Project meeting with Architect November 2014

We knew that the architect was spot on when he sent us the pictures of our expectation to the outside of the house. In addition we know that he have some challenges to understand our Scandinavian wishes to the inside.

Will the bathroom first floor look like this ??

So my trip to Lucca for a project meeting was needed. First of all due to we had come that far already that drawings almost was finished to send to the local commune for approvals, in addition to that Galileo, our architect, should soon finish the documentation for the inquiries on the different work needed in the house.

"Casa Di Amore" November 2014

They had made survey to find out about structure foundation as well what was needed to ensure that no moist should occur in our house for the next 30 years or so. It was nice and dry the day they were digging, but at our visit together and a few days of rain showed that it could be quite wet. Galileo had prepared suggestions for the floor foundation. Now I am waiting for the e-mail description so we could have this verified by our Norwegian architect. I am sure it looks like the right thing to do. To have another pair of professional eyes and experience to look at it just benefit us, in the long run.

Foundation Survey November 2014

Ground floor layout is almost there 100%, but first floor we have some communication of the layout on the fourth bedroom. Sounded that he had forgotten that we have 14 grandchildren, indicating that the need of bedrooms are there and not with double beds but with bunkbeds. The kids soon grow up and need their space so we need the flexibility, like boys room, girls room, parent and other visitors room.

Bunkbeds for the grand children

We have to focus on the inside even we already have drawing for a roof extension to our “hobby room” that will be across our outdoor kitchen too. Yep, a 25m2 outdoor kitchen with good cooking facility working space and room to dine outside with a lot of friends and family. Looking into the future we maybe also starting a wine tasting business for our wine producer friend in Montecarlo along with pairing local food tradition.

Our "Hobby room" November 2014

Outdoor kitchen location November 2014

The “Casa di Amore” outdoor area of 1 ¼ acer will have a lot of fruit trees, olive trees, vegetables, berries and grapes along with our herb garden. Today the remains of the sunflowers need to be taken away. Drawings and plans for the land needs to be done, but on this we have some time. No expectation to grow anything for the next year unless our good friend who have assisted us to keep the land around the house clean the last 4 months, Matteo, start to do some farming on his own.

Soon ready for farming

What will be the progress over the next 3 months?

We will submit our suggestions to what and how we want the interior, even we will do installation on a family get together summer of 2016. Galileo will submit the drawings to the commune of Montecarlo for approval in addition to get the prices for the different tasks needed. This indicates that we are ready to get our nice surprise of total refurbishing cost. If they are to live with we can sign contracts and start work early March. At the same time we look forward to see the baby due that time Matteo and Claudia is expecting.

Montecarlo

 

Not THAT Monte Carlo, but Montecarlo in Lucca Province of Tuscany are the commune we are located in. And we could not be happier to have this fantastic environment around us. The village of Montecarlo is located on the top of a hill and has history back to 13 – 14^th century.

 

 

For us Montecarlo is the tower on top of the hill, hard walk up, but with a refreshing lunch or dinner. It is the place to have a view to Lucca on one side and Montecatine Terme on the other along with the Lucca plain all around.

 

 

  

The feeling of the medieval small town you can enjoy as you walk along the streets. Montecarlo has the small shops, the tourist information with wine tasting, the old buildings and the wall around the town. How can we not look ahead and expect to enjoy our future local town and get to know the people at the restaurants, known and not known, the shopkeepers at the Alementari and souvenir shop as well those run the local tourist information.

 

 

 

The town of Montecarlo, located on the hill (163 mt above sea level) ridge separating Valdinievole ("Valley of the Clouds") and the Plain of Lucca, was built in 1333 in order to bring together, near the fort of Cerruglio, the inhabitants of the Community of Vivinaia (located where now is the village cemetery) and destroyed by the Florentines in 1331. The borough was named Montecarlo (the Mountain of Charles) in honour of Prince Charles, son of the King John of Bohemia, liberator of Lucca from occupation by Pisa.

 

At the beginning of its history, the land of Montecarlo was ruled by Lucca, and this state of affairs continued throughout the XIV century, with the sole parenthesis of the period from 1342 to 1369, when it was directly dependent on the Commune of Pisa. In 1437, during the war between Lucca and Florence, it fell definitively into the hands of the Florentines, in the district of which it remained until the Unity of Italy.

 

The history of the territory is intrinsically linked to the most important settlements of the territory: the Parish of S. Piero in Campo, one of the richest diocese of Lucca, whose wealth is due to its strategic position as an obligatory route between the Valdinievole and Lucca. Furthermore in ancient times the Via Cassia ran through the village, as did the Via Francigena during the Middle Ages. The other two important settlements were: the Castle of Cerruglio (the present day castle) used in 1325 as a military base by Castruccio Castracani, the Lucchesi Commander during the battle of Altopascio, and the Castle of Vivinaia, once the residence of Emperor Conrad II and Pope Benedict IX. 

 

That was the historic flare of our commune. Today the commune has an agricultural area with wine making and horticultural as the most important activities. Our 1,25 acre of land with sunflowers it will in 3 year time be changed with grapes and olives, fruit and berries, vegetables and herbs.

 

 

Before we bought this property we already had made relation with a local producer and exporter of wine. Assisting him in finding new markets like; Texas, Sweden, Norway and Russia, so living just a few km away gives us the expectations that we still will be involved in some interesting business along with being a farmer.

 

We missed out on the local Wine Festival this week, but I am sure we will make it in the future, and meet all these producers that I will assist in the future to find an international market for.

Piazza Cittadella

 

Is a quiet place in Lucca even in the worst tourist season. An attraction is the Giacomo Puccini statue, but other than that people seams to pass along the street and not noticed the beauty of the small piazza.

 

 

Some locals sit down to relax, the old lady who have a shoe store, still operate her business mostly for the local inhabitants compared to the shoe shops along Via Filungo.

 

Watching “the sisters” following the track to the statue from our table at Paris Bohème Bistrot and all the rest of activity here, we have noticed it is a convenient place to bring along children as they have space to move around, and in sight.  

 

Luisito have his charm on this Paris inspired restaurant in Lucca. He is one of the few that have manage to create something different for people to enjoy when they have had enough of the local cuisine.

 

 

For us who have the last 3 years staid 3 weeks at the time enjoy the variance in cuisine. We love his use of fruit and berries in the Erotic Salad, freshen up the tuna and swordfish carpatchio. Touch it up with a bottle of Rose just make our day in the shadow of Puccini.

Back Home

GIRASOLE

 

In one way we always know that vacation only are for a limited period of time, and we have to head home to where we live at present time. This time it was a bit different as we head home from home.  We live in Moscow, but during our 3 week vacation this year we signed of first and second milestone in our new life.

3 years from now our new home will be ready and we can move for the last time. A Rubicon, a change in life we look forward to, even we enjoy the stay in our present home and city.

This vacation was not as our last two vacations. Finished the chase of a new home as we already knew what we got, and could sign of the papers at the local notaries and get the key from the old owner.

Empty but clean

 

Have found a spot for TV room for kids

 

We still hope that this will be the kitchen

 

A lot of old stuff was left behind as well an interesting story about the people lived in the house. Some of the things we keep as it belong to the history of the house. We will also keep the integrity of the house so those who visit us will feel the Italian historic atmosphere.

That we are up for a challenge we knew, and one week of the vacation we had was spent in cleaning out what we did not want to keep, and place what we wanted to store in a “safe” place.

No yard sale this time

 

Friends assisted us in finding a company that could take our trash away. For some days we nicely placed our trash with plastic in one batch, metal in one, cables in one and wood in one. The company who collecting the trash this week was also a second time there to ensure that road was accessible for a larger truck. We had to go to the neighbor to have him cut some trees. He was nice and did it in a day and we are ready to roll.

Organize trash takeaway

 

The house was loved by us from the first day we visited it and even more we feel at home when we had cleaned it and made it ready for whoever will do the construction work and other work needed.

Milestone one was the signing of contract and get the key, milestone two was to make an agreement with an architect for the design work and communication with the local authorities to ensure we can do the changes we want inside and outside.

So what has become our friend over these three weeks, Galileo Menichini, is now in charge of the changes and will challenges us in our requirements when needed. Galileo and the company Gli Architetti Associati will handle it all, and we are pleased that we feel it is taken care of by professionals, and in addition our local Italian family.

Our local Italian family has expended over the years and so it did over the last three weeks. To explain this we can just give a short comment. Over 13 years I have known Samuele Cosentino who runs one of my favorite restaurants in Lucca, Gli Orti di Via Elise. I also have known his wife over all these years Silvia Pacini. Over the last 3 weeks new members of his family is included in our Italian family, his brother Gianluca Cosentino and his father Pasquale Cosentino. Nothing better for us that they can assist in making our new home to be what we want it to be, the last two works in construction and refurbishing old Italian houses. And if this was not enough we met a very good interpreter at the architect office, her name is Ruth, nothing better than that she is the daughter of the night watch at the Hotel Ilaria that I have known for the same 13 years. It looks like we keep it in the family in a good traditional Italian way.

Laila, Gianluca, Silvia, Galileo and me

 

The architect will have his challenges with us, but the good thing for both parties is that we have time to discuss before doing the work needed and wanted. It will be an interesting project for me to run from day to day and from month to month. There will be a lot of drawings back and forth, and for us to visual how it all will be.

Some preparation was done during our vacation. Floors and tiles, how it will look like on all the floors on the ground floor as well looking to tiles for bath rooms.

Black or Blue ??

 

Floors ???

 

I am sure it will be hard to understand for Galileo that we will use our “Norwegian” family members to involve in some of the work. Cutting cost we are not sure about, but we will feel that this house is ours and we have participated in finishing it as we are used to from “home”.

In Norway we have the word “Dugnad” so in two year time it is time for “Dugnad” or let us say volunteer work, even “Dugnad” have more commitment to it,  by visitors from Norway.

So now it is back home, the silence from Tuscany have been changed with traffic noise from Petrovka Street of Moscow. It is familiar noise, a noise that we feel home in, both listening inside, and as we walk along the streets in Moscow, and enjoy the beauty of the city.

Now it will be work from home and look forward to accomplish an adventure and challenge. Retirement in a Tuscan house in Tuscany is just 3 years down the road.

 

Saying good bye for this time

In preparation

On the road to Siena

It is time to prepare the suitcase and head to Lucca once again. This time with more excited than ever before. We are heading to our new home. A place where we will spend the rest of our life and enjoy all what the surroundings can give us.

"Casa Di Amore"  in the front today

 

Our plan was to find a place a bit closer to the wonderful city of Lucca. A city where we have most of our friends in Italy, it be people working at all the restaurants we a regular visitors to or the Hotel we always stay at. Also all the different business relations we have in the area.

"Casa Di Amore"  in the back today

 

We will not be totally retired. There will be a lot of work also after the day the house is finished restored. With more than 5000m2 land there is space for grapes, olives, fruit and berries along with all the different vegetables we want and we may not find in Italy on a regular basis. The herb garden will have its own place.

All this, and in between a touch of roses, lavender, clematis and other flowers that will brighten up our new home “Casa Di Amore”.

In the time since we knew this was to be our home we have prepared drawings how we want it all. Our first meeting with architect and contractor starts already 2 hours after we have landed in Pisa. Just time to reach the Hotel Ilaria, some water in the face to freshen up after the flight from Moscow via Roma and there we are at one of our favorite restaurants in Lucca; Gli Orti di Via Elise.

Gli Orti di Via Elise - Lucca

 

First meeting building on relations we have gained over the last 10-15 years in Lucca. The architect is recommended by friends and the contractor is brother to the chef and owner of the restaurant. It will be hard for them to let us down. They be one out of five different alternatives so we hope we will find the right group of people to work this with over the next 3 years period.

Working with Italians the last 20 years or so I know what I can expect. It will be hard for them when I bring the experience from an industry where time, cost and milestones will be a part of the contract in addition to a well formulated penalty clause.

Via del Fosso

 

Saturday we head for the local market. This year we will not bring too much clothes. Why you may ask. The answers is just that most of our summer clothes are in storage and we need some to clean out our new home prior to the guys who will do the refurbishment starts.

At the market

Sunday is this year­ only Summer Festival concert for us that we will watch and not only listen to. Steve Wonder with all his songs down memory lane, later in the week we may stop at Restaurant Giglo and listen to Backstreet Boys and/or The National.

So we prepare our bike rides in the area around Lucca. Quite a few days at the beach in Viareggio, missing some of the sun and possibility just lay and feel the heat along with a dip in the water when it get to warm. Visit our restaurant favorites and some new in addition to taste more wine for our friends in the US who I assist finding the right wine for, and assist the producer in the hills around Montecarlo (LU) to export to different countries.

Greve in Chianti

 

It all will be a 3 weeks excellent break for us. Pictures will be taken and report made from the visit to the restaurants, events we participate at, friends and not to forget the update from our local farm and home in San Salvatore – Montecarlo – Lucca – Tuscany – Italy.

View from Tenuta Setteventi

Up for a challange buying a house with the heart and not the head

It has been a long journey.

 

But at last we have crossed the goal line and paid the first part of our new home.

In the country side around 15 km from Lucca, Tuscany, close to Montecarlo in a small place called St. Salvatore.

After years chasing our dream home in the neighborhood of Lucca we ended up with what we call a fixer upper. Maybe a bit more than what friends and family would expect us to start up with when we in few years retire, but this is going to be our Tuscan dream home when we are finished.

In July we will finish the paper works with the local Notary Dr. ssa Francesca De Santi at “Notai Associati Lucca”. The day after we start with meetings with the architect and contractors that will bid for the refurbishing work.

By the way July 20^th it is concert with Steve Wonder, just had to see that one this year.

3 years hunt and we are ready to accomplish our dream. We have downloaded apps and software to make drawings for easy communication with the architect and contractor how we want this to end up.

Hope they understand what business we come from and will not be surprised with our demands and control of work, budget and project performance.

The house said to be 225m2 with land of 5000 m2 it should be space enough for the 5 children we have and the soon to be 14 grandchildren. I have promised at least 1-2 fruit tree to each of them when they are ready to tell me what the fruit should be. I already have demand for plum and pear. I will have my space for grapes and olives. Herbs and vegetables will come in addition to all the berries.

So we need a large fridge and I am sure a lot of homemade juice, with and without alcohol.

The pictures today are taken by our great friend Riccardo who have helped us in the process as our real estate agent. Coming from the professional company REMAX we could not be better assisted in the process.  

Just wish us good luck in the refurbishing process. In 2 years’ time we will be ready to receive friends and family to enjoy our new home, the area of Lucca and Tuscany in addition to all the great people we already have as friends in the surrounding.

 This will be our new living room

 This will be our bed room at the ground floor

 

 This will be our study and office

 

 This will be our new kitchen

 

 This will be second floor bedroom 1

 

This will be second floor bedroom 2

 

 This will be second floor bedroom 3



 

As most can see, it will be a challenge, but a challenge we look forward to and create our Tuscan dream home.

 

We will keep you all updated as times goes by.

 

Just wish us good luck