House hunting

While I've been at work Bob's been traveling with the housing office looking at possible places for us to live. Many are nice. Almost all apartments. Many people who have any money will buy a multi-family unit so their married sons and daughters will have a place to live. There is much unemployment so security is very high and all places (that have approval of the US military) have gated parking, walls or security fencing around the property and security doors. Parking in these tiny lots is very difficult. Cars in tiny spaces the size of ...well, I have no comparison. Just picture sardines.

Bob thought about a House Boat ..... it will need a little work .. but, who knows....it might be fun.

Today on my lunch/planning period we went out to meet a young man who took us to see a duplex. His parents live on one side and the other side (the Main side) is for rent. There's a big gate going into the property and another into the drive. A brother lives in the only other house on the many acres of land.

There is a lot of good things about this place. It's quiet and clean, in an orange grove and has Olive trees, easy access to the base, an above ground pool in the summer and even a gardener. A fireplace, big kitchen, wonderful large doors for great summer breezes. The father and mother who live in the other side are only a bit older than us, they say they would gladly trade Italian lessons for English.

What really got Bob interested was when the father, Giuseppe, walked over and picked a couple of olives off a tree and by gestures and Italian (we could understand a few words........amazing since yesterday it was a week since we landed) that if you squash them and soak them in water for two or three weeks you have a great oil. Okay...so we understood water and oil and the number 2. We really need those lessons.

He also indicated we would be welcome to pick some olives or oranges when we wanted. By the way, the oranges will be ripe in a few weeks. They're just beginning to turn orange.

The minuses are that the bedrooms are a little small. One of the three would only fit a twin-sized bed. We also wouldn't be near other Americans to walk up and meet for Saturday breakfast (but it's only a ten minute drive). The worst part is that it's been really nice to have the little shops right there to pick up meat, bread and produce for dinner or run downstairs to the store right below us to get some of that wonderful orange juice.

We are also a little hesitant because we just got here and know so little we don't know anything about getting a place. (I guess we have to learn sometime) We're really just in the looking stage and have seven more weeks that we could look before we have to get out of the temporary housing.

So.......look at the pictures and tell us what you think.