Magari!!

I just came back from Vicenza, Italy though.

Italians tip only minimally. Waiting tables is a trained and valued job in Italy, and waiters make decent salaries.
Of course they do appreciate any tip that you leave but, unless you're spending more than 50 euros a head on a meal,
a tip of more than 5 euros is extravagant. I usually leave 1-2 euros plus whatever loose change I want to get rid of.

1-2 euros for a tip sounds pretty decent. I shall follow that if I ever eat in a restaurant in Italy.

Btw, I sent an email to the Student Living website asking about accommodation, since I need a pet-friendly place and I know those are hard to get. And then I got a reply directing me back to the website. I am pretty peeved by that - all I wanted to know is whether they may have a pet-friendly studio apartment available. I don't want to just rush into booking and send the money, and then end up without a suitable place when I get there. Grrr.

How was Vicenza? I think I know someone who lives there.

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avatar by kelli

"How was Vicenza?" "I think I know someone who lives there."

Vicenza is great! I actually lived there for two years molto tempo fa. I hadn't been back there in molti anni.

When you go to Vicenza go up to the church of Monte Berico. Up there is this
fantastico panaramic view of Vicenza. It's a huge molto bello area to view and you can see
all the way up into the mountains. Vicenza is at the foot hills of the Dolomite
mountains which border Austria. The Dolomite mountains are some of the most
beautiful mountains in the entire world. From Vicenza it's a short trip to the Dolomite mountains.
I use to go sking in the Dolomites all the time. Vicenza is a good base of operations
to go to many places near by such as Verona, Lago di Garda(Italy's biggest and deepest lake),
Padova, Venice e cosi via.

There are many things to see in Vicenza. I rather see Vicenza per esempio over Padova.

You've got the Olympic Theatre which is the oldest indoor theatre in the world. Down in
the center of town you've got Piazza dei Signori. E molto grande. When you're standing
in Piazza dei Signori you just feel the greatness of the place. Vicenza is the town
Andrea Paladio built. Paladio is one of Italy's greatest builders ever. Vicenza has been
called the landlocked Venice. There is interesting building after building and churches in Vicenza.

Look on the back of an American nickle. You'll see Thomas Jefferson's mansion Montecello.
Well that mansion of Montecello is a copy of a huge mansion in Vicenza called La Rotonda.
Got my picture with the Rotonda this past summer. All around and in Vicenza there are
so many things to see. Just walking down those pinteresco streets of Vicenza is a treat.

THE CHURCH OF MONTE BERICO in Vicenza is the most famous and visited sanctuary in the whole region of Veneto.(This includes Venice.)

Between 1425 and 1428 Vicenza was stricken with a devastating plague. The story tells that Virgin Mary
appeared twice to Vincenza Pasini, a humble peasant: the first one happened on 7th of March 1426; the
second one on 1st of August 1428. The Virgin Mary used Vincenza as Her spokeswoman. She said that the
only way to stop the plague was to build a church dedicated to Her. She added that, whoever visited the
church on holy occasions and every first Sunday of the months would receive Her blessing and grace.
Nobody believed Vincenza at the time of the first apparition; but the persistency of the plague led the
population to trust the second one. As a consequence the workings started on 25th of August 1428; the plague
was definitely defeated. The humble Vincenza died in 1433, at the age of 78.

Thanks, Villa! Always great reading your posts, very informative. Vicenza sounds like a lovely place, I hope I get to visit it.

I just got another reply from Student Living:

I asked about the availability of a pet-friendly studio apartment for 400euros or less. And I got this reply. I don't know what to do now. I need to settle my accommodation before I can apply for a visa.

*frustrated*

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avatar by kelli

Mis dispiace molto kitten. Can't you leave your pet at home?

Suppongo che hai un gatto.

Si, ho un gatto. And I intend to bring him along. If I can't, then I may not come at all.

I am going to keep looking and not panic. I have emailed another website asking about the availability. What do you think of this website? Student Rooms in Perugia - Rooms rental In Centro Residence

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avatar by kelli

Kitten, the problem with websites and such is that they will often have a higher price than the one you'll find by yourself if you're personally here.
The best way to find a cheap and good accomodation is to go on person where all the students are and ask around or take those pieces of paper and call.

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Good advise Zidanie.

Leave the cat at home. Not going to Italy over some cat is ridicolo.

Well, I would love to be in Italy trying to find a place but right now I cannot afford to fly over. So I can only do it through websites because I don't know anyone in Perugia and don't have bits of paper or whatever to call. I have nobody to turn to, okay? I'm trying to do this all on my own. I'm halfway across the globe and coming over to Perugia is not as easy as hopping over on a budget flight or taking the train down.


I don't appreciate that, okay? If I go, I take the cat with me. That's how much he means to me. I appreciate all your help so far, Villa, but that was really uncalled for. Don't tell me what I can and cannot do with my cat.

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avatar by kelli

Mi dispiace molto kitty.

Years ago when my girlfriend I lived together she had this cat
that just loved her. The cat would sleep in the bed with us mostly next to her.