It may be Berlusconi's birthday today, but for all of you who say to stop complaining about Berlusconi, he's been democratically elected, should read this:
Mind you, if your name is anything to go by you come from a pretty windy place yourself, no? We live in an exposed hilltop village in Liguria, which always seems to have wind. That's a positive bonus in the summer, where the breeze keeps the temperatures bearable. It does get quite draughty in the winter though, especcially as our old palazzo is not wind proof.
www.ourlunigiana.com. There's a lunch coming up on the 18th Oct and a wine tasting on the 28th (although no one apart from knows about the latter one yet...) If you register with Our Lunigiana, you get regular round-robin e-mails by anyone in the area announcing events, needing or offering help and services etc.
bunterboy, you are right about putting things into perspective, however it's not as bad as you put it. The health service in my experience is better in Italy than in the UK. One experience was waiting at A&E with my 8 year old daughter who had broken her arm for 8 hours, before just being seen by the nurse and another 2 before she saw the doctor in the UK. In contrast I have been to A&E in Italy on various occasions and never had to wait more than 15 minutes. And that as when my mother had stepped onto a sea urchin, painful but hardly life threatening.Also, whilst weather is a bonus, there are places in the world with much better weather (winter is one continous howling gale, we live on top of an exposed mountain). The weather was way down on my priority list when deciding to move here. The real difference I find is that in a place not much smaller to where we lived in Surrey, there is a real community. People talk to each other, know each other, clebrate together. In England I did'nt even know my neighbours names. With less money in my pocket I have better social life as I did in the UK. I can afford to go out for the odd meal, even if it's a €10 pranzo di lavoro, still better than a take away Chinese. During the summer there are free open air concerts (not to mention our musical neighbours breaking into spontaneous jam sessions), in Surrey, I would have had to pay expensive public transport to get into London, not to mention the taxi back, if I could find one, an expensive yet disappointing meal out and an expensive concert ticket. A night out would have cost me at least £150, now I have some nights out costing me nothing or very little.To get back to the cost comparison, yes the day to day costs of living are almost the same or possibly slightly higher in Italy, but the things that make life worth living cost less in Italy.
In the UK I worked an average 60 hours a week, but all my wages went on mortgage, bills, COUNCIL TAX, and communting. I looked at my bank account at the end of the month and wondered what I was doing all this for. Now I work when I feel like it, I don't have a mortgage, I produce my own food and I'm still skint, but hey what are you after. It sounds like you are well off! I struggle to pay for my car, I whiggle my way out of various bills. Are you sure your partner is just not happy with the way of life, the culture and all. If it's money you're after Italy is not the right place, but quality of life...
I agree with Ram. Bear in mind Tobias Jones lived in Parma, which is known as a left wing and highly politcised city with an active student population. Living out in the country you'll barely get any of that. When I lived in Northern Ireland people told me not to talk about politics (after which they ususally started talking politics). This advice may apply to Italy too, at least at the early stage of a friendship with Italians.You won't get a complete picture of Italy by reading books, so just come and try it out.
A neighbour of ours is selling his 200 sqm due to retirement. Really well looked after, top quality, including a metal shed and all the equipment right on the border to Tuscany, but still Liguria. 5 years ago he wnted €30,000 now he's down to €20,000 and might even settle for €10,000. PM me if you're interested I'll put you intouch.
Comments posted
Mind you, if your name is anything to go by you come from a pretty windy place yourself, no? We live in an exposed hilltop village in Liguria, which always seems to have wind. That's a positive bonus in the summer, where the breeze keeps the temperatures bearable. It does get quite draughty in the winter though, especcially as our old palazzo is not wind proof.
What a great idea!
www.ourlunigiana.com. There's a lunch coming up on the 18th Oct and a wine tasting on the 28th (although no one apart from knows about the latter one yet...) If you register with Our Lunigiana, you get regular round-robin e-mails by anyone in the area announcing events, needing or offering help and services etc.
bunterboy, you are right about putting things into perspective, however it's not as bad as you put it. The health service in my experience is better in Italy than in the UK. One experience was waiting at A&E with my 8 year old daughter who had broken her arm for 8 hours, before just being seen by the nurse and another 2 before she saw the doctor in the UK. In contrast I have been to A&E in Italy on various occasions and never had to wait more than 15 minutes. And that as when my mother had stepped onto a sea urchin, painful but hardly life threatening.Also, whilst weather is a bonus, there are places in the world with much better weather (winter is one continous howling gale, we live on top of an exposed mountain). The weather was way down on my priority list when deciding to move here. The real difference I find is that in a place not much smaller to where we lived in Surrey, there is a real community. People talk to each other, know each other, clebrate together. In England I did'nt even know my neighbours names. With less money in my pocket I have better social life as I did in the UK. I can afford to go out for the odd meal, even if it's a €10 pranzo di lavoro, still better than a take away Chinese. During the summer there are free open air concerts (not to mention our musical neighbours breaking into spontaneous jam sessions), in Surrey, I would have had to pay expensive public transport to get into London, not to mention the taxi back, if I could find one, an expensive yet disappointing meal out and an expensive concert ticket. A night out would have cost me at least £150, now I have some nights out costing me nothing or very little.To get back to the cost comparison, yes the day to day costs of living are almost the same or possibly slightly higher in Italy, but the things that make life worth living cost less in Italy.
In the UK I worked an average 60 hours a week, but all my wages went on mortgage, bills, COUNCIL TAX, and communting. I looked at my bank account at the end of the month and wondered what I was doing all this for. Now I work when I feel like it, I don't have a mortgage, I produce my own food and I'm still skint, but hey what are you after. It sounds like you are well off! I struggle to pay for my car, I whiggle my way out of various bills. Are you sure your partner is just not happy with the way of life, the culture and all. If it's money you're after Italy is not the right place, but quality of life...
http://pathtoselfsufficiency.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Liguria. We're at the other end. Join the Liguria group.
I agree with Ram. Bear in mind Tobias Jones lived in Parma, which is known as a left wing and highly politcised city with an active student population. Living out in the country you'll barely get any of that. When I lived in Northern Ireland people told me not to talk about politics (after which they ususally started talking politics). This advice may apply to Italy too, at least at the early stage of a friendship with Italians.You won't get a complete picture of Italy by reading books, so just come and try it out.
sorry 2000 sqm plot...
A neighbour of ours is selling his 200 sqm due to retirement. Really well looked after, top quality, including a metal shed and all the equipment right on the border to Tuscany, but still Liguria. 5 years ago he wnted €30,000 now he's down to €20,000 and might even settle for €10,000. PM me if you're interested I'll put you intouch.