Andrew's activity

Have you tried MacDonald's in Italy? My advice; don't!We once tried them in an emergency , and if that's American food, then having tried the Cowboys we can't be blamed for trying the Indians...

Dear SahibJust for info; we've lived in Italy full time for 7 years now, both in the North East (Lombardia) and now in Le Marche, and have maybe even tasted and enjoyed certain Italian dishes that you wouldn't know even existed! I can however fully empathise with the thought that visiting Italy you should also include trying as much local fayre as practicable. Searching out the various sagras can be a great source of local delicacies, and that is in fact what we often do. Occasionally however a good old nostalgia trip doesn't do any harm, and although when we lived in UK we almost never ate Indian food, we find it simply a bit of fun to 'go for an Indian', as do some of our Italian friends. I imagine they look upon this as a way of a. excluding Indian food from their future menu plans; or b. broadening their horizons.In the same theme therefore the constant importing by visiting relatives of Branston Pickle; HP Brown Sauce; Heinz Salad Cream and Baked Beans should be 'awf' the menu. I even know of people who bring packs of bacon and packets of Cornflakes when visiting Italy. They often quote that "Oh I know you can get them here; but somehow they are not the same....". For you and me probably a load of old cod's wallop (from Scunthorpe with an 'e') however each to their own...Punka-Wallap.s. we also recommend that should people require a 'full English breakfast' that they should book their holidays in Rimini as there you can wash it down with a few pints of 'Watney's Red Barrel' before staggering up the street and tiddling in alleys 'a la English'.

I remember one particular evening many years ago in Liverpool. I'd finished late in a sports competition, and together with a bunch of other competitors went towards the town centre to find something to eat. We chanced upon an Italian restaurant where the waiter did everything to help us albeit in 'pigeon' English. We ordered, and waited to be served, only to hear a real row emanating from the kitchen, with plenty of plates and pans etc getting bashed about. Our waiter charged out of the kitchen followed by an irate person who we presumed to be the cook; the waiter throwing his apron in the cook's direction, and giving him a mouthful in a Liverpool dialect that would have put John Lennon to shame before storming out and slaming the door. We did actually get something to eat; the cook apologised that we had had to suffer the scene, and we didn't pay!p.s. If you're ever in the Manchester / Salford area, my cousin's husband has an excellent Italian restaurant (he's from Pisa originally) actually with a Fiat 500 in the foyer!

Hi HelenYou can still help make a difference by buying a T shirt - limited edition; never to be repeated; at the ridiculously cheap price of minimum 10 euros.Let me know;Andrew

Thanks Ann;we did our best and everybody mucked in;All the BestThe Gobby Bloke

Hi KevanI can e-mail a few good pics if you like; I have loads. e-mail addy? mine is jeppo678@virgilio.it

Some years ago now we were very lucky to actually take part in the Palio at Fermo, which is generally held around 15 August. I was a sort of second level aristocrat; Jean my Dame, and our girls 'children in waiting'. The procession takes about 4 hours to wind its way around the streets (at least 400 people in the 'crocodile'), and medieval costumes add to the hard work. They only use authentic garb, and it is heavy and hot as generally it can be around 35 degrees during the procession. There are in fact 2 processions around the town; the first on the night before the Palio; terminating at the Duomo for the blessing of the Palio itself (a painted banner) and then assisting the Tug of War competition on the piazza outside the Duomo. This Tug of War often degenerates into a punch up between the various contrada!The following day the Palio procession winds its way to the square where the costumed participants have privileged seating to watch the horse race that sets off from the entrance to Fermo and finishes just outside the gate into the square. Jockeys are generally open to bribes etc, and in fact the year we took part the winner pulled up just before the finish line to allow another horse to win! You can imagine the fisticuffs!All good fun however; something to take part in once in a lifetime!

I can fully endorse Kevan's comments about the Quintana, it's a really spectacular event that is a 'must' if you've never been there. I would advise however that parking is a nightmare, and suggest that you investigate travelling into Ascoli from the coastal direction using the little train, thus parking away from the town centre. Tickets for the train cost next to nothing, and are bought at the Tabaccaio or Newsagents. You buy for a block of kms, so 10 kms costs about 1 euro, 20kms a bit more etc. Train timetables can be downloaded at www.trenitalia.com or www.provincia.ap.it Remember also to validate your ticket on the station platform.To be precise about the actual horse involvement, it's 'jousting' of a particular variety, as it doesn't involve 1 v 1, rather it's the horse and rider against the clock, following a circuit sort of figure 8, and on one of the rounds hitting a target on a rotating dummy, commonly known as a Saracen. They need to get past him before he swings round and clouts the rider with his ball on a chain!

Tongue in cheek;I think it's a good job that you are not a native Japanese speaker arriving to live in Italy and trying to contact ENEL by phone hoping they have someone who speaks Japanese. How dare they!When in Rome....

We too have moved from Lombardia (Viadana near Mantova) to Fermo then to Colli del Tronto; on the Salaria between San Benedetto del Tronto and Ascoli Piceno. When you are in the area the kettle is generally on! (or the corkscrew / beer pump up and running)Andrew & Jeane-mail  jeppo678@virgilio.it or mobile 338 2105315