4688 Living in Puglia

I currently live in puglia, with my partner and two children. The first thing i can say i feel safer living and walking the streets near to where i live, than i do in the UK. There is no pub culture, as it is frowned upon by the italians, and hence no violence.
Since moving to puglia we have had our fair share of bad luck, but with the support of the local people we haveover come this. In general you can't get away from thefts, but these are mainly done by oppotunists and in the countryside, in the winter when the countryside homes are not generally used so much. In the towns, where i am i have never heard of any trouble, and would class it as a trouble free, quiet place to live.
Cities in general have a different feel. Like they would in UK, but in general they are civilised. I don't know of any organised crime, but as many italians tell me, the organised crime is still present, but mainly in the cities and if you own a business. When it comes to people from the Uk you wouldn't know it existed unless someone told you about, or affected you in some way, due to the enforced mafia law.
There is so much i could say about living there, but a post here wouldn't do the area or it's people any justice. But anyone thinking about full time relocation i would definetly recommend puglia as a place to settle down,relax and feel at peace. And as my children say they wouldn't live in the UK unless they really had too, bearing in mind they are 6 and 8 years you can't knock them for taste and telling the truth.
Hope this gives a little insite.
Fudgieoto

Category
Travel, Talk, Safety

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 09/09/2006 - 04:11

Hi there,
We are moving to puglia with two children aged two and five. We have bought a site near san vito. It will probably be next year by the time we get there as we are selling our house here. I would love to hear something about the italian schools around us, and the education system in general. How have your kids found school there? Did they speak any italian before they started?
I am also a bit worried about the safety aspect, so it was good to read your message.
Regards,
Cindy

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 09/14/2006 - 09:25

Hi Cindy,
We`ve been here for 2 years with our daughters (now aged 12 and 13). They had been learning Italian for a couple of years before we came but, true to form, they hadn`t actually learnt very much. They did need a lot of input when they first started at school (probably don`t expect too much help to come from the school) but are now doing really well. It will be a lot easier with younger children.

I`d say the school system is very old fashioned and quite hard on them. 8am-1pm Monday - Saturday with heaps of homework and very few holidays except in the summer. they also only get a 10 minute break in the middle of the morning and don`t leave the classroom for it. They do very little practical work too so not much `light relief`. However, most of the kids that I know who`ve come through the system seem to get a good education along the way.

I`d agree with fudgeioto that we feel much safer here when walking the streets and you certainly don`t see crowds of drunk youngsters.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 09/17/2006 - 17:42

Martina - On the school subject, we're lloking to move to Italy next year (final destination not yet confirmed) however, can you tell me when the term starts?
Thanks
Steve

[QUOTE=The Smiths in Puglia]Hi Cindy,
We`ve been here for 2 years with our daughters (now aged 12 and 13). They had been learning Italian for a couple of years before we came but, true to form, they hadn`t actually learnt very much. They did need a lot of input when they first started at school (probably don`t expect too much help to come from the school) but are now doing really well. It will be a lot easier with younger children.

I`d say the school system is very old fashioned and quite hard on them. 8am-1pm Monday - Saturday with heaps of homework and very few holidays except in the summer. they also only get a 10 minute break in the middle of the morning and don`t leave the classroom for it. They do very little practical work too so not much `light relief`. However, most of the kids that I know who`ve come through the system seem to get a good education along the way.

I`d agree with fudgeioto that we feel much safer here when walking the streets and you certainly don`t see crowds of drunk youngsters.[/QUOTE]

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 09/18/2006 - 10:04

The school year generally starts in mid September (13th this year). They have just about 2 weeks off for Christmas (maybe a couple of days less) and 2 or 3 days off at Easter. Then there are a few saints days dotted about and, if you`re lucky, there will be an election and they need to use the schools for that. This year because the election was close to Easter, it meant a longer Easter holiday which was good. The paucity of holidays makes it quite difficult to travel around much as on Sundays we just tend to relax and get ready for the coming week! The summer is good though, they usually finish at the beginning of June so that`s about three and a half months holiday.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 09/20/2006 - 06:21

We are in our 50s and have a trulli near Ceglie. We had a break-in in April and got recompense from our insurers. We were strongly advised by the locals to pay a small monthly fee to a local private security firm who will fit alarm systems and respond within minutes to an alarm going off, and check around the area periodically.
Tony Winstanley

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 09/20/2006 - 10:40

[QUOTE=Tony Winstanley]We are in our 50s and have a trulli near Ceglie. We had a break-in in April and got recompense from our insurers. We were strongly advised by the locals to pay a small monthly fee to a local private security firm who will fit alarm systems and respond within minutes to an alarm going off, and check around the area periodically.
Tony Winstanley[/QUOTE]

I agree. Private security firms are generally a good idea. We use one at our new house (although never bothered in 3 years at our trullo). They come up to the house each day just to check everything`s OK. We haven`t had our alarm fitted yet (we`re doing that ourselves and just waiting for the electrician) and I believe they provide personal alarms which the company will respond to too. We look on it as a bit of an insurance policy - a sort of preventative measure. Some areas are more susceptible to break-ins than others unfortunately, and many Brits seem to like these isolated areas, whereas the Italians are happier in a crowd!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 09/20/2006 - 13:47

[LEFT]We too use a private security firm to check our trullo near Ostuni. Wasn't sure if it was necessary but the previous owner (local) used them so we thought we should.

However, when my daughter visited recently and had to leave the hire car at the gate late at night when they arrived because someone had locked it such that she couln't open it, early the following morning (6am - a bit too early for daughter!) the security chap turned up with a key to the other gate to let them in that way - we had let him know she was coming (only really by sign language and pointing to calendar, etc as he speaks no English and we speak very little Italian). He had obviously realised what the problem was - I was very impressed.

The same guy always visits us when we are there and attempts valiantly to hold a conversation with us - a lot of grinning and nodding goes on plus a little bit of German which seems to be a more common language between us!

I don't mind the relatively reasonable cost. Not exactly sure what they would do if there was any trouble as although they have our contact phone number can't imagine us managing to communicate over the telephone - but hopefully with their assistance it won't be necessary.[/LEFT]

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/23/2008 - 11:27

:smile:Hi Tony, we just brought our trulli/farmhouse last October in the country side of Ostuni - no doubt, opportunists at winter time and are interested to hear of your private security firm. Can you please advise on the monthly fee you pay? Also, can you advise on a good insurance company for house contents cover?

Maggie

[quote=Tony Winstanley;43859]We are in our 50s and have a trulli near Ceglie. We had a break-in in April and got recompense from our insurers. We were strongly advised by the locals to pay a small monthly fee to a local private security firm who will fit alarm systems and respond within minutes to an alarm going off, and check around the area periodically.
Tony Winstanley[/quote]

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/23/2008 - 11:34

Hi there, I like the sound of your security firm, daily site visits etc. I had to laugh when I read of your efforts with communicating with the every so friendly southern Italians. Can you please let me know of the details for your firm?

Many thanks

Maggie:bigergrin:

[quote=Flyingpigs;43884][LEFT]We too use a private security firm to check our trullo near Ostuni. Wasn't sure if it was necessary but the previous owner (local) used them so we thought we should.[/LEFT]

[LEFT]However, when my daughter visited recently and had to leave the hire car at the gate late at night when they arrived because someone had locked it such that she couln't open it, early the following morning (6am - a bit too early for daughter!) the security chap turned up with a key to the other gate to let them in that way - we had let him know she was coming (only really by sign language and pointing to calendar, etc as he speaks no English and we speak very little Italian). He had obviously realised what the problem was - I was very impressed.[/LEFT]

[LEFT]The same guy always visits us when we are there and attempts valiantly to hold a conversation with us - a lot of grinning and nodding goes on plus a little bit of German which seems to be a more common language between us![/LEFT]

[LEFT]I don't mind the relatively reasonable cost. Not exactly sure what they would do if there was any trouble as although they have our contact phone number can't imagine us managing to communicate over the telephone - but hopefully with their assistance it won't be necessary.[/LEFT]
[/quote]

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 02/24/2008 - 02:29

[quote=mo1j;83371]Hi there, I like the sound of your security firm, daily site visits etc. I had to laugh when I read of your efforts with communicating with the every so friendly southern Italians. Can you please let me know of the details for your firm?

Many thanks

Maggie:bigergrin:[/quote]

Hi Maggie

Make your enquiry on [URL="http://www.pugliaposse.co.uk"]www.pugliaposse.co.uk[/URL] - you will get more of a response.

Regards

L