila was right...it is impossible to stay nervous for 8 hours.

My fast and brief advice:

- Number One. Don't overplan the historical sights. Read a good guidebook and talk to them about what they want to do and what they are interested in. So, they'll miss something. Better that than being crabby, exhausted and hating whatever you dragged them to. Pick out only a few "must sees." We did manage to see all that Sarah and, we, wanted her to see on the list

- Number two. Bring familiar food for many reasons. Hunger attacks. They don't like what's being served. ex-Marine laughed hysterically when I threw in the microwavable package of Kraft Easy Mac'n Cheese. "What? You're bringing pasta to Italy?" But it came in handy when she ate it for breakfast.

- Try to make dry history as interesting as possible with fun facts like: decapitated heads and bodies of prisoners used to be hung from the gates of Castel Sant'Angelo; and the popes constructed an underground passage leading from Castel Sant-Angelo into the Vatican.

- The Spanish steps is a perfect location for teens and smaller children in Rome. It was also close to the Borghese Gardens with playground equipment.

- You can live in blue jeans, and comfortable shoes.

- Bring collapsible umbrellas. You'll be glad you did.

- Internet access is all-important to a teenager. Instant messaging was a blessing. First, to e-mail parents that we were alive and well and then to keep in touch with friends.

- Bring the i-Pod, magazines, gum, whatever.

Sarah thoroughly enjoyed Rome and thanked us profusely many times for everything. When we offered to buy her something special she responded, "Oh no, Grandma/Grandpa...you took me to Rome. That's enough." Because we paced the trip around her needs, "cranky" and "irritable" was kept to a minimum. Sarah also brought a different perspective to Rome. It was her sharp eyes that pointed on the yorkie sitting on his owner's foot...one little car between many Vespas....and other sights that interested her besides coming up with interesting questions. If you only have three days, take advantage of it. Please don't say...oh, but it's so far to go for just three days... It will be three days with your grandchild (or child) that you and they will never forget. You can read about big-brother Josh's experience with us in Paris a few years ago and a whitewater rafting trip on the Green River, Utah with six of our seven older grandchildren. Profuse thanks to all their parents, for letting us spirit their children on adventures without them and giving Grandpa Sonny and myself the time of our lives.

Ciao....

Family Cruises