Category Archives: Survival

Surviving a parking fine in Italy

Posted on 17 May, 2016 by An Englishwoman in Italy

Last October we incurred a parking fine in Macerata, a dignified city and former regional capital. We left our car in a road just below the walls and bought a parking ticket from a machine. I’m afraid it’s a bit worn … Continue reading →

Posted in Bureaucracy, Driving, Survival | Tagged , | 8 Comments

Theft and absence: what you should know before you buy a second home.

Posted on 24 Jul, 2015 by An Englishwoman in Italy

This is a translation of my previous post, which I wrote in Italian, without too many mistakes, I hope, because I wanted to give Italians some idea of what it’s like to own a holiday home in the bel paese. I had … Continue reading →

Posted in Second home, Survival | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

Assenza e furto: i problemi della casa di vacanze

Posted on 18 Jul, 2015 by An Englishwoman in Italy

Ho avuto un po’ di difficoltà nello scrivere questo articolo. Con difficoltà si ammette che i proprietari di una seconda casa abbiano problemi. Soni i senzatetti che hanno problemi, non noi. Ciononostante, ho definito questo mi blog come “il punto di vista … Continue reading →

Posted in Casa di vacanze, Second home, Survival | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

The Englishwoman survives rain in Italy (with a little help from Dante).

Posted on 18 Jan, 2015 by An Englishwoman in Italy

Rain I love the book “The Enchanted April” by Elizabeth von Arnim, but every time I read it a little voice says to me, “In real life it would have been raining!”. It rains a lot in Italy, and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Cultura, Entertainment, Survival | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

How to fill up with petrol/gasolene in Italy.

Posted on 8 Dec, 2014 by An Englishwoman in Italy

Do this on the autostrada whenever you can. It’s open 24/7 and attended. Failing that, try to fill up on the superstrada, i.e. a toll-free highway with two lanes in each direction. But be warned! It was in a superstrada filling station … Continue reading →

Posted in Driving, Survival | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Surviving mosquitoes in Italy.

Posted on 8 Dec, 2014 by An Englishwoman in Italy

Do you have a fantasy of drinking or dancing in a smart Italian venue on a warm evening, wearing a glamorous dress to show off your tan and a pair of high-heeled strappy sandals? Well, forget it, unless you want to … Continue reading →

Posted in Survival | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Desperately seeking a nice cup of tea in Italy

Posted on 8 Dec, 2014 by An Englishwoman in Italy

Most Italians don’t understand the concept of a nice cup of tea, any more than most English people understand the concept of coffee. I was in the queue for the till at Imec (pronounced Eemech), the local electrical shop, with … Continue reading →

Posted in Food and drink, Survival | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hill Towns of Le Marche: survival guide for tourists

Posted on 23 Jun, 2014 by An Englishwoman in Italy

Hill towns of Le Marche The frank guide to towns, sights and where to eat, drink and shop, with advice on how not to end up disappointed, fed up and frustrated. Welcome to the Marche, between the Apennines and the Adriatic, … Continue reading →

Posted in Food and drink, Hill towns, Libraries, Survival, Theatre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Some hill towns; the Englishwoman survives in Cingoli, Gradara, Matelica, Mondavio, Urbania, Urbino.

Posted on 23 Jun, 2014 by An Englishwoman in Italy

Cingoli Small town known as the balcony of the Marches, for its spectacular views. Touristy, but consequently clean and beautifully kept. I visited it at lunchtime in October – it was deadly quiet and there were no restaurants open within … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Borghi dell'entroterra, Churches, Cingoli, Festa, Food and drink, Giovanni Santi, Hill towns, History of Art, Libraries, Matelica, Mondavio, Museum, Museums, Survival, Theatre, Urbania, Urbino, Vacation, Where to eat | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Return to Corinaldo; the ups and downs of owning a second home

Posted on 22 Jun, 2014 by An Englishwoman in Italy

  Living in Italy is a switchback of emotions for foreigners, whether you are an expatriate or a second home owner. For us, second home owners, there is the anxiety of the return to our holiday home after the cold, … Continue reading →

Posted in Second home, Survival, Vacation, Where to eat | Tagged , , | 2 Comments