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

Mon, 12/20/2010 - 09:51

Great and well done for the feedback, I will have a look-see shortly, it's a very interesting option BUT seems risky with little/no guarantee of payback, but  ............. I do wonder a little about company profiteering with regards to this stuff , or it just be my way of thinking (sadly!), S

Fri, 12/17/2010 - 06:59

I fully agree with Maria and others who have commented so far. We had some tweaks done to a wall or two a year or so ago and when it was all finished............we literally had water dripping down the walls (I actually thought that we must had had a pipe burst, but we had no pipes in the area). We left the windows slightly open for two days and miraculously it ALL disappeared. We still have some damp in certain rooms, but a minimal amount of ventilation works wonders. S

Tue, 12/14/2010 - 04:19

I have to say that we REALLY REALLY should be making more out of the sun, wind and waves around Le Marche. But these farms of PVs are a blight on the landscape and there should be some sort of protection contracted into the building of these sites. There is a decent sized (I think?) farm on the road from Piane de Falerone to Montegiorgo and we see them from the top of our track which is some 15kms away from the farm!! Good luck with your arguments, S

Mon, 12/13/2010 - 09:19

We have had similar problems and without any doubt at all, we feel strongly that it is due to lack of ventilation, the rooms that we have problems with are all double glazed (with no drainage facilities!!), and are therefore 'sealed'. Damp in the air has nowhere to go but to cling to the walls, thereby the walls get damp. A problem indeed !! Good luck! S    

Mon, 12/13/2010 - 05:05

I recall a few years ago when I was in the process of buying a property here in Italy, I asked (in my worst Italian) views of the locals, and eventually went to speak to a 'sharply' dressed solicitor in a local village near to where we now live was quoted EIGHTEEN thousand euros to have the conveyancing done !!!! He said ' I'm very good '.......... We nearly gave up there and then, as we thought that we would not pay that amount on principle. As it happens we went ahead WITHOUT the said solicitor and thankfully, we have had no major problems Proceed with caution! S

Answer to: House Insurance
Wed, 12/08/2010 - 02:37

I like everything, but I cannot stand insurance companies, S

Tue, 12/07/2010 - 13:19

You two are quick on the keyboard! grazie S

Answer to: Lunch in Fermo
Mon, 11/29/2010 - 12:18

Well...........I have to say, reading some of the comments, ..........next time I'm in Fermo, I will definitely try others (even though I enjoyed the place I went to)...... now then, re Pizza.................this place is VERY close to my house so it may be an influencing factor............ ..Porta Marina (cafe/bar/pizza) in Penna San Giovanni................ask for the 'Pizza Max'............(and they do chips, chunky or thin cut)).........it's certainly my favourite after three years.......... S

Answer to: Italian Car tax
Sun, 11/28/2010 - 06:57

Hi  JamesProctor111......... There are LOTS of English plated cars tootling around the country side of Le Marche near where I live. It is all about risk............... 1. It is illegal, 2. I'm not aware of anyone having had (sadly) an accident and been unable to claim, 3. The 'laws' have been enhanced quite dramatically earlier this year which specifically says (along the lines of) foreign registered cars are only to be used by 'tourists', 4. More and more people are re-registering in Italy (for the above and other reasons), Are you feeling lucky !!????? For what it's worth, I bought an Italian car and pay outrageous insurance costs.............but...........have I done the right thing?............I think I have but.......I'm not sure !! S

Answer to: Lunch in Fermo
Wed, 11/24/2010 - 09:05

Well, after lots of interesting suggestions, all of which I will endeavour to investigate further on future visits, we ended up at 'Locanda del Palio" a small ristorante located in the 'Piazzale Azzolino' VERY close to the main piazza. Lots of body armour, swords, helmets and other such items (associated with il Palio?) adorned the walls......... Food and service both good, (we were the only English in the place!)........very busy with Italian business people, costs with wine 35Euros...............all in all not bad at all. Unusually (I think) ..........it is closed on Sundays Thanks again for the help, S