Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Info for Guests Staying in the Guest House at Podere Covivole

(LAST EDITED/UPDATED: 17 June 2011)

FRIENDS AND FAMILY IN ITALY

INFORMATION FOR GUESTS STAYING IN THE GUEST HOUSE
AT PODERE COVIVOLE

THINGS TO BRING

  1. Wash cloths – There are usually NO wash cloths in most Italian hotels or in B&Bs.
  2. A small, bright flashlight with extra batteries for yourself and for each individual traveling with you.
  3. Electrical plug adapters for AC adapters and/or battery chargers for dual voltage (110V - 220/240V) items, i.e., digital cameras, iPods, MP3 players, cell phones, hair dryers, etc. We had a friend forget the difference in power in Italy– 220v. She had the correct electric plug adapter but her battery charger was 110v only. She had to throw away her battery charger because it was fried.
  4. If you use film in your camera, it is very expensive in Italy, be sure to bring extra film with you.
  5. AAA, American Express or some large banks will sell you a starter pack of Euros. We would suggest a minimum of at least €100.00 in denominations of some combination of €10 or €20 bills. This will allow you to have some walking around money for a taxi, a small meal or snack and/or for a beverage before you have to find an ATM (bancomat). You can use the local ATMs (bancomats) and usually get a better rate than at a exchange counter. However, please check with your credit card companies and/or local banks for additional fees that may be charged for using "foreign" or out of network ATMs (bancomats).
  6. If you plan to go to one of the local spas (terme) or swimming, please bring a pair of flip flops to wear. Also, especially if you go to the spa, bring an old swim suit, not a new one, the waters are full of minerals and may leave a lingering odor.
BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE STATES
  1. Be sure to tell your credit card companies and banks (respective security departments) that you’ll be traveling in Europe. You will usually need to provide start and end dates plus countries you’ll be visiting or passing through via the airport, in the event of a delayed flight. It is not funny when your credit card or ATM card stops working and you do not have enough cash in your pocket.
    • Please write down the phone numbers for your credit card companies and your banks ATM cards that you have in your possession. You should have their respective 800 numbers and the long distance number with area codes
  2. Start TODAY! Start walking, one of the biggest complaints that we have heard on our trips to Italy, is people walk everywhere and the “tourist” didn’t know how far they had to walk each day to get to where they were going. At many of the hilltop towns in Italy, vehicle traffic is restricted. Sometimes, you will need to walk up the hill to the town from where you parked your car.
  3. Another Start TODAY! Learn a few Italian phrases: hello (salve or ciao), goodbye (arrivederci or ciao), please (per favore) and thank you (grazie) and the greetings for different times of day: good morning (buon giorno), good afternoon/evening (buona sera) and good night (buona notte). Many libraries have language tapes, CDs and DVDs you can borrow. It is very easy for Americans to substitute very bad Spanish for Italian and feel like they are communicating. Be a polite visitor and learn the few words that will open doors for you and reward you with big smiles. Please review the reference blog entry listed below under REFERENCE BLOG ENTRIES: Info on Italian Phrases
  4. If you rent a car, be sure to go to AAA to get an International Drivers Permit (IDP). The cost is about $15.00 to $20.00 and 2 photographs. While most rental car agencies do not list an IDP as a requirement for driving in Italy on their respective web sites, you will be fined by the Italian police if in the event you have an accident or you are stopped by the police and do not have an IDP in your possession along with a valid driver’s license.
  5. When you rent a car in Italy, there is mandatory CDW and theft insurance. Depending on the rental car web site, it may be possible to book a rental without CDW and theft insurance but YOU are financially responsible for whatever happens to the rental car. Yes, it will add to the cost of your rental but cars get damage in parking lots and elsewhere and many times, no one leaves a name and number or contact information after it happens.
  6. Make 3 copies of your passport, driver’s license and credit cards and keep one separate from your other travel documents. Leave one copy at home with a friend or family member and give one copy to your traveling companion.
  7. Remember pack light! If you wear something multiple times, who is going to notice. Martha and I have traveled to Europe and Hong Kong with just 1 medium or 2 small roll-on bags, plus a carry-on for snacks, beverages, medications and/or a change of clothes.
  8. We never brought a whole guide book with us in all the years that we traveled abroad. We made copies of sections of guidebooks or just took the applicable pages cut out of the guidebook with us.
  9. Never pack any medications and/or valuables in your checked luggage. Place them in your carry-on. Pack your checked luggage with your identification (home, contact information, travel information and itinerary inside the checked luggage) and attach distinct and identifiable luggage tags with your name, phone numbers and email address to each checked piece of luggage as if you might be separated from it for at least a day or more after arrival.
  10. Buy travel insurance for your trip to Italy. In the event you, your travel companion or a family member gets sick or something comes up, you will not be penalized for lost deposits or changing your flight arrangements. Please review the reference blog entry listed below under REFERENCE BLOG ENTRIES: Info on travel insurance for Italy and beyond
  11. Buy the travel size containers for hair spray, lotions, shaving cream, tooth paste, etc. You do not need the large size while traveling for a week to 10 days or whatever the length of your trip. Please review the TSA regulation: 3-1-1 for Carry-Ons.
  12. One last thing, please check with your respective airline(s) including connecting and code sharing partners and TSA on current luggage and carry-on restrictions including weight and for duty free purchases via connecting airports (hubs).
WHILE IN ITALY AND/OR STAYING AT THE GUEST HOUSE
  1. AIRPORT/TRAIN STATION PICKUP AND/OR DROP OFF SERVICE
    • PLEASE NOTE: Effective 1 September 2008, due to increases in the costs for diesel fuel and the exchange rate, there will be an supplemental fee in addition to the "pickup or drop off fee" listed below and payable in Euros (€).
    • Upon prior arrangements and payment, guests may be met at the airport in Firenze (FLR), Pisa (PSA) or Rome (FCO) or (CIA) and by request at the train stations in Arezzo, Siena or Monte San Savino. The rationale for the pickup service at the airports is to provide the guest an opportunity to recover from jet lag and not get behind the wheel of a rental car in a foreign country after a long flight from the States or wander around unfamiliar train stations and train platforms.
    • As part of the pickup service, the following day after a night’s sleep, the guests will be driven to the rental car location of their choice in Arezzo. Friends and Family in Italy recommends contacting auto europe for your rental car while in Italy. auto europe is a broker for Hertz, Avis, Europacar, etc. and you can still get your frequent flyer program points and/or miles.
    • The fees in Euros (local currency) for the pickup or drop off for 1 - 2 individuals are the following plus Autostrada tolls where applicable:
  2. ATMs (AKA BANCOMATS)
    1. When in Italy plan to use one of the local bank’s ATMs (Bancomats) to withdraw Euros. We NEVER use a local cambio, money exchange service or a stand-alone ATM machine with no identification on it. Check with your bank before leaving your home country to find out any additional fees to use foreign ATMs. Please make sure your pin number has the correct amount of digits (4), with NO leading zeros.
  3. AUTOSTRATA
    • They are a national network of high speed and tolls road in Italy. Here are 2 important facts:
      • TOLLS
        • There are separate and restricted lanes for entry onto the Autostrata. You will enter the lane marked, “Biglietto” (ticket). The other lane is identified with the words in blue, “TELEPASS” on a yellow background and is for the exclusive use of vehicles equipped wiih a TELEPASS wireless device mounted on their respective vehicle. TELEPASS is an automated Italian toll collection wireless device.
        • There are separate and restricted lanes for payment when exiting from the Autostrata. You can pay by credit card, by cash (sometimes there are unattended booths) and by prepayment: TELEPASS or VIACARD. This lane is marked with a large yellow sign with the words in blue: “TELEPASS” or a blue sign with the words in white: “VIACARD” or "CARTE". Please approach and enter the correct payment lane. You may have only seconds to decide which lane to choose. If in doubt, choose the lane that has an attendant. It is indicated by a picture of coins and bills. However, this may also be an unattended booth that will accept coins, bills and credit cards.
        • Please do not enter the Autostrata without some change or some small denomination of bills or a credit card because some of the exits off the Autostrata are unattended.
        • Please review the reference blog entry listed below under REFERENCE BLOG ENTRIES: Info about the Autostrade per l'Italia
      • ROUTE INDICATORS/NUMBERS
        • In Italy, the way to the Autostrata is usually indicated with a green colored sign, pointing in the direction to the entrance to the toll road.
        • On an Italian map, you will see the capital letter “A” followed by a number. This is the designation for the different national Autostrata roads in Italy. For example, the "A1" is the major north/south highway, from Milan (Milano) to Naples (Napoli). However, on a Michelin or another map, you may see the capital letter “E” followed by a different number than the Italian one. This is the European road number. For example, "E35" is the European road number for the major north/south highway also known as "A1". To add to the confusion, from Rome (Roma) to Naples (Napoli), it is called the "E45". You may see both numbers on a map but if you ask an Italian for directions to the Autostrata, they will always use the “A” designator except for truck drivers.
  4. BUSINESS HOURS
    • The usual hours of operation are from 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM (13:00) and from 4:00 PM (16:00) until 7:00 PM (19:00). However, Italy is a country of contrasts and you’ll find exceptions to the above mentioned hours according to the type of store.
    • Whenever you see the words “orario continuato”, it means continuous hours on a sign in front of the store. This store will be open (aperto) during the mid-day break or closure. On Sunday, many stores will be closed (chiuso).
    • Most of the restaurants at rest stops and service stations on the Autostrata will be open during the mid-day break. There will be a choice of small sandwiches and beverages. The hot food and meal service will be limited to lunch (il pranzo) and dinner (la cena) hours. The exception to this is if the rest stop has a fast food franchise, e.g., Burger King, etc. and they may be open as late as 10:00 P.M.
    • One last thing about restaurants. In small and medium site towns, you will find restaurants that do not cater to tourists, will be closed between lunch and dinner.
  5. CAR SERVICE
    • PLEASE NOTE: Effective 1 September 2008, due to increases in the costs for diesel fuel and the exchange rate, there will be an supplemental fee in addition to the "per day charge" payable in Euros (€).
    • For guests staying at the guest house, Friends and Family in Italy will provide a car service for those individuals that either do not wish to drive in Italy or would like to be driven somewhere for the day.
    • The cost for the Car Service will be $45.00 per day plus Autostrata tolls and any parking fees payable in Euros (€).
    • Payment for the Car Service will be in advance and by prior arrangement.
    • Please note that the Car Service is separate from the “AIRPORT/TRAIN STATION PICKUP AND/OR DROP OFF SERVICE” mentioned above.
  6. COFFEE
    • There is no take-out coffee like in the States. If you like to have a big cup of coffee with you to sip on for the ride somewhere, please bring your own thermal travel cup. We have an American style coffee maker and we will be happy to fill your cup before you leave. If you have a favorite brand of coffee, you might want to bring that too. Starbucks, Folgers, Maxwell House and flavored coffees are a dream not yet realized here in Italy.
    • Unless you ask for “Americano” coffee, you will get a very small cup with a few ounces of “caffé” or “expresso” in it.
    • Please review the reference blog entry listed below under REFERENCE BLOG ENTRIES: Info on how to order coffee/expresso in Italy
  7. CREDIT CARDS FROM THE USA
    • VISA and MasterCard are the two most widely accepted credit cards in Italy followed by American Express and Diners Club.
    • It should be noted that outside of the major tourist attractions areas and in many small towns, credit cards are NOT accepted for payment. These establishments expect payment to be in cash (Euros).
    • CAVEAT: On Sundays at service stations (read gas) not on the Autostrata, your credit card from an USA issuer may not work at the self-service gasoline (senza piombo) or diesel (gasoil) pumps.
    • In the 25+ years of either living in or coming to Europe, I have not seen an establishment honor the DISCOVER credit card.
  8. DRIVING IN ITALY
  9. GPS USAGE
    • Please be aware that 80% of Italy is covered by GPS maps from various vendors. I have used Microsoft Autoroute 2006 on my laptop with a Holux GPS receiver to navigate around France and Italy. It is great to go from one city to another but it did have difficulty in finding specific Italian addresses. I had to use Maporama or Via Michelin to actually locate the address or nearest street I was going to in Italy.
    • Also be aware that you may not be sent the most direct route using a GPS unit.
  10. INTERNET ACCESS
    • At this time, there is NO internet access in the Guest house -- just in the Farm House. There are no internet cafes in Monte San Savino. The local comune (town) tourist office offers free internet access but it is on a first come basis and on specific days and hours.
    • Please review the reference blog entry listed below under REFERENCE BLOG ENTRIES: Info about Cyber Cafes and Internet Points in Italy
  11. MONEY
    • It is called the EURO.
      • The paper denominations are €5, €20, €50, €100, €200 and €500.
      • The coins are 1 cent, 2 cent, 5 cent, 10 cent, 20 cent, 50 cent, 1 Euro and 2 Euro.
    • It is suggested to carry smaller denominations of bills with you. However, most ATMs (bancomats) will give you 100 and 50 Euro bills for a maximum withdraw of 250 Euro per transaction. Do not carry a lot of cash with or on you! Only withdraw from the ATM what you need for the day or a couple days.
    • No matter where you are, most cashiers will ask for exact change or for you to come as close as possible to the amount.
  12. PAY PHONES
    • Usually do NOT accept coins! However, to call emergency numbers, you do not need a prepayment card.
    • One has to use a prepayment card to operate the pay phone. The prepayment card has a magnetic strip on it, These cards are usually available from tabbachi locations (many tobacco shops/newsstands). There is usually a sign out front with a capital “T” in white on either a blue or black background.
  13. PARKING
    • Be sure to legally park your rental car! Even though, other cars may be illegally parked even where you left your car, your vehicle may get towed and fined. Please note these are considered separate events and incidents. All fees and fines are payable in Euros. You may go to one place to pay for the towing charge and another location to pay for the parking violation and they usually do not accept credit cards for payment, cash only.
    • If you park your car in a city or large town and not in a parking garage, you will need to look for a machine that will print a receipt for parking. You will need to leave the receipt displayed and visible on the dash of the rental car.
    • In some towns, they may use the parking disk system. If your rental car is not equipped with a parking disk, please leave a piece a paper visible on the dash with your time of arrival.
  14. POLLEN SEASON
    • From March until June, it is pollen season in Italy. We have not seen any OTC (over the counter) medications for allergies. If you have allergies, please bring your medications with you when you travel to Italy.
  15. REFUELING RENTAL CARS
    • Be sure to use and select the right fuel for your vehicle. If you have any doubts or questions (if you are at the right type of fuel pump for your rental car), please ask.
      • The words at the service station for diesel are gasoil and diesel. There is a super and pricier diesel but your rental car does not usually require it unless specifically stated.
      • The words for lead free gasoline are “senza piombo benzina”.
    • Along the Autostrata, the service stations usually have an attendant that will operate the appropriate fuel pump.
    • If you see the words, “Fai Da Te”, it means self service and you operate the fuel pump yourself.
  16. RENTAL CARS
    • The nearest city for rental cars is in Arezzo. The rental car locations in Arezzo will be approximately 20 – 30 minutes away from the guest house.
    • Friends and Family in Italy recommends contacting auto europe for your rental car requirements while in Italy.
    • auto europe is a broker for Hertz, Avis, Europacar, etc. and you can still get your frequent flyer program points and/or miles.
    • You can usually rent a vehicle in one location and drop it off at a different one for no additional charge. However, please recheck this before you sign the forms.
  17. RESTAURANTS (RISTORANTE)
    • Ethnic restaurants are normally in the big cities of Italy and you will not find the variety of cuisines that you’ll find in the States. Remember, you did not come to Italy to eat Thai or Mexican or non-European food. While in Italy, try to eat at restaurants that do not cater to tourists. However, it you are tired and hungry, eat anywhere that you want.
    • There is usually a service charge and you may see the words, “servizio compreso (service included) ” and/or a cover charge called a coperto and it is a per person charge. You will see the word “coperto” somewhere on the menu or on a sign as you enter the restaurant.
    • Some individuals get overwhelmed in a restaurant in Italy because they think they have to order an appetizer, first (primi) and second (secondi) courses and desert. Let me tell you that you can order what you want.
    • CAVEAT: Please be aware that meat dishes are served rare (al sangue) to medium (a puntino). You will need to be very specific with the server and ask for a meat entrée to be well-done (ben cotto).
    • One usually does not leave a tip. However, if there was no servizio/coperto or exceptional service/food or you paid with a credit card and you may leave a few Euro coins (€1 or €2) or a €5 bill or some combination of bills and coins on the table depending on the size of the check. You do this for credit cards because there is no separate space on the credit card slip for a tip.
    • When you want the check, you will need to ask for it and tell your wait person, “Il conto, per favore”. All restaurants are required by law to provide you with a written or printed check (receipt). Please do not discard the check before you leave the restaurant. You may be asked for the check after you leave this restaurant by the Guardia Finanzia. In the 18+ years that Martha and I (either separately or together) have been coming to Italy, this has never happen to us.
    • One last thing about restaurants. In small and medium site towns, you will find restaurants that do not cater to tourists, will be closed between lunch and dinner.
  18. TABBACHI (TOBACCO SHOPS/NEWSSTANDS)
    • At many tobacco shops/newsstands), besides cigarettes, you can buy bus tickets, add time to your Italian SIM card for cell phone and/or buy prepayment cards for the pay telephone.
    • There is usually a sign out front with a capital “T” in white on either a blue or black background.
    • In Napoli (Naples), you can buy a combination ticket that is valid for bus and Circumvesuviana (regional rail) travel.
  19. TOILETS
    • The words for men’s room is uomo and women’s room is donna or there are international symbols on the door or they are unisex.
    • Many toilets (WC or bagno) in Italy are NOT free! You will need a 50 cent piece for entry. The toilets on the Autostrata toll roads (read Interstate) are usually free but the attendant leaves a plate for tips, you can leave a 10 or 20 cent piece or nothing.
    • While we are talking about toilets, they come in all shapes and sizes. To flush an Italian toilet, there may be a small push-up metal rod or a string located above the toilet seat on the bottom of the water tank or to the side of the water tank or there is a metal, rubber or plastic button next to it on the wall or on it but you will need to look for it. No handles on the water tank or foot levers. You may run into some without running water and/or toilet paper.
    • Be prepared and bring a few packages of Kleenex or something equivalent. A waterless hand sanitizer is nice to have with you.
    • PLEASE NOTE: There are a many toilets in Italy without seats. You will have to squat.
    • Please review the reference blog entry listed below under REFERENCE BLOG ENTRIES: Info about Toilets in Italy
  20. TOURIST OFFICES
    • They can usually be found whenever you see a sign with a small "i" in script on it.
    • Many official tourist offices will have the abbreviations, "APT" on it. APT means "agenzie per il turismo" or "agency for tourism" followed by the name of the city, region or location.
    • APTs offer "free" information but some maps and/or pamphlets may not be free.
    • Depending on the size of the town or office, there may not be an English speaker available and/or literature in English.
    • One should be aware that not all "tourist offices" are associated with a city, region or location. While they can be helpful, their primary purpose is to sell tours or something to tourists and visitors to a location.
    • Please review the reference blog entry listed below under REFERENCE BLOG ENTRIES: Info on Regional Tourist Offices and Web Sites in Italy
  21. TRANSPORTATION
    • BUS TICKETS
      • You can buy bus tickets at Tabbachi locations (many tobacco shops/newsstands). There is usually a sign out front with a capital “T” in white on either a blue or black background.
    • TRAIN TICKETS
      • You can buy them at the train station at a ticket counter or from a machine for first or second class travel.
      • During holiday travel, be sure to reserve a seat or it can be a very long journey standing up for hours.
      • For train travel on Trenitalia, you can buy tickets online via the internet.
    • TAXIS
      • If you use a taxi to go somewhere, ALWAYS ask the cab driver for the approximate cost of the fare. You can usually negotiate your cab fare with the driver. If you think it’s too much, tell him and be prepared to walk away and talk to another cab driver. Current guidebooks should give you an idea of the approximate fare for the city you are visiting. Also, write down the name of your destination on an index card or print the directions from the hotel web site and hand it to the driver.
    • VALIDATION OF TICKETS
      • You must validate your bus, funicular, train, tram, street car (trolley) or subway ticket. On the bus, tram, trolley, it is usually a yellow box on the vehicle. For trains and subways, it usually on the platform. Failure to do so may result in a fine and its payable on the spot. Please review the reference blog entry listed below under REFERENCE BLOG ENTRIES: Info on validating tickets for bus, train, etc, in Italy
  22. WALKING/JOGGING/RUNNING
    • We live out in the country off of a 2 lane road. There are NO sidewalks, please walk/jog/run facing traffic.
    • There are trails and hiking trails on our property and in the surrounding area. You should be aware that there are cinghiale (wild boar) in the woods. They are nocturnal animals and should not be a problem during the daylight hours. It is recommended to carry a walking stick(s) with you. We have some you can borrow.
    • If you jog/run in the early morning hours before sunrise or just after sunrise or at dusk, please wear a reflective vest or markings or red light flasher and facing traffic.
  23. WATER
    • The water at the guest house is from a spring and is not filtered. It has been tested and it is safe to drink.
    • At restaurants, you will be asked if you would wish water with your meal. There is a choice of bottled or filter water: “naturale” – without gas or “con gassata (or frizzante)” – with gas. You can order “piccolo” – small, half liter – or “grande” – large, one to one and half liters.
    • At takeout places, gasoline stations, elsewhere, you can select your beverage of choice.
    • Many Italians do NOT drink tap water for many reasons, e.g., age of pipes, taste, etc.
DIFFERENCES YOU NEED TO BE AWARE OF IN ITALY
  1. You need a €1 coin to use a grocery cart in food/grocery stores which are located outside the store. Grocery carts are NOT free in Italy.
  2. You will pay for the convenience of plastic bags in food/grocery stores and some other stores.
  3. You will pay MORE to sit down and drink your caffé/expresso or beverage than if you stand up at the counter to drink it.
  4. Sometimes at food/beverage stands, you stand in a line and pay first with a cashier (cassa) for your food items and get a receipt to order your food/beverage choices in another line or location. Just observe what everyone else is doing, unless you are the only customer.
  5. Other times, when at a bar either in the morning or later, you order you beverage and/or snack from the person behind the counter. After you eat and/or drink, then you pay. Watch and see how other people pay for their respective items.
  6. If you wear dark sunglasses, please take them off when you walk into a store or restaurant. Italians like to interact and see your eyes. Dark sunglasses prevent that and make them feel like Americans are cold. Men should also remember to take off their baseball hats.
THINGS TO REMEMBER
  1. You are in the Central European Time (CET) zone, (GMT+1). There is a 6 hour difference from the East Coast and 9 hours from the West Coast of the USA.
  2. Cellular phones in Italy use GSM frequencies. If you have a GSM cell phone that is tri-band or quad band from AT&T (Cingular) or T-Mobile, it can be used here in Italy but their rates are very expensive. The rate can be anywhere from $1.00 to $2.00+ per minute for receiving and making calls from your cell phone. It is dependant on your USA cellular network provider's calling plan for actual rates and charges for overseas cell phone usage. However, you can usually get your USA GSM cell phone unlocked and if it is tri-band or quad band, you can pick up a SIM card from an Italian cellular network provider (TIM, Vodaphone, WIND, etc.) for use in Italy. It should be noted that with an Italian SIM card, receiving calls are free in Italy.
    • Several years ago, I had my USA bought Nokia cell phone unlocked for under $5.00 and bought a SIM card from TIM. By doing so, we were able to make and confirm reservations at restaurants, hotels, etc. and get directions to these establishments whenever we got lost.
    • BTW, my wife and I have unlocked, quad band Motorola RAZR cell phones that we bought on eBay. We have SIM cards from TIM.
  3. PAYMENT
    • Friends and Family in Italy accepts credit cards only by using PayPal. Also, we will accept Euros not dollars to settle your account.
  4. CONTACT INFORMATION
    • ADDRESS
      • Podere Covivole
      • Gargonza 81
      • 52048 Monte San Savino (AR)
      • Italia
    • PHONE NUMBERS – From the States, dial 011 first (+ country code)
      • House (casa): (+39) 0575 84 7059
      • Ben's Cell: (+39) 333 640 2651
      • Martha’s Cell: (+39) 331 533 1014
RESOURCES

REFERENCE BLOG ENTRIES

* = Blog entry has been updated.
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For your specific interest, please search the web for further information using Google .

The above links as of this date are/were current. If anyone has any suggestions for any other additional web sites and/or links for reference, please feel free to post your comment and I'll update this blog entry.

Please note: If you want me to reply to your comment or request any further information by email, please include your email address in a separate comment. I will NOT publish any comments with an email address in it.

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Broken links: Since November, 2005, I have written over 300+ blog entries with 1,000's of corresponding links/URLs for Moving2Italy2, covering a varied and wide range of topics. In the event if you come across a broken link or a non-functioning link/URL, please post a comment and report the non-functional link. I wish to thank you in advance for assisting me in the ongoing maintenance and the updating of this successful and informative blog.

Please note: I do NOT represent or endorse any of these links nor do I receive payment for listing them in my blog.

The above blog entry was created for guests staying at our Guest House at Podere Covivole. Some of these guests have not traveled to Italy and asked lots of questions before and while they stayed with us. For many of you, who are experienced travelers, this blog entry may not be for you. It is an attempt to provide some basic information that will assist one in their travels to beautiful and exciting Italy. However, if either the experienced or inexperienced travelers or readers of this blog entry have any suggestions or comments, please feel free to post them.

I am sure one may have more questions about their trip to Italy. On 25 February, I added a section titled, "RESOURCES". I only listed three (3) sources and there are others but I have made use of these specific ones and have been very satisfied in the results.

That's it for Tuesday, 5 February 2008: martedì, 5 febbraio 2008

Ciao, Ben

Moving2Italy2 – The #1 source of links About, For or On Italy for those individuals moving, traveling or already living in Italy.

Today’s quote is a Italian proverb, author unknown.

"Chi la sera i pasti gli ha fatti, sta a gli altri a lavar i piatti."
"If one cooks the meal then the others wash up."

When you have a free moment or two, please read my wife's interesting and entertaining blog about our life in Italy with photographs:

Friends and Family in Italy

Going to Spain, read my new blog:

Info About, For or On Spain – a source of links About, For or On Spain for those individuals traveling or already living in Spain.

Please note: The time listed below for this posting is Central European Time (CET)/ GMT+1.

(LAST EDITED/UPDATED: 17 June 2011)

© Benjamin H. Licodo, 2005 - 2011, All Rights Reserved.
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Monday, January 28, 2008

Info on validating tickets for bus, train, etc, in Italy

(LAST EDITED/UPDATED: 1 February 2008)

Here are some links about on validating tickets (biglietto) for bus, train, tram, street cars, funiculars, etc., in Italy:

BACKGROUND
VALIDATION
PHOTOGRAPHS OF INSTRUCTIONS AND MACHINE USED FOR VALIDATION



Photograph #1: Instructions on use of the Yellow Machine and how to validate your train ticket


Photograph #2: Instructions are in Italian, English, French and German



Photograph #3: Yellow Machine AKA Yellow Box used to validate your ticket. Please note: While the color is usually yellow, some may be orange in color.

The above photographs were taken at the FS (Ferrovie dello Stato) – Italian state railroad – train station in Monte San Savino (AR) on 26 January 2008. This is just a regional train station with service from Arezzo to Singalunga and the towns in between Arezzo and Singalunga. There is connecting bus service to other nearby towns and villages.

The above links are current. If anyone has any suggestions for other sites, please feel free to post your comment and I'll update this blog entry. For your specific interest, please search the web for further information using Google .

That's it for Monday, 28 January 2008: lunedì, 28 gennaio 2008.

Ciao, Ben

Moving2Italy2 – #1 source of links About, For or On Italy for those individuals moving, traveling or already living in Italy.

Today’s quote is a Neopolitan proverb, author unknown.

"Amore 'e mamma nun te 'nganna."
"The love of a mother is true."

Please note: The time listed below for this posting is Central European Time (CET)/ GMT+1.

(LAST EDITED/UPDATED: 1 February 2008)
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Thursday, January 24, 2008

Info on Carnevale (Mardi Gras), 2008 in Italy

(LAST EDITED/UPDATED: 28 January 2008)

Here are some links on Carnevale (Mardi Gras), 2008 in Italy:

CARNEVALE
MISCELLANEOUS
The above links are current. If anyone has any suggestions for other sites, please feel free to post your comment and I'll update this blog entry. For your specific interest, please search the web for further information using Google .

While I have stated above that a link may be in English, it should be noted that the Italian version provides more detailed information about the specific event.

There will be many celebrations for carnevale throughout Italy. This is just a small sampling of events. It should be noted that some of these events have already taken place.

Updated on 28 January 2008:

On Sunday, 27 January, my wife and I went to the Carnevale dei Figli di Bocco at Castiglion Fibocchi (AR). This carnevale allowed one to walk up to various individuals in ornate and colorful costumes and you could take pictures of the individual while walking around the town in the afternoon. Later in day, all the individuals in costumes walked down a runway that was located in the town square. It was quite a turnout of individuals from the town itself and from around the region. There was a large outdoor screen setup where everyone in the crowd could see and view the costumed participants.

Martha, my wife, and I were interviewed in English by Gabriele, a student from Scuola Media di Castiglion Fibocchi, about what we thought of their town's carnevale activities, our impressions and what we saw that day. His teacher, Signora Carla Ghisalberti, and his classmates had created a poster in English on display explaining the origins of the town's carnevale. Signora Ghisalberti introduced us to her daughter and another teacher, Signora Lucia Nardi and made us most welcomed to their town. Pictures to follow soon....

That's it for Thursday, 24 January 2008: giovedì, 24 gennaio 2008.

Ciao, Ben

Moving2Italy2 – #1 source of links About, For or On Italy for those individuals moving, traveling or already living in Italy.

Today’s quote is a Italian proverb, author unknown.

"Quannu l'ossu è 'n pedi, la carni va e veni."
"As long as you're able to walk you can always regain your health."

Please note: The time listed below for this posting is Central European Time (CET)/ GMT+1.

(LAST EDITED/UPDATED: 28 January 2008)
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Friday, January 18, 2008

Info on 2008 Events and Festivals (festa or sagra) in Italy

(LAST EDITED/UPDATED: 9 August 2008)

Here are the links for 2008 various events and festivals (feste or sagre) in Italy:

EVENTS/FESTIVALS
  • 2008 Europa Cup (Parachuting Competitions) – Dates: 08 - 10 August – Location: Belluno Airport, Belluno (BL) – Source: FAI Sporting Calendar (Parachuting Competitions) of FAI (Fédération Aéronautique Internationale) – "is the world governing body for air sports and aeronautical world records."
  • The Chocolate Festival in Turin – Dates: 22 February - 2 March 2008 – In English, Italian
  • Torino Food Market Festival – 2009: TBA
  • Cantine Aperte (Open Wine Cellars or 'Open Wine Cantinas') – Annual event – Last Sunday in May – What this means is that wine cellars of the Movimento Turismo del Vino association throw open their doors and you can sample some of the best wines in Italy. – In Italian Only
  • Festa dei Ceri - Annual event – In May in Gubbio (Umbria) – In Italian Only
  • Fiera Internazionale del Libro (International Book Fair of Turin) – "is the main event in Italy dedicated to books, reading and culture: Europe’s largest book fair open to both specialist visitors and the general public." – Dates: 08 - 12 May 2008 – In English, Italian
  • Spoleto Festival – Dates: 27 June - 13 July – Spoleto (Umbria)
  • Umbria Jazz Festival 2008 – Annual event – In July in Perugia (Umbria)
  • Palio (Horse Race) – Annual event – In July and August in Siena (Tuscany)
  • The 65th International Venice Film Festival (La Biennale di Venezia ) – Annual event – Dates: 27 August - 6 September – In English, Italian
  • The International Antiques Fair
  • Eurochocolate – Annual event – Dates: 18 - 26 October – Perugia (Umbria)
  • Salone del Gusto – biannual event – In multiple languages – 23 - 27 October 2008
  • Frantoi Aperti – Annual event – In November in Umbria – Frantoi Aperti aims to acquaint the public more closely with Umbrian olive oil through the institution of two days in which the public is admitted to the region’s oileries and invited to taste the year’s new oil for themselves, as well as talk directly to the producers about all the production process.
  • Umbria Jazz Winter – In Orvieto
EVENTS/FESTIVALS BY REGION
LISTINGS OF EVENTS
MISCELLANEOUS
* = Blog entry has been updated.

The above links are current. If anyone has any suggestions for other sites, please feel free to post your comment and I'll update this blog entry. For your specific interest, please search the web for further information using Google .

I could not provide the 2008 dates for some of the events listed above, please check back later for an update. If you do know the date for a specific event above or to include any that I may have missed, please leave a comment and I'll update the event and/or blog entry with the correct date(s).

Needless to say, there are 1,000's of events in Italy and all through the year. One of the most comprehensive sources can be found at Italian Holidays, Festivals, Street Parties… – "a list of Italian holidays and festivals which can be accessed by city, region and date." – Source: the Hostetler web site. There is not one source for all these events, festivals, etc. Unfortunately, one needs to look at many, many listings to find the event or festival that they like to attend. The best way to find an event is to ask around and to the locals of the area you are traveling in who may share with you one of their favorites.

That's it for Friday, 18 January 2008: venerdì, 18 gennaio 2008.

Felice Anno Nuovo!

Ciao, Ben

Moving2Italy2 – #1 source of links About, For or On Italy for those individuals moving, traveling or already living in Italy.

Today’s quote is a Italian proverb, author unknown.

"Vedi Napoli, e poi muori!"
"See Naples, and then die!"

Please note: The time listed below for this posting is Central European Time (CET)/ GMT+1.

(LAST EDITED/UPDATED: 9 August 2008)
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Thursday, January 03, 2008

Info on 2008 National Holiday Observances in Italy

Here are the 2008 National Holiday Observances in Italy:
  1. January/gennaio
    • 1 - New Years Day (Capodanno)
    • 6 - Epiphany (Epifania)
  2. February/febbraio
  3. March/marzo
    • 23 - Easter (Buona Pasqua)
    • 24 - Easter Monday (Lunedì dell'Angelo, Pasquetta)
  4. April/aprile
    • 25 - Liberation Day (Festa della Liberazione)
    • 25 - Feast of St. Mark (Venice only)
  5. May/maggio
    • 1 - Labor Day (Festa dei Lavoratori)
  6. June/giugno
    • 2 - Founding of the Republic (Festa della Repubblica)
    • 24 - St. John the Baptist Day (Florence only)
    • 29 - St. Peter and St. Paul's Day (Rome only)
  7. July/luglio
  8. August/agosto
    • 15 - Assumption Day (Assunzione or Ferragosto)
  9. September/settembre
    • 19 - St. Gennaro's Day (Naples only)
  10. October/ottobre
  11. November/novembre
    • 1 - All Saints Day (Ognissanti or Tutti i santi)
  12. December/dicembre
    • 7 - St. Ambrogio's Day (Milan only)
    • 8 - Immaculate Conception's day (Immacolata Concezione)
    • 25 - Christmas Day (Buon Natale)
    • 26 - St. Stephen's Day (Santo Stefano)
    • 31 - New Year's Eve
MISCELLANEOUS
* = Blog entry has been updated.

The above links are current. If anyone has any suggestions for other sites, please feel free to post your comment and I'll update this blog entry. For your specific interest, please search the web for further information using Google .

It's important for traveling to, from and within Italy to know the Italian national holiday observances. These holiday observances may affect your travel plans, visits to museums, Italian business or government offices, etc. Public transportation may be on limited schedule.

That's it for Thursday, 3 January 2008: giovedì, 3 gennaio 2008.

Ciao, Ben

Moving2Italy2 – #1 source of links About, For or On Italy for those individuals moving, traveling or already living in Italy.

Today’s quote is an Italian proverb, author unknown.

"Una donna, la sua sorte e fatta dell'amore ch'ella accetta."
"A woman's face is determined by the love she accepts."

Please note: The time listed below for this posting is Central European Time (CET)/ GMT+1.
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Monday, December 24, 2007

Info on Ben's and Martha's 2007 Christmas Letter

Here is our 2007 Christmas Letter from Italy:

Season Greetings to Everyone (Buon Feste Tutte),

For some of you, if you had not heard from us in a while, it is because Missy and Ben have moved to a rennovated farm house built in 1650 on approximately 50 acres (23 hectares) just outside of Monte San Savino in the province of Arezzo in the region of Tuscany, Italy.

December is the start of our third full month in Italy and we are enjoying our time here. There were a lot of “firsts” this year for us. It was our first cruise, transatlantic on the Queen Mary II from NYC to Southampton, England with our 15 year old dog, Siena Lucca. We have seen and felt our first season change in Italy. It was our first Thanksgiving together outside America, first time in Italy during the months of November and December with many more “firsts” to come. We are looking forward to celebrating Christmas and New Year’s Eve Italian style.

It is hard to believe that this time last year Ben was planning to start a new job in January but instead we will end 2007, living in Italy. Talk about doing a 360, it made our heads spin. In February, Missy received notice that she had become an Italian citizen. In just 7 months: we sold our house, packed to move and to store our belonging’s, shipped 41 boxes to Italy including a Weber grill and several boxes of Asian ingredients, sailed on the Queen Mary II with 21 bags, took a ferry to France and met Ben’s daughter, Maria, with a leased mini-van, drove through France and Italy to our rental house on a farm on top of one of the largest hills in the area outside of and above a small town in Tuscany.

Within a few days, we ran into Italian bureaucracy that we have read and heard so much about. But that did not spoil our fun or stop us from going to festivals: duck, with Maria and polenta with another Expat couple, Barb and Art, (whom we had met on one of our previous trips to Italy) and Missy’s cousin and husband from Delaware, Jeanne and Fred. Friends, Nina and Ellen, whom Missy worked with at Clyde’s, a restaurant in Northern Virginia, were our first guests to stay in our guesthouse. Oh, and we had to buy a car.

By the way (BTW), hunting season started the day after we arrived on 15 September and it is still hunting season in Italy! As recently as this past Sunday, 23 December, we could hear gunshots, barking dogs and the shouts and sounds of hunters nearby in our rental house. Yes, they were that close. Fortunately, we were prepared and had read about the start of hunting season. When we were visiting my sister, Bea, and her family in Kansas City, Kansas this past July, we bought a blaze orange vest for Siena Luca and blaze orange clothing for Missy and myself at Cabela’s, a huge outdoor and hunting store not far from my sister’s house to wear when we go outside to walk the dog.

In the months that followed, we have gone; to 2 different truffle festivals, San Miniato and San Giovanni d’Asso, a chocolate festival in Arezzo, a pumpkin festival with another Expat couple, David, Indah and their son, Alex, in Foiano della Chiana, a tasting of typical Tuscan foods at a exposition of Agriturismos (working farms that can derive part of their income from renting rooms or houses to paying guests) in Arezzo, and traveled down roads that we have not been down before in Tuscany. We had Thanksgiving dinner, turkey with most of the traditional trimmings with another expat couple, Tania and Keith whom we have known for almost 3 years. We have attended several weekly outdoor markets in and around the province of Arezzo.

We have discovered new restaurants and taken friends and family to some of our favorites from past visits. However, life is not all festivals, outdoor markets and eating, our paper chase continues.

Even though, Missy has an Italian passport. We both have to have recognized residency in our local comune (town) and identity cards (carta d’ identica). To get identity cards, we needed to submit copies of birth certificates, marriage certificates and, sometimes we think, every piece of paper we ever touched. Most of these documents had previously been translated into Italian, notarized and have been certified by the various Secretary of State offices where we have previously lived or were born in: Kentucky, the District of Columbia, North Carolina and Virginia. We have made (9) separate trips to the Anagrafe office in Monte San Savino where we had to submit our documents separately. We are very grateful to our neighbor Alessio and his mother, Rita, in assisting us with this process and requirement to live legally in this comune.

We each had to get Italian tax numbers, known as Codice Fiscale. Ben (the non-citizen) had to submit additional paperwork to register with the questura (police) and will received a document called a Carta di Soggorno (Cdis). Being married to an Italian citizen, he gets the Cdis not the more common Permiso di Soggorno (Pdis). He is lucky that this whole process changed within the past year and the paperwork is submitted via the Italian Post Office rather than standing in line at the questura office in Arezzo.

Ben had an appointment at the questura office in mid-December regarding his request for a Carta di Soggorno. In addition to all the paperwork he had initially submitted back in October at the Italian Post Office, he was asked for more documents and another set of photographs. He provided copies of our marriage certificate both in English and one translated into Italian, proof of financial worth (copy of bank statement and a letter from the Social Security Administration showing monthly benefit) and (4) passport size photos. Ben had to return because some machine had broken down (or so we were told) and the following day, he had to be digitally photographed and have his finger and palm prints taken. He was told by 2 different individuals that he was to return to the questura in 1 month or in 2 months to pickup his Carta di Soggorno. Needless to say, one never gets a straight forward answer in Italy.

December was a very good month for us. Besides Ben getting his first appointment with the questura, he received his carta d’ identica from the comune we live in. After which we applied for and received our health cards from the regional health authority to receive medical care and prescriptions. We now have a doctor and made our first visit to his office to get prescriptions for our various medications that we had in the States. What was amazing was that we did not have to pay for the office visit or for any of the medications. Also, you should be aware that there was no office staff supporting this doctor. When we knocked on his office door, he was in his office (just 1 room, 10’ X 16’) by himself behind a desk with a desktop computer and monitor, an examination table, a bookcase, his diploma on the wall and a few other items. Outside his office was a waiting room that he shared with another doctor. When you entered the waiting room, you asked the people sitting there who was the last person to enter and what doctor they were waiting for. It was a lot different than the doctor’s offices that Missy and I had been to in the States.

Ben’s other daughter, Annalisa, and her friend Owen, will be arriving at the end of the month for a short visit and will celebrate bring in the New Years with us. They will be bring with them a care package (read suitcase) with various items that we can’t find here or would like to have in Italy. It will also contain some surprise Christmas presents for Missy that she doesn’t know about.

Making it to Italy would not of been possible without the assistance, support and help of friends and family. Ben wants to recognize and express his and our thanks to: BK & Jim (Missy’s best friends from NC), Jane our next door neighbor & her family (VA), Bonnie & Pete (Missy’s cousin & her husband in NJ), Carmela & Antonio (our friends in Meta, Italy), Nina & Ellen (Missy’s former co-workers from Clyde’s), Bea (Ben’s sister in KS), Maria & Annalisa (Ben’s daughters) and Pat (Ben’s ex-wife). There are more individuals to list and thank for their assistance and support but these specific individuals helped get us out of Virginia or into Italy or provided items that we needed here in Italy. Also, we are very fortunate and blessed to have wonderful neighbors on either side of us: Ida and Luciano with 2 children, Alessio and Serena with a new born girl and his mother, Rita.

So far, so good! We plan on keeping busy in the months to come by renting out our guest house. Let us know if you will be in the area and plan to stay with us and/or share a glass a wine.

One last comment, one our biggest frustrations in this part of Italy is the lack of low cost and easy internet access. We live too far out of town for ADSL or cable. The dialup connection is very slow, expensive and unreliable. There are NO internet cafes in Monte San Savino. We go to a hotel lobby in Gargonza for Wi-Fi access from our respective laptops at a cost of 2 Euro/hour. With the current exchange rate, that comes out to just under $3.00/hour. The other choice is our town’s municipal tourist office. There it is free but at this time of the year, only available 3 nights a week for 2 hours but there are only 3 computers, available on a first come basis and there’s no privacy. So please be aware that if you drop us a email MSG, it may take several days to respond back to you.

Happy Holidays to you and the best of New Year’s (Buon Feste e Felice Nuovo Anno!).

Ben and Missy

Snail mail address:

Podere Covivole
Gargonza 81
52048 Monte San Savino (AR)
Italy

PS

When you get a chance read Ben’s blog: Moving2italy2.blogspot - The #1 source of links About, For or On Italy for those individuals moving, traveling or already living in Italy.

PSS

Here are a few photographs and of our journey to Italy.



Photograph #1: Sign on our house in Vienna, VA, February 2007



Photograph #2: Missy with her friends from NC who made several trips up from Oxford to help us pack, load U-Haul trucks and just did anything else to help us move, July, 2007.



Photograph #3: Just a few of the 21 bags we took on the Queen Mary II, the ferry to France and in the leased mini-van, September 2007.



Photograph #4: Missy's cousin, Bonnie and her husband Pete who helped get us, Siena Lucca and all the luggage to Queen Mary II in Brooklyn, NY, September 2007.



Photograph #5: Ben and Missy on the Queen Mary II passing the Statue of Liberty. A very emotional and memorable moment for my wife.



Photograph #6: Missy onboard the Queen Mary II with a sub from Voltaco's, Ocean City, NJ



Photograph #7: Missy and Siena Lucca taking a stroll on the Queen Mary II.



Photograph #8: Ben, Missy and Siena Lucca at the French/Italian border by Menton, France.




Photograph #9: Our rental house, Podere Covivole, outside of Monte San Savino (AR)



Photograph #10: The 1 bedroom/1 bath stand-alone guest house at Podere Covivole



Photograph #11: Just one of the many sunsets we have enjoyed since September, 2007 with a glass of wine or scotch in hand.

That's it for Monday, 24 December 2007: lunedì, 24 dicembre 2007.

Ciao, Ben

Moving2Italy2 – #1 source of links About, For or On Italy for those individuals moving, traveling or already living in Italy.

Today’s quote is a Italian proverb, author unknown.

"Il languaggio dell'amore e negli occhi."
"The language of love is in the eyes."

Please note: The time listed below for this posting is Central European Time (CET)/ GMT+1.
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Friday, December 21, 2007

Info on Online Travel Companies for Travel to Italy

Here are some links for Online Travel Companies for Travel to Italy:

EUROPEAN BASED

  • Opodo – "is a leading pan-European online travel."

USA BASED

  • Expedia – "Purchase airline tickets, make hotel reservations, find vacation packages, car rental & cruise deals at the travel agency rated #1 in customer satisfaction."
  • Fodor's – "FOR CHOICE TRAVEL EXPERIENCES"
  • ORBITZ – "The faster, easier way to find hotels, airline tickets, vacation packages, travel deals, car rentals and cruises. Compare and save at ORBITZ."
  • PerilloTours – "With perillotours.com, experience wonderful vacations to Italy, Spain and Hawaii. Escorted tours."
  • Priceline.com – "Shop and compare great deals on flights, hotels, rental cars, vacation packages, cruises, last minute deals, weekend deals, and more!"
  • lonely planet – "therefore I travel"
  • SideStep – "The traveler's search engine"
  • Travelocity – "Book travel for less with Travelocity's specials on airfares, hotels, cruises, car rentals and more."
ARTICLES
MISCELLANEOUS
* = Blog entry has been updated.

The above links are current. If anyone has any suggestions for other sites, please feel free to post your comment and I'll update this blog entry. For your specific interest, please search the web for further information using Google .

Please note: I do NOT represent or endorse any of these links nor do I receive payment for listing them in my blog.

That's it for Friday, 21 December 2007: venerdì, 21 dicembre 2007.

Ciao, Ben

Moving2Italy2 – #1 source of links About, For or On Italy for those individuals moving, traveling or already living in Italy.

Today’s quote is a Italian proverb, author unknown.

"Vira privata, vita beata."
"Hidden life, happy life."

Please note: The time listed below for this posting is Central European Time (CET)/ GMT+1.
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Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Info About, For or On Italy Seeking Guest Writers

Dear Readers of my blog,

I need your help. Due to very slow internet access and questionable phone service (at times), I am seeking guest contributors/writers for my blog. This is because I cannot research and generate blog entries and postings like I did in the States before I arrived in Italy. I am getting further and further behind.

You can write anything About, For or On Italy based upon your personal experience while traveling to, around or living in Italy. You will be identified as the author of the blog entry.

Please leave a comment with your email address, I will be the only person viewing your actual email address.

I want to thank you in advance for your assistance in this matter.

Buon Feste and Buon Natale!

That's it for Wednesday, 19 December 2007: mercoledì, 19 dicembre 2007.

Ciao, Ben

Moving2Italy2 – The #1 source of links About, For or On Italy for those individuals moving, traveling or already living in Italy.

Today’s quote is a Italian proverb, author unknown.

"Piccola scintilla puo bruciare una villa."
"A little spark kindles a great fire."

Please note: The time listed below for this posting is Central European Time (CET)/ GMT+1.
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