Help Regarding: Italy.......................................................!!

[jmg1]

Following on from my thread about moving to Italy, can anyone help with the following:

1. I cannot find any Agents/Websites with large Houses 5 Bedrooms or more for a Long Term Let.

2. Does anyone know of somebody who speaks Italian and would like to go to Italy (or who is already in Italy) to work as an Au Pair.

3. Can anyone recommend Towns or Cities to live in.

ks, North or South not bothered just want to give it a go and get there during summer. If it doesn't work out at least I can say I tried it.

wk, call it desperation, desperation to change my no life.

jmg - you have got a life but granted, moving to Italy would be a good change for anyone!

dg - stop it, being green doesn't suit you. Come in the bar and I'll give you some of lou's disaronno to cheer you up

I am green that someone is going before me. I will get there one day very soon. JMG, you can pass on all the hints for when I go. If I spoke Italian I'd offer to look after your gorgeous kiddies but sadly, I don't.

Agree about Genoa but thought Pisa was dull. When I told some Italians I was going there they wondered why (apart from the obvious reason)

I really like Rome & Surroundings (Castelli etc)and South, down to Naples (not Amalfi coast). Some of the central areas in the south look nice but have only driven through them (probably a lot cheaper too). I was very disappointed with FLorence, althogh an experince worth having, very snooty people and rather grey and dull. The rest of Tuscany is beautiful but kind of for show and like a museum, I equate it to the Cotswolds in England. In my experience not many Italians speak English and, if you try to speak Italian, they are very nice and friendly but have SUCH precise pronouciations that they don't get even correct (but English) Italian. Although they seem like wild rule breakers (which they are, try driving in Naples!) they also seem deeply conformist, e.g. there are lots of things done in very specific ways, from dishes of food to how you are allowed to sit on the beach to what colours you wear at what time of year etc. They are so great to look at but, after a while, you realise that they mostly dress the same and have the same things! That's fine but I'm so used to our multi-everytihng society its quite a change. When I first went there EVERY car was Italian, mostly Fiat, no-one black (not even selling junk), no Chinese etc restaurants. Actually, I think it was better then!!

I'm seeing KS later in the week, jmg, so would you like me to report back on her sanity before you agree to meet her?

You should email sm's mum again.

I will get the info of the agent (Rupert) that my mother uses to buy her houses in Cortona (Tuscany). He is english but his wife is Italian and they have lived there forever. They are a lovely couple and could probably recommend someone local to look after the kids and I would trust any recommendation they make. My parents just sold their very large house just outside Cortona. I wouldn't be surprised if the new owners would be happy to have someone in it for the winter season. It would give you time to find a place of your own. Or perhaps Rupert could even recommend a rental. I will email you the details if that's ok.

Another lady to add to his list ks......

PMSL lou!!!

I knew there was an ulterior motive

I know one of the chaps that works for Casa Travella, Paolo Bartlett. We used to work togehter and he is lvery helpful.

If you are interestd in Abruzzo try www.housearounditaly.com

The advantage of Abruzzo is lower prices, that North, and close to beach and Sking...but it is very hot in the summer, we will be there next week and have been warned temperatres are very high.

SofiaA, that is fine thanks, the more information the better.

Sofia - can you help at all with my drinking thread? See media requests. Thought you might be able to put me in contact with an Italian mum!

Sorry for hijack!

eve, I have had a look at that website, the thought of being so close to both the beach and ski resorts sounds like a good idea.