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london properties madness #1: 28sqm for 365k in the Edgware road area (a “1 bed flat”!)

“Situated on the lower ground floor of an excellent Marylebone block, this contemporary one bedroomed flat offers fresh, bright interiors and an enviable location just moments from a range of amenities .”
How much do you love these descriptions? Well, the object in subject is a 28sqm flat for 365k (leasehold and expiration date TBC).

But the absurdity doesn’t end there: this “beautiful” underground studio has been divided in 2 so that it is advertised as a “1 bed” apartments.

"Generous spaces"

The economic depression has not been long enough to cure these people from their madness!

my guide to Firenze (Florence): Gelateria Ermini (ice cream)

there is lot of ice cream in florence, especially downtown. but most of it it’s crap! it’s made with chemicals, powders and syrups.nice genuine ice cream made with real fruits and nuts is not necessarily that easy to find.

one hidden gem, a little bit off the beaten track is Gelateria Ermini, in Via Gioberti 123-125R, walking distance from the centre and a nice walk too. It’s a residential area with shops, cafes and restaurants.

Gelateria Ermini is family owned and the ingredients are genuine. The ice cream tastes really nice, today I tried the unmissable florentine “buontalenti”, a flavour that only exists in florence, and nocciola (nougat).

The ice cream is pure perfection, it tastes great, and it has the perfect consistency.

Gelateria Ermini is a small place with only few stools to sit inside. During the warmer months they used to have few tables outside the shop.


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hotel review: Hotel Punta Molino, Ischia, Italy

1) it’s a good hotel with high level of service, good facilities and great food
2) the beach is relatively small but it seems adequate although a bit cramped and crowded at times
3) it shows a bit of ageing in small details, a bit of rust here a bit of rush there but fundamentally it’s still a good hotel
4) the food is really nice although not 100% perfect. Some of the “antipasti” items could easily be removed highlighting the nicer stuff. I had half board and both breakfast and dinner were nice. I didn’t try the cooked breakfast but the continental breakfast was excellent.
5) drinks and foods outside the half board treatment are expensive, something like 10 euros for a iced coffee
6) i didn’t try the spa (fully booked every time I tried) and I didn’t try the outdoor hot water mini pool because it was too hot; the indoor warm water pool (small) near the (small) gymn, is really nice and convenient after some exercise but it shows some ageing (the water jets didn’t work)
7) my room (single) was a bit small but very clean and the bathroom was almost as big as the room. The desk chair was uncomfortable and so was the armchair, but I had a small balcony with sea view and a view of the fortress and an extra chair and table on the balcony
8 ) air conditioning was ok, but not too cold so possibly americans or similar people used to blasting air conditioning full power, will think there is no airco;
9) a lot of communal spaces, with comfy sofas indoor and outdoor, where to sit relax, read etc;
10) furniture is dated and kitsch and could do with a revamp.
11) internet in the room via ethernet cable and wifi in communal areas. 5euros for 24hrs over 7 days, not a bad deal.

Overall a great place and although expensive I would go back anytime, the people working there are really nice and the service is excellent.