Archive for Red Tape Drama
US Border Control: Where is the Middle Ground?
One of the benefits of living in a foreign country, besides the striking people and homemade dishes, is being able to display around-the-clock affection for your home country. Not that expats plunge onward in blind patriotism, in fact, it is the opposite. Many of us are aware of our country’s, dare I say, shortcomings, but choose to love [...]
Cutting Through the Tape - Part II
The saga continues…
When we last saw our hero, he was knee deep in nastro rosso and fighting his way towards the tourism office in Catanzaro.
Ma, perche’?
Because…in 2006, just as the handsome proprietor was set to build his B&B empire, the APT Tourism Board in Catanzaro announced that, in an effort to boost local tourism, they [...]
Cutting Through the Tape - Part I
Oh, how I TRY to keep this place upbeat and positive (I am speaking of the blog, of course), but sometimes you have a really crappy day - or, your husband does - and you need to share. And, sometimes…just sometimes…that crap won’t fit into one blog post. So, here you have…
“Cutting Through the Tape [...]
Do It Already!
Ahhh…la vita italiana.
Laid back.
Stress free.
Full of nothing but wholesome pasta and strong vino.
Right?
Yea. Right.
Don’t get me wrong. We have some good pasta down here in the south - and our wine ain’t too shabby, either, but sometimes you just wanna get going! You want to buy personal products in the middle of the day. You [...]
Some Things Just Don’t Mix
And, wedding invitations and the Italian Post are two of them.
I know, I know…it isn’t Wedding Wednesdays, so what are we doing talking about WEDDINGS??? (And, I am counting on you to forgive my Wedding Wednesday lapse last week…)
Well, this is a tad different. This is personal. This is about MY wedding! (Hear the loud [...]
Ground-Breaking News!
I try to keep this blog as professional as possible and not really discuss my personal life! Ha! As if…(and yes, that was an intentional throwback to Alicia Silverstone in Clueless!)
We all know my life is an open book, and not always as simple as Paperino!
So - I absolutely must share with you our latest [...]
What Do You Get When You Mix
Italian Bureaucracy and Wedding Planning?
Easy sailing?
Not quite.
A nightmare?
Nope! Not again.
A good laugh?
Well…decide for yourself.
I sent an email to the Italian Consulate in Houston requesting detailed information on the process I should take after Pep and I get married.
I received this automated response.
I will be out of the office until July 27. For emergencies such as [...]
Ladies and Gentlemen
Raise your glasses…
Put a smile on your face…
Prepare to make a speech…
Oh, wait. That would be ME who has to make a speech, right?
Well, believe it or not (and trust me, I am still leery of celebration)
Il Cedro Bed and Breakfast
is
Officially Open
(Ringing bells and blowing whistles inserted here.)
But, in keeping with the “let’s-take-as-much-of-your-time-as-we-can” plan, it [...]
We’re Almost There, Baby
Almost…
After months of cutting through Italian Red Tape (with dull scissors, no doubt,) Il Cedro Bed and Breakfast is set to open its doors, ahem, “officially” that is, this FRIDAY!
Woo Hoo!
Who knew the paperwork would take FIVE months to process? I know, I know, some of you expats living in Italy coulda guessed, but really [...]
Voi nu café
It’s been a little over two months since we lamented the Five Most Difficult Things soooooo far about opening a B&B…And, boy were we WRONG!
OK, we weren’t really wrong, it WAS hard choosing shower gel and shampoo and getting the hot water distributed throughout the building….and, we did spend an awful lot of time on [...]
