Flat swap - London and Le Marche on Twitter

[Kevan Cummins]

Hi all

I've been looking at what people are saying about Le Marche on Twitter (the latest big thing in social networking if you haven't heard of it) and you can see latest posts here Le Marche Twitters | Sibillini Foothills

The most interesting twitter is somebody looking to swap his flat in Notting Hill, London for an apartment or house in Le Marche in July this year Accommodation London UK Blog Archive my notting hill gate, london for your Le Marche, Italy, july10-17 (notting hill gate, london). I've already arranged to swap places with a friend in Stoke Newington this July to take the kids to see the sights and visit the museums as they have never been to London. Otherwise I would be interested in the exchange.

Antoher interesting twitter is the one suggesting a travel book on Le Marche that I haven't seen before but will have to check out Amazon.com: Blue Guide The Marche, First Edition: Ellen Grady: Books - it is a promotion of a review created by Amazon but the review is original.

Is anyone out there twittering about Le Marche? Or are there too many jobs to do in the Garden with summer rapidly approaching.

Kevan

[annec]

The Blue Guide is OK, and very detailed, but it seems a bit dry to me. Marche really needs a good "Rough Guide" to flesh out all the history and people of the area.

[annec]

Having followed your Amazon link I see "C Roeder" shares my view - and puts it a lot better.

[Kevan Cummins]

Originally Posted by annec

Having followed your Amazon link I see "C Roeder" shares my view - and puts it a lot better.

Hi Anne

You prompted me to read the review again Amazon.com: C. Roeder's review of Blue Guide The Marche, First Edition and after reading this in the review "But what it lacks in emotion, it more than makes up for in details given. The Blue Guide, has information on even the smallest towns. It gives incredible detail as to the history of each location, as well as places of lodging, and restaurants. History buffs will love this book." I decided to order the book...

... then those clever people at Amazon offered me this book http://www.amazon.co.uk/Italys-Sibillini-National-Park-Trekking/dp/185284535X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid =1241536055&sr=8-1 and I'm afraid that I'm a sucker and went and ordered this as well as I'm trying to find some good walks in the park that I can do with my family and add a review of the walk to my website Walking in Monti Sibillini | Sibillini Foothills

I must be a real sucker for this sort of thing on Amazon as I tried to buy a third book they offered on Le Marche The Marche: Heritage Guide (Heritage Guides): Amazon.co.uk: Touring Club of Italy: Books but luckily for my credit card they couldn't deliver this one to Italy - phew! Has anyone read this one - I think I saw it once in Italian but not before in English

Kevan

[jepsonclough]

We have the Blue Guide and it is very much focused on churches and museums - not really a general guide to the area. We don't use it very much but have left it in our house for guests.

We also have a walking guide - I haven't used it - not very big on walking - but my husband said some of the walks look interesting (not sure what his assessment is based on).

I think there is also a cycling guide to the area but Penny (Sibilini Cycling) didn't' rate it.

Not sure we'll get a rough guide or similar until the tourist numbers increase but they won't increase without better guide books - anyone fancy writing a guide?


Chris

[Penny]

Originally Posted by jepsonclough

I think there is also a cycling guide to the area but Penny (Sibilini Cycling) didn't' rate it.

It's not that the book is bad exactly, just that it was put together 10 years ago and no-one maintains the tracks. Not even the National Park. Also, for mountain bikers there are no descriptions of the terrain or surfaces.

We had a conversation with the Parco Nazionale dei Monti Sibillini last month and Paul offered to report any tracks that were overgrown, impassable etc that he found whilst on his biking travels. The response was that there is no-one to report it to and that they clean the tracks once a year in the Autumn if they have the money. Now, to my mind, what is the point of clearing them in Autumn? Surely it would be better to clear them in Spring after the landslides, snow etc. otherwise you are just preparing them for the winter which seems pointless!!

The Cycle club in Sarnano told us they have a big problem with their signs, for the 10 routes around Sarnano, going missing. Apparently the farmers pull them out beacuse they think motorcyclists and quadbikers will use them.

Sometimes this place is very frustrating!!

Back to the guidebooks - I have a wonderful one from Ascoli Piceno province (in English) that gave a history and details of every town and village in the province. It is only small but very nice. I've never seen it for sale.

[annec]

Kevin - now I've got to go and buy those books too!
Penny - would love to find another copy of your Ascoli book. I'm sure every village has stories of villanous dukes and wily peasants, as well as love stories and myths and legends (something other than the tired old Lago di Pilato story - thought that's the sort of thing I mean). That's what gets people wanting to come and see, together with the undiscovered art. Wonder if it'll ever get written. And no, Chris, I'm not volunteering!

[Kevan Cummins]

I'd like to try and find the book on Ascoli area too if Penny can give the details - might still be able to get it second hand somewhere (ISBN number would be great)