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My Italian Ex-Pat adventure is ***Officially*** in progress 2025-2026 edition! (4 Viewers)

No freaking way I'm bringing THC gummies into Suisse. And there's no Amazon here, but I can order from the amazon.de site and they'll deliver (and include VAT for me). Still cheaper paying in € than CHF though... and with tariffs and possibly the USD losing value vs other currencies, buying clothes and other "stuff" in the US isn't as good a deal anymore.
 
The Z Machine said:
No freaking way I'm bringing THC gummies into Suisse. And there's no Amazon here, but I can order from the amazon.de site and they'll deliver (and include VAT for me). Still cheaper paying in € than CHF though... and with tariffs and possibly the USD losing value vs other currencies, buying clothes and other "stuff" in the US isn't as good a deal anymore.
Click to expand...
Yeah, when we first got here (2008) I thnk the exchange rate was 1.61USD per EU so we used to bring back a ton of peanut butter and Peet's coffee beans but prices in US have outpaced here for the past 10 years. Personal marijuana use became legal here a year ago but I was comfortable with custome before then as long as the package was unopened.

This is the brown sugar I used from Amazon.de
 
Navin Johnson said:
The Z Machine said:
No freaking way I'm bringing THC gummies into Suisse. And there's no Amazon here, but I can order from the amazon.de site and they'll deliver (and include VAT for me). Still cheaper paying in € than CHF though... and with tariffs and possibly the USD losing value vs other currencies, buying clothes and other "stuff" in the US isn't as good a deal anymore.
Click to expand...
Yeah, when we first got here (2008) I thnk the exchange rate was 1.61USD per EU so we used to bring back a ton of peanut butter and Peet's coffee beans but prices in US have outpaced here for the past 10 years. Personal marijuana use became legal here a year ago but I was comfortable with custome before then as long as the package was unopened.

This is the brown sugar I used from Amazon.de
Click to expand...
Thanks for the link. I'll search more but the one you sent and another one cannot ship to Suisse. Maybe no ability to import food like this. I have some friends that live in France, like 20 mins away that could likely take delivery and I could take across the border myself.
 
we grabbed cavender’s greek seasoning, bagels, dawn, press n’ seal, resealable glad bags and laundry detergent sheets.
 
Also bring back the plastic food wrap from Costco. Will probably get some bifocals from there in August as well. Brought back an ic3 basketball trainer one year. The girl at the LH counter wasn't what to charge and we got away with 50 bucks. Always easier to remember this stuff when you are over there. My son likes to bring Cap'n'Crunch back

eta---and ranch dressing powder mix
 
starting to look at grabbing ice hockey tix for the 26 olympics. they make acquisition very tricky. looks like you get 1 game per ticket, but no idea of the matchup or even group. prices are like 30-80€ per ticket depending on the section.
 
Chemical X said:
starting to look at grabbing ice hockey tix for the 26 olympics. they make acquisition very tricky. looks like you get 1 game per ticket, but no idea of the matchup or even group. prices are like 30-80€ per ticket depending on the section.
Click to expand...
One of our staff members went to Tokyo and it was the same way for basketball
 
trees: finally started to get my act together here and am taking better care of what came with the property. looks like i’ll have lots of cherries, figs and walnuts this year. if anyone has walnut tips, please pass them on. they fall looking like crabapples. my peach tree took last year off after getting hit by a falling willow, but i worked on it a bit and it recently flowered, so hoping it fruits again. i need to trim the olive trees back. i just planted cilantro and 3 peppers; calabrian, jalapeño and red cherry. speriamo!
 
Orange&Blue said:
Herculaneum or Pompeii???
Click to expand...
We've done both.
Pompeii is huge and you could spend more than half a day there. In fact our 2-3 hour tour didn't seem enough for us.
Herculaneum is much smaller and you can cover it in a couple hours.
Pompeii was mainly a common folk city and it was destroyed by ash. Herculaneum was the upper class area and it was destroyed mainly by mud.
 
Mr. Mojo said:
Orange&Blue said:
Herculaneum or Pompeii???
Click to expand...
We've done both.
Pompeii is huge and you could spend more than half a day there. In fact our 2-3 hour tour didn't seem enough for us.
Herculaneum is much smaller and you can cover it in a couple hours.
Pompeii was mainly a common folk city and it was destroyed by ash. Herculaneum was the upper class area and it was destroyed mainly by mud.
Click to expand...
The walk to Herculaneum is super sketchy. If choosing Pompeii all the way. Herc is worth a visit, but not at the expense of the main event.
 
The Z Machine said:
Alex P Keaton said:
Navin Johnson said:
Love munich airport. Curbside thru security, with my bag pulled, in six minutes
Click to expand...
Yup. Big fan - sad to travel so much for work that I have favorite airports.

Enjoy the trip.
Click to expand...
Do your least favorites now.
Click to expand...
Orlando (old people and kids), Phoenix (old people), Newark (crappy ground crew and delays, ****ty layout), Ohare (because I live here/there), Paris (absurdly inefficient in every way), Heathrow (spread out, long lines, idiotic security protocol, long walk to gates, bad food).

I’d have to think about it more. Most of my favorites are German/Swiss.

Minneapolis is a favorite. Sydney and Melbourne were good from what I recall, but that was years ago with kids.

Asia is a complete blank spot for me. Have never been there oddly.
 
FCO T3 after the remodel actually is a pleasant experience. The old T5 then bus to T3 was getting old. Some nice pre flight clubs.
 
Alex P Keaton said:
The Z Machine said:
Alex P Keaton said:
Navin Johnson said:
Love munich airport. Curbside thru security, with my bag pulled, in six minutes
Click to expand...
Yup. Big fan - sad to travel so much for work that I have favorite airports.

Enjoy the trip.
Click to expand...
Do your least favorites now.
Click to expand...
Orlando (old people and kids), Phoenix (old people), Newark (crappy ground crew and delays, ****ty layout), Ohare (because I live here/there), Paris (absurdly inefficient in every way), Heathrow (spread out, long lines, idiotic security protocol, long walk to gates, bad food).

I’d have to think about it more. Most of my favorites are German/Swiss.

Minneapolis is a favorite. Sydney and Melbourne were good from what I recall, but that was years ago with kids.

Asia is a complete blank spot for me. Have never been there oddly.
Click to expand...
Asian airports are pretty nice. China invested BANK into theirs in the last decade.

I debate with myself whether I hate CDG or LHR more. I think LHR because at least at CDG there is decent food. The layout is baffling, stupid, and inefficient. It sometimes feels like the 3rd level of hell.
 
The Z Machine said:
Alex P Keaton said:
The Z Machine said:
Alex P Keaton said:
Navin Johnson said:
Love munich airport. Curbside thru security, with my bag pulled, in six minutes
Click to expand...
Yup. Big fan - sad to travel so much for work that I have favorite airports.

Enjoy the trip.
Click to expand...
Do your least favorites now.
Click to expand...
Orlando (old people and kids), Phoenix (old people), Newark (crappy ground crew and delays, ****ty layout), Ohare (because I live here/there), Paris (absurdly inefficient in every way), Heathrow (spread out, long lines, idiotic security protocol, long walk to gates, bad food).

I’d have to think about it more. Most of my favorites are German/Swiss.

Minneapolis is a favorite. Sydney and Melbourne were good from what I recall, but that was years ago with kids.

Asia is a complete blank spot for me. Have never been there oddly.
Click to expand...
Asian airports are pretty nice. China invested BANK into theirs in the last decade.

I debate with myself whether I hate CDG or LHR more. I think LHR because at least at CDG there is decent food. The layout is baffling, stupid, and inefficient. It sometimes feels like the 3rd level of hell.
Click to expand...
lol

i thought LHR was the worst airport ever and then i flew in/out of CDG. just awful in every possible manner.
 
so, interesting day coming this friday. we are seeking to convert our current visa to a retirement visa, something that we thought was not possible. when applying in states, it is necessary to meet a passive income threshold, which we won’t do until SS kicks in (though i have been moving hard into dividends recently) some years from now. our friends introduced us to a local attorney, who states that the retirement is different when applying from italy, in that they only care about enough funds to support yourself for 1 year, which can be based on money in the bank, investments, etc. this interpretation obviously changes our ability to qualify. friday at 8a is our questura appointment and once we get the coveted “receipt”, we will need only wait 4-6 weeks for our official card. next week we sell our original apartment. lots of room to drink and celebrate me thinks!
 
Chemical X said:
so, interesting day coming this friday. we are seeking to convert our current visa to a retirement visa, something that we thought was not possible. when applying in states, it is necessary to meet a passive income threshold, which we won’t do until SS kicks in (though i have been moving hard into dividends recently) some years from now. our friends introduced us to a local attorney, who states that the retirement is different when applying from italy, in that they only care about enough funds to support yourself for 1 year, which can be based on money in the bank, investments, etc. this interpretation obviously changes our ability to qualify. friday at 8a is our questura appointment and once we get the coveted “receipt”, we will need only wait 4-6 weeks for our official card. next week we sell our original apartment. lots of room to drink and celebrate me thinks!
Click to expand...
That's amazing. Would your wife have to stop working? I know you're already a man of leisure.
 
The Z Machine said:
Chemical X said:
so, interesting day coming this friday. we are seeking to convert our current visa to a retirement visa, something that we thought was not possible. when applying in states, it is necessary to meet a passive income threshold, which we won’t do until SS kicks in (though i have been moving hard into dividends recently) some years from now. our friends introduced us to a local attorney, who states that the retirement is different when applying from italy, in that they only care about enough funds to support yourself for 1 year, which can be based on money in the bank, investments, etc. this interpretation obviously changes our ability to qualify. friday at 8a is our questura appointment and once we get the coveted “receipt”, we will need only wait 4-6 weeks for our official card. next week we sell our original apartment. lots of room to drink and celebrate me thinks!
Click to expand...
That's amazing. Would your wife have to stop working? I know you're already a man of leisure.
Click to expand...
that’s the other thing…..she is allowed to work under this interpretation, just not for an Italian firm. US interpretation and some others is no work at all. double bonus!
 
Chemical X said:
The Z Machine said:
Chemical X said:
so, interesting day coming this friday. we are seeking to convert our current visa to a retirement visa, something that we thought was not possible. when applying in states, it is necessary to meet a passive income threshold, which we won’t do until SS kicks in (though i have been moving hard into dividends recently) some years from now. our friends introduced us to a local attorney, who states that the retirement is different when applying from italy, in that they only care about enough funds to support yourself for 1 year, which can be based on money in the bank, investments, etc. this interpretation obviously changes our ability to qualify. friday at 8a is our questura appointment and once we get the coveted “receipt”, we will need only wait 4-6 weeks for our official card. next week we sell our original apartment. lots of room to drink and celebrate me thinks!
Click to expand...
That's amazing. Would your wife have to stop working? I know you're already a man of leisure.
Click to expand...
that’s the other thing…..she is allowed to work under this interpretation, just not for an Italian firm. US interpretation and some others is no work at all. double bonus!
Click to expand...
Is she paid as a W2 worker in the US? If so, her company is cool with her being W2 in US while living in Italy?
 
The Z Machine said:
Chemical X said:
The Z Machine said:
Chemical X said:
so, interesting day coming this friday. we are seeking to convert our current visa to a retirement visa, something that we thought was not possible. when applying in states, it is necessary to meet a passive income threshold, which we won’t do until SS kicks in (though i have been moving hard into dividends recently) some years from now. our friends introduced us to a local attorney, who states that the retirement is different when applying from italy, in that they only care about enough funds to support yourself for 1 year, which can be based on money in the bank, investments, etc. this interpretation obviously changes our ability to qualify. friday at 8a is our questura appointment and once we get the coveted “receipt”, we will need only wait 4-6 weeks for our official card. next week we sell our original apartment. lots of room to drink and celebrate me thinks!
Click to expand...
That's amazing. Would your wife have to stop working? I know you're already a man of leisure.
Click to expand...
that’s the other thing…..she is allowed to work under this interpretation, just not for an Italian firm. US interpretation and some others is no work at all. double bonus!
Click to expand...
Is she paid as a W2 worker in the US? If so, her company is cool with her being W2 in US while living in Italy?
Click to expand...
we’ve had no issues and they encouraged her to take the job. her work is mostly international, so it’s been a benefit to her client being on the same time or close.
 
Chemical X said:
The Z Machine said:
Chemical X said:
The Z Machine said:
Chemical X said:
so, interesting day coming this friday. we are seeking to convert our current visa to a retirement visa, something that we thought was not possible. when applying in states, it is necessary to meet a passive income threshold, which we won’t do until SS kicks in (though i have been moving hard into dividends recently) some years from now. our friends introduced us to a local attorney, who states that the retirement is different when applying from italy, in that they only care about enough funds to support yourself for 1 year, which can be based on money in the bank, investments, etc. this interpretation obviously changes our ability to qualify. friday at 8a is our questura appointment and once we get the coveted “receipt”, we will need only wait 4-6 weeks for our official card. next week we sell our original apartment. lots of room to drink and celebrate me thinks!
Click to expand...
That's amazing. Would your wife have to stop working? I know you're already a man of leisure.
Click to expand...
that’s the other thing…..she is allowed to work under this interpretation, just not for an Italian firm. US interpretation and some others is no work at all. double bonus!
Click to expand...
Is she paid as a W2 worker in the US? If so, her company is cool with her being W2 in US while living in Italy?
Click to expand...
we’ve had no issues and they encouraged her to take the job. her work is mostly international, so it’s been a benefit to her client being on the same time or close.
Click to expand...
Sounds like a winning situation to me.
 
When the election was over my cousin looked into getting dual citizenship for him and his family. He offered to help us relatives get the ball rolling too. Something about ancestry and recent migration allowing it (we're second gen Americans). I just saw a post from him saying that Italy changed the rules recently so no dice. I wonder if there was a spike in applications that caused them to rethink their policy.
 
Psychopav said:
When the election was over my cousin looked into getting dual citizenship for him and his family. He offered to help us relatives get the ball rolling too. Something about ancestry and recent migration allowing it (we're second gen Americans). I just saw a post from him saying that Italy changed the rules recently so no dice. I wonder if there was a spike in applications that caused them to rethink their policy.
Click to expand...
this is indeed the case.

www.studiolegalemetta.com

Italian Citizenship Jure Sanguinis - Further Restrictions - Studio Legale Metta

More restrictions on obtaining Italian citizenship
www.studiolegalemetta.com www.studiolegalemetta.com
 
Last edited:
Chemical X said:
trees: finally started to get my act together here and am taking better care of what came with the property. looks like i’ll have lots of cherries, figs and walnuts this year. if anyone has walnut tips, please pass them on. they fall looking like crabapples. my peach tree took last year off after getting hit by a falling willow, but i worked on it a bit and it recently flowered, so hoping it fruits again. i need to trim the olive trees back. i just planted cilantro and 3 peppers; calabrian, jalapeño and red cherry. speriamo!
Click to expand...
i’ve got the fuzzies!!
 
Had a great 7 days in Istambul this last week. What an amazing city. Highly recommend. My wife and son flew from IST to Milano and will spend a long weekend there, catching the Inter - Roma match at San Siro.

Coming back to Switzerland and doing a short drive out of town, man, everything is super green right now. And still stunning views all over this place.

Also, I likely got another camera speeding ticket. A week away and my lead foot returns. Take the good with the bad...
 
The Z Machine said:
Had a great 7 days in Istambul this last week. What an amazing city. Highly recommend. My wife and son flew from IST to Milano and will spend a long weekend there, catching the Inter - Roma match at San Siro.

Coming back to Switzerland and doing a short drive out of town, man, everything is super green right now. And still stunning views all over this place.

Also, I likely got another camera speeding ticket. A week away and my lead foot returns. Take the good with the bad...
Click to expand...
Istanbul is one of my favorite cities, but i haven't been there in 20 years. the old town is just incredible. glad that it hasn't changed even with all the erdogan "stuff".
 
Orange&Blue said:
The Z Machine said:
Had a great 7 days in Istambul this last week. What an amazing city. Highly recommend. My wife and son flew from IST to Milano and will spend a long weekend there, catching the Inter - Roma match at San Siro.

Coming back to Switzerland and doing a short drive out of town, man, everything is super green right now. And still stunning views all over this place.

Also, I likely got another camera speeding ticket. A week away and my lead foot returns. Take the good with the bad...
Click to expand...
Istanbul is one of my favorite cities, but i haven't been there in 20 years. the old town is just incredible. glad that it hasn't changed even with all the erdogan "stuff".
Click to expand...
I noted only 1 instance of graffiti that said "Diktator R.T.E" There was also a protest march for Gaza. Otherwise, the city was all business and tourism.
 
small update and funny as @ss story. got a call last week from the police station that our ERV application is being processed, but we needed to provide an insurance policy that meets the visa requirements for the ERV. after some back and forth with our local attorney who is assisting us, we bought an ERV specific policy and we went to the station last Friday to provide. they were happy and said quickly in Italian. however; we somehow now have 5 active insurance policies, so we’ve been joking about randomly falling off a roof and having the doctor pick a policy card for coverage: wife’s work policy, visa policy for study visa, now ERV, private cigna we purchased for 1 year last june and the national health insurance. they wanted a separate policy even though we have national coverage because we paid a reduced fee because of the student visas. idiots…..

so, the funny story. me and my wife i guess have a best friend couple that we generally spend our time with, a gay married couple. we travel, hit dinner and hang. we have lots in common. so, us 4 had the rome trip scheduled for a bit and we went for 3 nights, took the train. on the tracks waiting for the train my wife saw a guy that we are familiar with from our school and the expat community. name is jim. he is also gay and has a husband, bruce, that is studying the language at our school with the same teacher. my wife recently started a facebook group for expats to gather every 2 or 3 weeks and practice speaking italian, since we are all learning. bruce is part of this group but not jim, jim is hyper shy and quite aloof. so last night after the group ended, i was talking to bruce and said “hey, we saw your partner jim heading to rome at the train station”. bruce thought for a moment and started to chuckle. then he told me that jim mentioned it to him but he wasn’t sure who jim was talking about because jim said “i saw that woman with the 3 gay guys heading to rome…..”. i was hysterical, my wife is still laughing. i said “hey, she’s my wife and not a beard, so it’s a married couple and 2 gay guys”. lollol
 
The Z Machine said:
DA RAIDERS said:
My daughter has arrived in the eternal city. Her place is unreal. She’s looking into the pillars of the pantheon from her flat. Bonkers
Click to expand...
Sounds pricey. How'd she get the place?
Click to expand...
Air bnb. It’s not too bad. Ends up being around $300 night. I wish I could show you the pic she took this morning. It’s simply amazing.

It’s one of the first times it’s been rented. There were zero reviews. But I was able to look into and verify the woman renting the place.

I’m considering a trip just to stay there
 
DA RAIDERS said:
The Z Machine said:
DA RAIDERS said:
My daughter has arrived in the eternal city. Her place is unreal. She’s looking into the pillars of the pantheon from her flat. Bonkers
Click to expand...
Sounds pricey. How'd she get the place?
Click to expand...
Air bnb. It’s not too bad. Ends up being around $300 night. I wish I could show you the pic she took this morning. It’s simply amazing.

It’s one of the first times it’s been rented. There were zero reviews. But I was able to look into and verify the woman renting the place.

I’m considering a trip just to stay there
Click to expand...
How long will she be there?
 
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