Planes, Houses and Automobiles

So I thought I was almost done with making arrangements for my long awaited trip to Tuscany.  Just one more thing to get, a Visa to visit Italy for more than 90 days....how complicated can that be?
I started with a search of the Italian Embassy's website for information.  It was clear that Canadian tourists staying up to 90 days do not need a visa.  Then I read that there are special visas for students and workers who will be in Italy for more than 90 days.  Well that doesn't fit my situation so I continued searching.  I found a reference to a Type D Visa for those who were intending to stay in Italy for 90 days or more, but it was not clear who was eligible for this.  So I sent an email to the Embassy in Ottawa asking for clarification.  I got an email back the next day in broken English referring me to Italian Embassy website. (sigh)
So in the interest of saving time I searched the web for answers only to discover it can take 3 months or more to get a type D visa!!  I did find some information about where to apply and learned that the Italian Consulate's can take applications and conduct the personal interviews required.  Next I searched for consulate offices to discover there is one in Kingston, only an hour away from my home.  However, the address they gave was incomplete and the phone number had an extra digit. ( another sigh) 
As I am going to Italy in less than 3 months time, I became concerned and decided to call the Embassy directly.  I called on a Tuesday and left a message with my name and phone number asking for a call back.  By Friday of that week I was becoming more concerned as I would be in Charlottetown PEI working for the next two weeks and therefore would not be able to pursue this.  By the end of my work there I would only have 2 months left before leaving for Italy.  So I called the Embassy again and actually got to speak to someone, on a Friday afternoon!!  The gentleman I spoke to explained that I cannot stay in Italy ore than 90 days under any circumstances.  WHAT?????  I asked about the Type D visa and he asked if I was between 18 and 35 years of age, to which I had to reply" no".  He advised that I was not entitled to a type D Visa. I asked if there was anything I could do to permit a visit of more than 90 days and he sternly told me no, a tourist is not allowed in Italy for more than 90 days in any 6 month period. As i said goodbye I could feel the panic rising up within me.  How could this be?  How could I not know this at this stage of my planning?
Should I take the chance and go anyway and just stay until January as planned?  What would happen if they caught me? 
 If I changed my return date how would that affect the things I have already paid for, the car, travel insurance, airline tickets?  What about my reservations for the house?  I committed to a 4 month period.  Would I now have to pay for the entire four months even if I left after 3 months?
I decided that it was always the best choice to tell the truth and do what is required.  There are always those that defy the rules, but I know myself well enough to know that I would likely become paranoid about it and this would ruin my vacation.
So by Friday late afternoon I had decided that I would change all my plans to reflect a return of December 1, 2011 rather than January 7, 2012. (another sigh)
I emailed Peugeot about the change and discovered that it is not an issue and they will refund the portion of the original cost relative to the change once I confirm it.. :-)
Next I emailed the property owner to advise her of the change.  Then I called the agency that I booked my travel with to find out the cost of switching my return date.  A change fee of $250.00 would be billed in addition to any additional costs resulting from changes in the fare for the return flight.  I did not confirm the change because I felt I should hear back from the property owner to confirm everything was okay before committing to any changes. A glass of wine was then needed to calm my thoughts and my nerves.  Next I had to tackle packing for my 2 week trip to PEI.  Saturday I drove to Ottawa and flew to Charlottetown early Sunday morning.
At this point I still have not changed any of my reservations as I have not heard back from the property owner.  I have been monitoring the flight costs and have discovered that the cost has gone up $500.00 since last weekend. (another sigh).  Perhaps the cost will go back down again, or maybe it will continue to increase, do I make the change now or do I hold off for a better fare?
Everything just seems to have gotten so much more complicated...so much for being almost done with the planning phase!

Passports, Driver's Lisences and Visas

I got my international drivers permit yesterday..and 2 Tilley hats to protect me from sun, rain and what ever else comes along.  One more thing to strike off the "to do" list.
Tried to find out at CAA if I need a visa for Italy or not but they weren't sure either.  The information on websites about visas is ambiguous at best.  It is very clear that a visitor for less than 90 days does not need a visa, but nothing is said about visiting for longer than 90 days, unless you are working in Italy or a student.  I suppose I will just have to phone the Italian consulate and hope someone there speaks English.
On another note...why does a passport need to be valid for at least 6 months past the end of your trip?  Isn't a passport valid until it expires?  This really is not logical...especially considering the fact that we have to pay for a passport.  I wonder if you can be issued a new or renewed passport 6 months before the old one expires, or if you have to wait for the expiry date of the first one before a new one is issued.  Seems as if this  policy just puts more money in the hands of the government.  If everyone has to renew their passport earlier it means it is really only valid for 4 1/2 years not 5 years. Thats just dumb.
Now I am curious...something else to check out!

Home Again

I am finally back home after spending the last 2 weeks working in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.  Isn't it ironic that I live in Prince Edward County and am working far away in Prince Edward Island.  This work came out of nowhere, just in time to help finance my trip to Italy.  I believe everything happens for a reason, and I humbly thank the universe for this gift it has given me.  I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to make some extra money and to visit the one province I had not been in before. PEI is beautiful..and yes, the soil really is red!.
I can't believe I will really be in Italy again in just 3 months time!  The time is going by so quickly.  The dream is becoming a reality.  My biggest fear is that I will be so in love with Tuscany that I won't want to come back home.  Perhaps there will be many more trips there, or even a property there of my own.  Do I dare to dream it?  This visit is the realization of a long term dream, so I do know that dreams can come true, so perhaps....one day....... 
Ciao for now.

For the love of Tuscany

To visit Tuscany is to love Tuscany.  It is world renowned for its beautiful scenery, its history, and its wonderfully warm people.  It is an experience like no other. 
Tuscany has remained mostly untouched by modern farming methods because the people were poor and could not afford to modernize.  Because of this, and its peoples passion for tradition, the landscapes in Tuscany have remained unchanged for centuries.  It is amazing how steep hillsides have been terraced to prevent soil erosion and to make the land workable for farming.  Olive groves and vineyards dominate the landscapes where tall cypress trees line twisting roads to ancient hill towns. Many hill towns ares still surrounded by stone fortress walls built centuries ago to protect  the town and its people from invaders.  The spectacular views from these walls enabled lookouts to spot enemies long before they arrived at the town's entrance gates.  Today the walls provide excellent vantage points to watch the mist roll in the valleys below early in the day, and the golden light Tuscany is so famous for in the hours preceding remarkable sunsets.  Many photographers and artists have spent countless hours trying to capture the essence of Tuscany through a lens or on a canvas.  Although these renditions are beautiful in their own right, they cannot capture the spirit of the Tuscan people, their centuries old wisdom, their tenacity, their love for their homeland, or their genuine warmth.
Tourism and all that it entales brings much needed money into the region of Tuscany each summer.  The people welcome tourists and are willing to share their way of life for a period of time, but are also grateful for the time when the tourists are gone and life settles back down to it's normal routine.  It is at this time that it is possible to have an authentic Tuscan experience.  This is my goal.  This is the Tuscany I want to know.  To me, the way of life during "the off-season" is what Tuscany is really about.  Harvesting grapes in September to make wine, olives in November to press for olive oil, gathering mushrooms, and hunting for the elusive truffles in the chestnut woods  are all ancient traditions here.  Each is celebrated with local festivals in hill towns throughout Tuscany.  Tuscans do not live to work although they are hard workers, they work to live and they love their lives.  They are pleased to share the success of their harvests with strangers as well as friends, family and the rest of their communities. This is what I hope to experience.  I want to share in the people's joy of life, their passion, their traditions.  I believe this is what fond memories are made of, experiences that touch a heart and soul, that can profoundly change a person forever. 

Why do I have the feeing I am forgetting something?

I am having this nagging feeling there is something I have forgotten, what could it be?

Ensure passport  will be valid for at least 6 months after trip ........check
House deposit paid......................check
Air tickets purchased...................check
Travel Insurance purchased.........check
Car reservations and paid for............check
Purchased enough euros to pay balance of house.......check
Print application for visitors visa  for Italy.....check
Request appointment at Italian Consulate.......to do
Complete application for international drivers license..............check
Apply for international driver's license at CAA..............check
Advise credit card companies of my travel plans.......to do
Resolve issue re bringing art supplies................check (allowed 3 bags going and 2 coming back)
Determine how monthly bills will be paid while away............to do


Anyone know whats missing???  If so please tell me!
Diane

No Turning Back Now!

My flight is booked!  I decided to go for the first class ticket to Rome and economy coming back home.  I used my reward points so my flight only cost me $200  more than economy both ways would have cost...and I get the bonus of being pampered a bit on the way.  Now there is only the car to reserve.  Next week I will apply for my International Driver's License and my Visitors Visa which I need because I will be staying in Italy for more than 90 days.  Once that is done I can rest easy for awhile and focus on the contract work I will be doing in Charlottetown PEI.
Life is good!

UPDATE:  I reserved my car today.  A Peugeot 207  5 door hatchback with automatic transmission, air conditioning, and GPS.
Now everything is getting very real.  I am glad I got this done as I start work this week and head to Charlottetown this coming weekend. I am getting very excited now!  Less than 15 weeks till I am on my way to Tuscany!

Progress is slowly being made

Well I have finally purchased my trip insurance.  I also have several travel agents looking for flights for me.  I discovered there is a direct flight from Montreal to Rome but no direct flight back from Rome.  I found one flight going that is direct and is offereing a sale on first class seats (which actually turn into beds!) and am considering that option going, but not coming back.  The flight to Rome is overnight and I want to arrive in the morning feeling rested so that I wont be too dragged out to rent and drive a car for several hours once I arrive.  I have also been comparing airlines baggage requirments to ensure that I choose flights that have compatable allowances.  This is turning out to be more difficult than imagined and I certainly do not want to get stuck paying ten euros for every kilo of weight over the allotment.  There are so many details that need to be taken care of that I would never have thought of had I been planning my trip at the last minute.
Now that I have paid my travel insurance I can also reserve my car which I plan to do by the end of next week.  Time seems to be slipping away so quickly.  I will be doing some contract work in June and July so I wont have much time to make any of the arrangements during that time.  Charlottetown in June and July will be beautiful and I am really looking forward to visiting there all expenses paid!
Things are coming together and now that the commitment has been made the hesitation has disappeared.  I grow more excited every day!
Ciao for now
D