Just bought a house in Abruzzo

[maisie21]

Hi Barry
We also need to consider getting the phone, internet and a satellite dish installed. We were going to wait until we move to Italy in 2010 but I think that we will probably try sooner because everything is such a hassle. we have got a small wood burning stove that we use also but we now need to arrange for a delivery of logs from somewhere before winter.
Judy.

[Barry]

There's a supply company beside the highway not far from the Capestrano turnoff that claims to deliver firewood for 10 euro/ 100kg. The locals say the wood is pretty green and must be dried before you can burn it. They figure you need 3000 kg. to last a winter. We've tried our fireplace but you have to leave a window open or it won't burn which kind of defeats the purpose. Maybe a gas incert in the future is the way to go. We did look at some very nice pellet stoves as well as some high efficiency wood stoves but they seem very expensive (2000 euro). For that price we could buy a high efficiency gas furnace in Calgary and ship it to Italy!
Barry

[maisie21]

Hi Barry
thanks for the information about the firewood.
We haven't tried our fireplace yet either but my husband John is planning to take it out and build a new one(the one in the house at present is a red painted brick one!!).We also need to build a new log store before we order the wood but hopefully we will be able to get some work done when we visit at the end of the month.
Judy.

[Barry]

Judy
Red brick sounds nice! Ours is done in that white shiny tile. In fact our whole kitchen is done in this white tile which extends half way up the walls. Looks like a hospital room! We have started to do some painting but the price of paint compared to Calgary is a shock (about double) and those plaster walls are like sponges so 5 liters dosen't go very far.
Barry

[TAO]

Barry and all,
I was able to buy wood burner stove in France for about 500 euros. it would heat up a room of 30m2 nicely and if you leave the door open it would warm up the next room as well. The brand is called SUPRA COLNAN 2. The conduct should go through your existing fireplace cheminey. Maybe they sell the same iYn Italy.You're right, the paint is much more expensive in Europe than Canada.
Yvonne

[Goingtoitalia]

Hello,
I am off to Pescara and hopefully going to be staying a night in my house in Ofena. Buying on Monday hoping to stay Tuesday night. Is there any place that I should check out for dinner in Ofena ? Is there a market near by? Anyone that would like to meet up for a drink or??? My Email is yobhip@verizon.net if you care to respond in private. I am a swm, 47 from Los Angeles, so yes an American
Thanks,
Bruce

[Barry]

Hi Bruce,
The only place for dinner I know is the Aufineum Bar which has a world class restaurant, but I think you have to make reservations. If you are flying in to Pescara there is the big superstore right across the street from the airport called Auchan. You can stock up on food and booze there. The Housearounditaly main office is just down the street as well. If you are renting a car there is a good supermarket in San Pio and you can always drive into Aquila which has lots of restaurants.
Just beside the service station on SS17 a little north of the turnoff to Ofena has a pizza place that the locals say is very good. There is a wedding taking place in Carrufo which has a lot of people from Toronto attending so there will be lots of english speakers for the next few days if you drive up the mountain.
If you get desperate give my cousin a call . His name is Gianni and his phone number is 0862 956419. he speaks perfect english and I am sure he can give you any advice you need.
Barry

[maisie21]

Hi Barry
We have also found the paint very expensive, especially as I have had the colour I wanted mixed at the store(Obi).
We have had to give the walls and ceilings two good coats of paint and that is after we have sanded the walls down as there were some areas that when we painted them it took the plaster off beneath the new paint.
It is such good fun renovating properties!!!
Judy.

[Barry C.]

Hi Barry and all
I am just getting packed today for the trip to Carrufo for the wedding. My son, the groom, his girlfriend Alessia, the bride, and her family are already there. My daughter, husband and three small children have been there a week. Janet and I fly from Toronto on Wednesday. I had a generous offer of the use of a house but chose instead to stay in Ofena in an agritourisma (sp)
in order to pamper my wife a bit. She will be flying home after six days and I will be going on to Holland and England. There is a bit of guilt involved there on my part. We fly to Rome and not Pescara unfortunately but a mistake. Thanks to Barry for his information and photos. Incidently he is a cousin of the bride. I tried to buy a GPS with Europe but there is a two week delivery time so I left it too late. My concern was finding the right roads to get there.
If I get lost I will miss the party Friday night.
Cheers
the other Barry

[Barry]

Hi Barry,
Rose promised lots of photos and I hope you are going to be taking lots as well!
You can pick up a GPS at any Euronics store in Italy. In addition the big superstore like Auchan and Ipercoop also sell them. If you are flying to Rome from Toronto that means your going to Leonardo Di Vinci airport which is on the west side of the city. You have to get on the ring road and hope it's not to busy and drive to the east side to get the autostrad to L'Aquila. It usually takes us an hour and a half from Ciampino which is a good 20 minutes closer than Leonardo but once your on the toll road (about 8 euro to L'Aquila) it is a very nice drive. Maybe you will run into Bruce in Ofena!
Barry