Things to know when staying at 43, via F. Melosio...
Kitchen
We hope you find all the necessary cooking utensils, and pots and pans. Please let us know if you break something so we can replace it. Accidents happen, of course – we just want to be able to keep a well-furnished kitchen.
Feel free to consume whatever food staples and/or condiments that you find here when you arrive.
The kitchen counter is Carrara marble and is rather delicate. It will leave a mark if you don't wipe up the following types of spills quickly: tomato, oil, wine, onion, lemon or anything else with acid in it. Counter space is limited, but if you cover the dining room table with the oilcloth (find it in the leftmost kitchen cabinet), then you can use it for cooking prep.
There are two plastic chopping boards and a “pad” to use for slicing and dicing foods. Please use the large wooden board (between the refrigerator and counter) only for making bread and pasta.
Dishwasher: For one or two people, it's almost easier to do dishes by hand (the cabinet above the sink is a dish drainer!). If you need it, however, the dishwasher works fine. Here's how you do it: Open the dishwasher door slightly. Press the button on the left ("Acceso/Spento" [On/Off]) once. The other buttons should light up. Then press these two buttons: "Automatico" and "Risparmia Energia". Take one packet out of the box that says "finish POWERBALL" under the sink. Remove the tablet from its wrapper and place it in the leftmost compartment on the door, and close the compartment. Close the dishwasher door, and it will start running. Warning: the dishwasher is so quiet you'll wonder if it's working. It will beep a few times when it's done.
Note that to get the gas going on the burners, you need to hold the dial down for a few seconds. If you release the dial and the gas turns off, try it again -- but hold the dial down a little bit longer.
The local water has a high calcare (limestone) content. That is why you will notice a lot of spots and streaks on the sinks, glassware etc. The product called "Viacal" in the kitchen and "Cif" in the upstairs bathroom take care of it pretty well.
Feel free to consume whatever food staples and/or condiments that you find here when you arrive.
The kitchen counter is Carrara marble and is rather delicate. It will leave a mark if you don't wipe up the following types of spills quickly: tomato, oil, wine, onion, lemon or anything else with acid in it. Counter space is limited, but if you cover the dining room table with the oilcloth (find it in the leftmost kitchen cabinet), then you can use it for cooking prep.
There are two plastic chopping boards and a “pad” to use for slicing and dicing foods. Please use the large wooden board (between the refrigerator and counter) only for making bread and pasta.
Dishwasher: For one or two people, it's almost easier to do dishes by hand (the cabinet above the sink is a dish drainer!). If you need it, however, the dishwasher works fine. Here's how you do it: Open the dishwasher door slightly. Press the button on the left ("Acceso/Spento" [On/Off]) once. The other buttons should light up. Then press these two buttons: "Automatico" and "Risparmia Energia". Take one packet out of the box that says "finish POWERBALL" under the sink. Remove the tablet from its wrapper and place it in the leftmost compartment on the door, and close the compartment. Close the dishwasher door, and it will start running. Warning: the dishwasher is so quiet you'll wonder if it's working. It will beep a few times when it's done.
Note that to get the gas going on the burners, you need to hold the dial down for a few seconds. If you release the dial and the gas turns off, try it again -- but hold the dial down a little bit longer.
The local water has a high calcare (limestone) content. That is why you will notice a lot of spots and streaks on the sinks, glassware etc. The product called "Viacal" in the kitchen and "Cif" in the upstairs bathroom take care of it pretty well.
Bedroom (Upstairs)
We have packed away our clothing and personal things as best we can. The armoire in the upstairs bedroom may have some of our clothes in the left hand side, but you will have plenty of hangers on the right. This is an antique and a little delicate. There are small pieces of wood on the top and bottom of the left hand door that pivot to keep the door shut, so please be careful not to force the door if they are in place. Also, please keep the armoire closed when not in use; this prevents strain on the hinges.
Washing and Drying Clothes
For washing, there’s a machine in the downstairs bathroom. There is no clothes dryer. Drying is done using fresh air and a contraption for hanging the clothes called a stendino (which can be found leaning against the wall in the upstairs bedroom, next to the armoire).
The washing machine: Load the dirty clothes. Fill the lid of the liquid detergent (which you should find sitting next to the machine) a little more than halfway full; pull out the drawer on the left side of the machine and dump the liquid into the front-left compartment, and close the drawer. Turn the knob to “30°” (the setting between the words Sintetici and Delecati); when you do this, the digital read-out will show “1:16”, meaning the washer will run for about an hour and a quarter. Press the button that says Avvio (Start) just to the right of the dial. That’s it – you don’t need to do anything with any of the buttons on the right side of the machine.
When the washing cycle has finished, remove your clothes and return the dial to “Off” position (“12 o’clock”).
The little square wicker box in the upstairs bed is our laundry hamper.
The washing machine: Load the dirty clothes. Fill the lid of the liquid detergent (which you should find sitting next to the machine) a little more than halfway full; pull out the drawer on the left side of the machine and dump the liquid into the front-left compartment, and close the drawer. Turn the knob to “30°” (the setting between the words Sintetici and Delecati); when you do this, the digital read-out will show “1:16”, meaning the washer will run for about an hour and a quarter. Press the button that says Avvio (Start) just to the right of the dial. That’s it – you don’t need to do anything with any of the buttons on the right side of the machine.
When the washing cycle has finished, remove your clothes and return the dial to “Off” position (“12 o’clock”).
The little square wicker box in the upstairs bed is our laundry hamper.
Internet Access
The WiFi network is: Telecom-33655569. The password is: via43MelosioItaly%PievePG
If you lose your connection, try the following things in this order: 1) Quit your browser and re-start it; 2) re-start your laptop or other device; 3) "power-cycle" the modem: unplug the power cord from the back of the modem, wait a few seconds, stick it back in. Then wait a minute or two before trying to connect; 4) Try later: something's wrong at the source -- and if you need to get online right away, see next paragraph!
There is also wireless at many of the bars in town including Bar Pippo e Gemma, Cafe Marconi, and the Cafe degli Artisti.
If you lose your connection, try the following things in this order: 1) Quit your browser and re-start it; 2) re-start your laptop or other device; 3) "power-cycle" the modem: unplug the power cord from the back of the modem, wait a few seconds, stick it back in. Then wait a minute or two before trying to connect; 4) Try later: something's wrong at the source -- and if you need to get online right away, see next paragraph!
There is also wireless at many of the bars in town including Bar Pippo e Gemma, Cafe Marconi, and the Cafe degli Artisti.
Staying Cool, Windows, etc.
It can be hot here in the summer, but you will find the apartment cooler than most. The downstairs bedroom is almost always cool, but you may want to turn on the overhead fan in the upstairs bedroom when you sleep. There is also a standing fan and a portable fan.
There are screens on the windows. They work by pulling them down until they lock in place. To open them push down and inward on the bottom of the screen and they will release. Please be gentle with the screens.
If it is hot during the day you will find it useful to close the shutters in the afternoon to prevent the hot air from entering. When you re-open the shutters, make sure to flip up the little U-shaped metal piece to hold them in position (so the wind won't blow them shut).
There are screens on the windows. They work by pulling them down until they lock in place. To open them push down and inward on the bottom of the screen and they will release. Please be gentle with the screens.
If it is hot during the day you will find it useful to close the shutters in the afternoon to prevent the hot air from entering. When you re-open the shutters, make sure to flip up the little U-shaped metal piece to hold them in position (so the wind won't blow them shut).
Bathroom Tips
Upstairs, you'll find the bathroom fan switch outside the bathroom door. Please use the fan when you shower or bathe, and try to remember to turn it back off.
When showering upstairs or down, please use the rubber s queegee to wipe the water off the glass when you're finished. The water is quite "hard" here: the limestone causes streaking that is difficult to clean off if allowed to dry.
The toilets have "big" and "small" flush button. Sometimes after hitting "Big", the toilet runs; just give the "Big" button a second quick push and the running should stop.
The hot water takes a little time but be patient, it will come.
There are cleaning products in the bathroom beside the tub, and on the portable shelf in the downstairs bathroom. They are marked with their intended use.
When showering upstairs or down, please use the rubber s queegee to wipe the water off the glass when you're finished. The water is quite "hard" here: the limestone causes streaking that is difficult to clean off if allowed to dry.
The toilets have "big" and "small" flush button. Sometimes after hitting "Big", the toilet runs; just give the "Big" button a second quick push and the running should stop.
The hot water takes a little time but be patient, it will come.
There are cleaning products in the bathroom beside the tub, and on the portable shelf in the downstairs bathroom. They are marked with their intended use.
Breakage or Damage
We ask that in the event of breakage or damage, you inform Angela Mancuso, and that, unless agreed upon with Angela, you do not purchase a replacement item.
Miscellaneous, but Important!
BEWARE OF SLAMMING DOORS: When the windows and the inner door are open, and you open the outer door, a wind tunnel effect is created that will cause the inner door to slam shut very hard.
GARBAGE and RECYCLING: There is curbside pick-up for garbage, and also for recycling plastic, paper, and compost (umido). Unfortunately, there is no recycling for metal. You can leave containers on the step outside the front door the night before, or early (before 7:00) in the morning.
The weekly garbage/recycling schedule is:
Monday: plastic (leave items in the yellow plastic hamper by front door) **
Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday: compost [umido] (tie up bag and leave in its brown plastic container)
Wednesday: paper (leave items in the yellow plastic hamper by front door) **
Friday: garbage (tie up bag under kitchen sink, and put in large gray container by front door)
** There is a large basket with handle on the floor next to the refrigerator. You can use this to collect paper and plastic. Then on the proper day, transfer the items to the yellow plastic hamper.
Glass is recycled, but you must carry your bottles to one of the collection points around town, and place them in the green bins (vetro).
PHONE: Feel free to use the land line in the apartment, but for local calls only, please! The number is: 0578 299034.
ELECTRICITY, HOT WATER, GAS: Utilities cost a LOT more here than in the States. Please be comfortable, but use power wisely. Turn off lights in rooms you're not using, unplug appliances, laptops, etc. Thanks!
MUSIC: The powered Audioengine B1 speakers are here for you to play your digital music, podcasts, etc, over Bluetooth. The power switch is on the back of the left speaker. When you open your Bluetooth set-up on your device, the connection for the speakers should be visible; if not, try unplugging the speakers from the wall (power cord next to dining room table), then re-connecting.
GARBAGE and RECYCLING: There is curbside pick-up for garbage, and also for recycling plastic, paper, and compost (umido). Unfortunately, there is no recycling for metal. You can leave containers on the step outside the front door the night before, or early (before 7:00) in the morning.
The weekly garbage/recycling schedule is:
Monday: plastic (leave items in the yellow plastic hamper by front door) **
Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday: compost [umido] (tie up bag and leave in its brown plastic container)
Wednesday: paper (leave items in the yellow plastic hamper by front door) **
Friday: garbage (tie up bag under kitchen sink, and put in large gray container by front door)
** There is a large basket with handle on the floor next to the refrigerator. You can use this to collect paper and plastic. Then on the proper day, transfer the items to the yellow plastic hamper.
Glass is recycled, but you must carry your bottles to one of the collection points around town, and place them in the green bins (vetro).
PHONE: Feel free to use the land line in the apartment, but for local calls only, please! The number is: 0578 299034.
ELECTRICITY, HOT WATER, GAS: Utilities cost a LOT more here than in the States. Please be comfortable, but use power wisely. Turn off lights in rooms you're not using, unplug appliances, laptops, etc. Thanks!
MUSIC: The powered Audioengine B1 speakers are here for you to play your digital music, podcasts, etc, over Bluetooth. The power switch is on the back of the left speaker. When you open your Bluetooth set-up on your device, the connection for the speakers should be visible; if not, try unplugging the speakers from the wall (power cord next to dining room table), then re-connecting.