Now things have become more difficult. I went to see a flat last night. It is, more or less, the same price as the perfect-flat-on-the-perfect-street (or can be, according to the guy showing me round). It has good and bad points. On the plus side is the following:
- It is slightly bigger
- It has a garage for the car (just behind the building) included in the price
- It has a terrace that is, in effect another, extra room – at least for about 6 months of the year.
- It is in Isola which has a ‘village’ feel to it.
- The front overlooks a very nice church and grounds (looks like a well-kept park), the back overlooks the garages and has green trees around.
- The lounge/diner is definitely a lounge and diner (I.e. there is more than enough room)
On the minus side are the following things:
- It does not have the character of the perfect-flat-on-the-perfect-street.
- It does not have a courtyard at the back, so is not like the perfect-flat-on-the-perfect-street – i.e. pretty
- The kitchen is not ‘abitabile’ but more galley type.
- The kitchen is not fitted with anything so would require buying.
- The bedroom is not as big.
- The terrace, if it faces south, will be too hot during the day in June, July and August so will be unusable, except at night.
- It is in Isola which, being like a ‘village’ means that everyone knows your business.
All very difficult. Of course, FfI, who lives in Isola (hence FfI – Friend from Isola) is quite keen for me to live there and the terrace appeals to her (for sunbathing, bar-b-ques, etc.). She is going to see it today.
On the other hand, I go to see the woman who owns the perfect-flat-on-the-perfect-street on Friday evening, after I have seen the flat-with-the-terrace (so I can see it in the daylight). Decisions must be made.
I live in front of a church. Every sunday morning, or during Christmas period, Easter ecc. ecc. the bells ring very loud. Now I can live, but sometimes they still disturb me…
Well, currently I live overlooking the tram. Sometimes that wakes me about 5 a.m. when the first trams pass. Plus, the bedroom is at the back, away from the church. Really, we get used to any noise – or even a lack of noise. When we lived in the country the birds sometimes woke us at dawn (which in the summer was early).
Still, the choice is old, quaint and the street I’ve always dreamed of and still in the area I love to live in or a better flat with terrace! It doesn’t get any easier and, I suppose, it will all come down to the deal that I get offered.
I love Isola. A friend of mine lives there and I think it’s lovely place to live. Of course there are drawbacks (e.g. sometimes noise at night) but -as you said- it has a village feel which is difficult to find in other areas.
However, it depends on your “priorities”. As for I am concerned, lack of noise is n.1 so I wouldn’t live in front of church or in a flat overlooking the tram.
I gather it’s hard to choose, isn’t it? I would probably choose the perfect-flat-on-the-perfect-street-with-a-perfect-terrace-in-a-village-feel-area!
Hi Bianca,
Please, where is the perfect-flat-on-the-perfect-street-with-a-perfect-terrace-in-a-village-feel-area? If you can tell me, that would, of course, be perfect!!
Noise isn’t so much of a problem for me since you get used to almost anything. So the choice doesn’t get easier.
It’s where I live, about 25 min.driving from Milan!
Good for you. However, perhaps I should have asked “where is the perfect-flat-on-the-perfect-street-with-a-perfect-terrace-in-a-village-feel-area-that-is-in-the-centre-of-Milan-or-thereabouts?” :-).
Since, to be honest, to live outside Milan, right now, is unthinkable, for me, although I appreciate that, in a few years I may change my mind.
25 minutes driving from Milan? Andrew,Bianca could live close to my house, if she has to drive in north-west direction! Anyway, if you want to live in the town, it’s a different story. I grew up and still live in a small village close to Milan, you know. I don’t like the city (except for all the pubs, shops, museums you can have), so I could not live there!
I realise that, Pietro. I’m sure it’s lovely but not for me right now. Either I live in the heart of the city or I live in the wilds of North-West Herefordshire – there’s no in-between with me!