sprostoni's activity

Questions Asked

I have tried to contribute, I have taken advice, I have given (hopefully) advice, I have tried to generate discussion, I have now given up, good luck to the rest of ya !S

Sun, 10/21/2012 - 17:27

Does anybody know more about this ?SReform of Italy: "40 provinces, 10 metropolitan areas"Rome - More than half of the Italian provinces are going to be cut and 10 metropolitan areas introduced.

Sat, 07/21/2012 - 11:25

How bad can life be..........desperate.........Ancona - Two illegal immigrants have been found dead, one almost dead and two in a coma on the Superfast ferry from Greece. The ferry docked at Ancona this afternoon at around 5.30 pm (CET).

Tue, 06/26/2012 - 03:44

Can anyone explain in simple terms, where all these BILLIONS of euros actually go? We now have Cyprus saying 'Can we have some?' This is the 5th eurozone country so far to say this..............Will I recieve a few hundred grand soon? S

Mon, 06/25/2012 - 15:31

We have just returned from a driving trip (slog!!) to the UK, and on the way back, we booked into a BARGAIN IBIS hotel in 'Grandate'.

Sun, 06/24/2012 - 11:47

I KNOW WE HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE...........Is anybody getting UK TV (and maybe SKY) here in central Italy OTHER THAN via the Internet ?If so............please let me know howThanks in advance,S

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 16:52

Afetr 4 years of 'bliss' (!?!) here in Le Marche, I recently took my four year old car for it's first revisione. A few hours later, I got back the paperwork, with an appropriate stamp.

Mon, 03/19/2012 - 11:46

I know we've been here before but...........Italian tax men blitz the chic in ski resort raids Italian tax agents donned skis, gloves and goggles to launch an unusual blitz in the chic ski resort of Courmayeur, two months after a similar raid on

Tue, 02/21/2012 - 02:05

I have seen that the Italian Government is eliminating some public holidays in 2012 and/or moving those that occur mid-week to a Sunday.Does anyone have a link reflecting whether or not this has been officially confirmed ?Thanks in advance,S

Thu, 02/16/2012 - 05:56

Whilst snowed in here in Penna San Giovanni, I was looking for some bright spots in the financial world.

Fri, 02/03/2012 - 02:08

Comments posted

Sun, 02/27/2011 - 14:10

Just a point............ On our recent return through France into Switzerland and onwards, we called in at a motorway services (in France - I think north of Colmar.........)for a coffee and a bottle of water. On sitting down for the coffee, my good lady opened the water (which she had picked up on the way into the seating area). I happend to look at the bill and was surprised that it was a little expensive.........I asked my wife (who had now just opened her bottled water ) how much the water was...........she thought it was 1 euro. (reasonable?). It WAS 1 euro............PAST THE TILL, before the till it was 2.30euro !!!!!!!!!!!!!! beware!! S

Sun, 02/27/2011 - 07:19

Having just done the trip a few weeks ago, we tend to go straight through Switzerland (normally staying at Colmar and then Como), but......speaking to an Swiss/Italian friend here, they highly recommend Lucerne. We'll be stopping  there next time, S

Sat, 02/26/2011 - 13:27

Although it may have warmed up here by 4th May !!?? S

Sat, 02/26/2011 - 05:28

Totally agree with amazingmarche, but, can you change your name please, we are trying to keep Le Marche a secret !!! (maybe 'notverygoodhereinmarche' ?)  Ha !  crying

Thu, 02/24/2011 - 14:57

That was my treat!!............blue cheese ( as in mouldy) was my bit of penicillin..........(they didn't tell me lies did they ??!! And..........just how may worms did I eat as baby.............surviving......just

Sat, 02/12/2011 - 05:38

What I would say to all of the above is that buying a property ANYWHERE  can be frought with problems (some potential, some actual). Having moved around a bit, the key thing for me is to decide what you will pay for any product (in this case a house), and then really it shouldn't matter who get's what sized portion of the total 'pie'. So, if the seller gets say 94% of the total, the local agent gets 3% and another (say UK based) agent gets another 3%, does it matter ? You are still paying the same 100% ?? Where I think this CAN be 'WRONG' (illegal I assume) is if the seller is expecting to get 100% of the total that you are paying and gets a bit less, the local agent creams a bit more off for themselves on top of his/her 3%. This is the sellers issue, not the buyers as the buyer is still paying the same 100%. I have heard (stories) of the local agent making a little bit more for him/herself through this route, in effect short changing the seller. But again, as long as you (as the buyer) are paying the amount that you are wanting to pay, it shouldn't matter should it? As an owner here in Italy, my major interest will be in making sure that I get the amount that I want for my property when/if I SELL it.

Answer to: Road Conditions
Thu, 02/10/2011 - 15:15

Along with others, you really want to make it a fly drive for just a week..... Anyway, if you DO choose to drive, here's an ongoing european fuel pricing site for info.... http://www.drive-alive.co.uk/fuel_prices_europe.html S

Answer to: Road Conditions
Thu, 02/10/2011 - 01:11

I'm driving via the gothard tunnel on Sunday (UK to Le Marche), I'll come back and post here early next week. Driving t'other way two weeks ago, it was all clear and no probs whatsoever. The weather in Le Marche at the mo is fantastic for the time of year....................but it could all change ! S

Sat, 02/05/2011 - 05:48

Are there other locations planned ? If there are, if anyone has details it may be useful to publicise them because it may help 'mobilise' people who are not currently effected to turn up and support current initiatives? S

Answer to: Tomato Soup
Wed, 01/26/2011 - 05:39

I have eaten more home made soup in the last three years than in the previous thirty I think!! I have to say that the vast majority of them have been delicious (and I also feel that they are not too bad for me!) HOWEVER................(sorry to go against the crowd!).............I L.O.V.E. Heinzs' cream of tomato soup, especialy piping hot and with a nice crusty loaf !!!!!!!!!!!!!!cor blimey !!   S