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Hi again,

We live in the Umbrian/Tuscan border near Cetona, the advantages are lower taxes and comune charges while we enjoy the Tuscan countryside. Buses can be fickle although if you are not on a deadline they're great modes of transport, some are also trains!

Do not worry about getting the language wrong, I once said I had a horse in the bag, not a cabbage which at the time sounded similar to me, the Italian market stall owner enjoyed the laugh and said if I did have a horse in the bag it was free but a cabbage was 1 euro. Making the effort is the point not being 100% acurate, as there are 35 verb variations ( don't panic) most people use the present, near past and future tenses and the occasional ''longtano far''  for in the long past. In our location there is the habit to shorten words and slam them together be prepared, and nearer the lake they speak another dialect even our accountant doesn't understand them well although online translation and ''say it'' for phones are wonderful help if stuck.

We are UK expats but there are plenty of ex-American's who live here and we are sure will be able to advise you on things you want to know from them.

Enjoy the next adventure be sure to take in the sights, food, wine and the friendly people who have made our lives here a joy.

Thank you for the language encouragement.  I was required to have 2 years of foreign language for my degree, and it took me five different professors and three different languages to make it!  My first French professor told me he would 'give' me a D if I promised not to take any more French from him, otherwise he would fail me so I couldn't!  Languages are not my strength.

I'm going to be in Corona early November through early January.  I was there last December, and it was lovely weather, but I understand November is very rainy.  Any tips for what to plan for?

Hello everyone,

Please note that that this new thread has been created on the Italy forum so that you may better interact.

All the best

Bhavna

I don't know the town so unsure of its location unless you mean Cortona? Which is a hill town with a southerly outlook to lake Trasimeno.

November and December are uncertain months both sun and showers, 3 seasons in one day can be expected and if  near the lake it attracts more localised weather of sudden storms and winds due to the surrounding higher hills forming the bowl like area.

That said in the past we've eaten Xmas lunch out side and this January was warmer and drier than April, go figure! The coldest month is supposedly February but the weather has got stranger the last few years. Suggest you pack for all seasons, not much help but the only thing to say for certain it won't be a heat wave

Yes, I will be staying in Cortona itself. I love the medieval hill towns.  I plan to explore the area, including Umbria, as it seems to have more properties and a bit lower cost.

Thank you for the weather advice --yes, it does seem like weather everywhere is getting more unpredictable.

May I ask, how long have you lived in Italy?  What was the most unexpected thing you've had to adjust to?

We've been here   for 17 years, we ran B&B/self catering holiday apartment upstairs, we live downstairs but now want to downsize and explore some more. Cetona is beloved by many Americans and in the summer it is packed with visitors, most attract hoards of tourists Lucca is over run in the summer, Castglione del Lago, Passignano sul Trasimeno etc making parking a huge issue for those living locally but the income of the visitors is needed and welcome but be aware of this when selecting somewhere to live.

We think the greatest positive surprises were the number of events like the tulip festival, colour the skies, living nativities, palio's and local food sagra's, asparagus, truffle, wines, pici, rissotto, that welcome everyone to join in usually very well organised and attended.

Negatives is the bureaucracy, despite the age of computers the government give 10 days leave to everyone, above the holidays, just to sort out paperwork, so that will give you some idea how slow and protracted things can get. Sitting around waiting to be seen can be a bit of a trial and many agencies don't talk to each other a prime example is the tourist office go to the one in Umbria and they have no idea what is going on in Tuscany or elsewhere. One hospital's results are not available to another which is why individuals have care of all their own paperwork and need to transport it to what ever Dr or specialist they are referred to.  For test results some can be downloaded from the medical site others you have to go back to collect and every hospital has its own specialisations for example for one MRI we were sent to Ciita di Castello, 2 hours drive each way, for some blood tests Perugia, 1 hour, others our local clinic, it depends on where the first open appointment is or you can opt to wait for a closer referral. Hopefully you won't need medical attention until settled in and aware of how the system works.

If we can help answer anything, ask we'll do our best.