3514 Italian Riviera on TV

Cheers, Brendan!

Always interested in watching those programmes... excellent entertainment with the added 'slagging-off' factor! ;)

Stef,

Don't you have a day job? I know one of the criticisms of the dissidents was that they seemed to spend all their time here but from what I can gather you are either here at the forum discussing Italy, sitting with a book reading about Italy or sitting in front of the television viewing travel programmes.

Or perhaps you are multitasking! When I was a child we used to travel to (amongst other places) Spain on family holidays towing a trailer tent!

On one such trip, a German family helped us out with a burst tyre and at a barbecue supper afterwards, very efficiently rustled up by the same German family, my father remarked: "you know you Germans are a remarkably capapble people". The other side to that coin Stef is that you must learn to be compassionate to those who are not up to your level.

:) :)

Getting back into my box now... ;)

Yup I'm multitasking... on lunch now and manage to hop on here during the day when it's quiet.

Just remember - I'm doing this coz I had just similar experiences when I first moved to the UK. Lots of new things to learn but luckily I was fluent in the language - otherwise I probably wouldn't have dared (and still wouldn't dare move to Italy as my Italian's not up to scratch yet)...

Don't get me wrong... I do feel sorry for people who made lots of efforts but still things didn't work out. It's just others who have no idea, often haven't even been to an area they suddenly want to move to, haven't researched local custom, don't speak the language and find themselves, much to their own surprise, in difficult situations.

I found myself in many tricky traps 9 years ago and had to learn some things the hard way. Suppose someone would've smirked about me then... :D

[quote=brendangfc][LEFT]The Italian Riviera is featured on one of tonight's editions of A Place in the Sun (Channel 4, 8.30pm) if anyone is interested.:)
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[LEFT]Managed to catch some of it last night. Never been to the area but I thought San Remo looked very nice.

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The scenery inland looked lovely too... Not a fan of overcrowded beaches, though.

I very vaguely remember San Remo. Back in the late 80s, I was on a 4 day coach tour staying in Alassio and visiting San Remo, Monte Carlo & Nice. It was early March but we sat outside basking in warm sunshine in our T-shirts while leaving our jumpers in the cases.

I only really remember the casino in Monte Carlo (we stuck out like sore thumbs) and sitting outside a cafe (in Alassio I think), sipping cappuccino (in the afternoon!!!) and watching the world go by - while I was annoying a poor, though flirty, waiter with my basic Italiano! :D

But yet again it was a couple who just wanted to be on the telly and had no intentions of buying!!

As our place is in this area and we had very similar criteria when looking our instant reaction was they won't get what they are looking for with that budget and surprise, surprise...

What made it worse was that they had supposedly already been on 4 househunting visits, in which case they already knew what they could and couldn't get:mad:

Anyway, at least it showed we have the best views, the best climate and the best coastal towns in Western Liguria:p Marche, Puglia et al...where are you now;)

Frankly - what a pair of 'plonkers', and they didn't see the best of the inland villages. Yes Brendanflc, we do have the best, and they missed a lot of it too! Though further inland there are many places where the prices are lower, like our region of northern Liguria, Imperia valley. It is only relatively recently that this area has 'opened up' with the building of better roads. At one time not more that 20yrs ago it was a day's journey to get north of Pieve di Teco, so I'm told. As a result of that fish rarely appears on any menus, and there is no fish mongers in Pieve either. Interesting?!

I agree they were a couple of plonks. The lass was - absolutely rightly - concerned about Esme, their little one - so surely this could have been communicated to the programme makers beforehand; certainly it did not seem to be the case. Whether it would have made a blind bit of difference is very debatable. They certainly seemed more in love with the dream of living in Italy, while not seeming able to come to terms with the reality. How often have we seen this, wherever the couple in question want to move to?

I must admit I toyed with the idea of looking for a place in Italy a number of years back, before family problems knocked it totally on the head. Would I have been any different? I like to think I would have been... but who knows?

Certainly the programme failed to capture the variety and charm of the area. Not terribly knowledgeable about the cachet of different areas either. A pretty superficial chase around with a few close ups. Of course not very easy to find location and space at a reasonable budget either. It probably won't send hoards of people house hunting in Western Liguria :rolleyes:

I think the problem was their low budget coupled with the wish to be near the beaches! Hmmm what do you expect?

Flats in the towns near beaches without gardens weren't right... no idea why she didn't like balconies. You can make them child safe. And the 'remote' villages (25 mins drive from the sea) weren't right either...

I was not surprised in the end that 5 trips to the area (4 on their own plus 1 with the film crew) didn't bring any results.

Can't remember the name of a village shown built onto a steep hill - but it looked gorgeous!!

Apricale is indeed gorgeous - it is the Ligurian "most beautiful village" - but its magic wasn't really caught - I'm not quite sure why... surprised to hear it was 25 minutes to the sea. I would put it at 15 -20.

Interestingly all the properties were in very good condition, quite stylish or newly renovated; so in that respect were quite reasonably priced for the area. Something that might require a little more work might be less expensive.

Thank you, Cassini!

It looked stunning enough in those couple of minutes... :)

I think they weren't looking for a property to do up, but rather use straight away. Shame really...

I watched it to and thought the same, they found fault with every property they were shown and for a small budget in that area they were after somewhere with outside space too...:o Did you catch the program before in Spain. Now I liked this couple and they put an offer in for an old bakery which at the time of offer they were seriously and excitedly considering becoming part of the community and keeping the bakery running. Two months later they got the keys but the owners son had decided to keep and move the machinery to other premises, they did seem relieved at that though, but at least one of their main criteria was to be part of the community. Good on em.:D

Apricale has an interesting virtual presence on the web. Here is a link to its website. Its museum is particularly interesting.

[url]http://www.apricale.org/it/index.asp[/url]

It is a place we know well; it forms part of the panorama from our house and land.

Cassini,

What a lovely website... it'll give me plenty of chances to read in Italian! ;)

Envy you for having such a gorgeous panorama from your home... :)

Grazie!

Just wondered if anyone knows anything about Castello Devachan in San Remo - saw a studio for sale there and although I know bit about prices, having sold higher up in mountains, just wondered how on earth to find out whether the price asked is at all realistic ! The agent was at UK shows etc and seems Ok but just wondered, I can't afford to be "had" !!
I know some people hate it but it's so easy to get to without a car !
Grateful for any info thanks.:)

You could ask a Geometra to do a valuation for you. They usually compare other recently sold properties.

Many thanks - I now have to find the e mail of someone who was recommended !