The city of Lucca has always been my favourite. Not only because it is only 25 minutes away from our home and I go there at least two or three times a week, but also because you do not feel like a "tourist" there.
Gala Placidia's activity
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In this icy cold weather, hot drinks and comfort foods are a must. Preparing and consuming them are good ways to spend time when we cannot venture outdoors.
Wed, 02/08/2012 - 06:10
The cold weather is affecting most of Italy and creating difficulties concerning energy supplies. Russia, the most important supplier, has been reducing the provision of gas up to 30% due to increasing demand in their area.
Tue, 02/07/2012 - 02:22
The San Francisco Chronicle publishes today this most interesting article:
Sun, 02/05/2012 - 12:45
Whenever we are in Italy, we love to visit antique and vintage markets and fairs, looking for that special piece that we would love to have. Sometimes, we find it...
Wed, 02/01/2012 - 02:47
One of my favourite activities in Italy is to visit those markets that sell antique and vintage items.
Tue, 01/31/2012 - 06:38
Some members may have noticed that I have been fairly quiet for the past month and a half. The reason for this was that we have been visiting our daughters who live in San Francisco (CA).
Fri, 01/20/2012 - 02:59
The new ½ûÂþÌìÌà government has been announced and it is obvious that we will have a fight between technocrats and politicians.
Wed, 11/16/2011 - 14:24
A lot has been written about the dangers of overheating Teflon coated cookware. Toxic fumes can be extremely dangerous for our health. Personally, I have never liked that type of cookware and I do not buy it anymore.
Sat, 10/29/2011 - 06:24
In another thread, we were discussing Tuscan herbs and "funghi porcini". Tuscany is a paradise for herb lovers and many varieties, such as rosemary, sage and "nipitella" grow wild.
Thu, 10/27/2011 - 11:23
Comments posted
Lisa, keep on looking. you still have 4 years until retirement. Many things can happen during that time and you may find another perfect place that would suit you better. I also agree with you, don't buy properties in the middle of nowhere Isolation can become a major problem as we grow older. There are usually plenty of beautiful spots within walking distance from town. Make sure that you have all basic facilities nearby. And a major airport with international flights operating throughout the year and not exclusively by low cost airlines. Never get into a project beyond your agreed budget. The dream may become a nightmare. As I said before, I wish you lots of luck in your endeavours.Â
Difficult to give you accurate advice without knowing more detailss; however here are a few warnings. To start with, the vendors ' attitude leaves much to be desired. Nobody can guaranteebwhat they will do if you try to meet or negotiate their new price. Although it is obvious that you like the property, you should be looking at other properties as well to compare prices. Lso, keep in mind that you are not buying a house, as the existing one will need to be demolished, but a piece of land. Compare with other plots available in the area Demolishing an existing house and building a new one is a mjor undertaking and some people get nasty surprises in the process. You will need to make provisions for contingency sums. If you are on a limited budget, be careful with this . In any case, I wish you good luck..
Preserving fruits without sugar is difficult as sugar is actually a preserving agent that kills microorganisms. But you could use alcohol instead. Â
If you were paying ICI prior to the time whn it was abolished for prima casa, I cannot understand how they can bill you now for that exemption period... you must be registered with them and they should know about your situation. Tarsu may be a slightly different thing because of its nature, but then... You should complain, it is an abuse.
Besides IKEA, for new furniture at reasonable prices have a look at Mondo Convenienza From our experience in Tuscany, some of the "mercatini" have increased their prices and are charging antique prices for below average vintage or simply second hand. Try to go to Antique and Vintage fairs in your area and mix and match as much as possible.
Glad that it helped and actually Australian plants are better suited to the ½ûÂþÌìÌà climate than to the UK one. Also, it is a "niche market" which is a better bet in these times.
Dylano, Australian natives would be very adaptable to the ½ûÂþÌìÌà climate conditions; however, they are not easy to find with the exception of a few callistemons, or "kangaroo paws". There  is plenty of information about varieties in the web and I can tell you that they are becoming increasingly popular in California.
It is most important nowadays to read all packages and labels. Manufacturers are introducing new products all the time...
I would tend to agree with Elliven, an orchard and then a few herbs in containers. A vegetable garden is only for those wih a strong gardening vocation.
From our experience, I agree with Ram's statement. Also, welcome to the Community! Â