Monster Gravy Train at Greve (GTG - get it?)

Well you can finally get excited....here are the details you've all been waiting for - the run down on our First Annual Expats in Italy Raduno aka Monster Get Together!

I am pleased to announce that the venue has been confirmed. A lot of deliberating has gone on behind the scenes but we feel that we have come up with a perfect plan.

The luncheon will be held in the Chianti. It should last from 12 until 5 on June 3, 2006. (direction etc., wil be sent to those who sign up)

We will have a buffet set up for all. I will announce the final menu in the next few days but we have taken into consideration allergies and vegetarian and non so there will be plenty of food for all. No outside food will be allowed. If you would like to bring a bottle of wine though that would be fine although wine as well as other bevereges will be included.

If you would like to attend, you will need to confirm with payment via PayPal no later than May 1, 2006. The price per person is euro 21. Children under 6 are free.

If you would prefer not paying via PayPal, you can pay with a bollettino postale and the price for that will be 20 euro per person above 6 years of age.

If you would like to attend, please send me an email (cristina@expatsinitaly.com subject: Monster GTG) and I will send you the correct email (not the one above) to use for PayPal and your reservation sheet. Once payment is made you will be confirmed.

We have a max number of attendees of 130 . This will be on a first come first serve basis.

If you are looking for a place to stay, here are some ideas:

Locanda del Mulino 0577 747103
Gaiole in Chianti
4 rooms, about Euro 70.00

www.milleprimavera.it 0577 287 093
Mille Primavera
Gaiole in Chianti
4 apartments which sleep 4 persons, about Euro 40 pp

Fattoria Nerbona e Casina 0577 971 066
www.nerbona.com
Colle di Val D’Elsa
5 apartments, Euro 680 per week
12 rooms, Euro 75

Borgo Casa al Vento 0577 749 068
www.borgocasaalvento.com
Gaiole in Chianti
10 apartments, from Euro 600 to 900 per week
2 rooms, Euro 70

La Sala 055 854 7962
Via di Cintoia Alta, 47
La Panca, Greve in Chianti
3 apartments, Euro 75

Terre di Melazzano 055 85 31 90
Via di Melazzano, 10
Greve in Chianti
4 apartments, Euro 80 to 100

Fattoria Le Vignacce 055 977 965
Terranuova Bracciolini Arezzo
www.val.it/aziende/levignacce
2 apartments, Euro 90
8 rooms, Euro 80
5 piazzole, Euro 20

Albergo da Verrazzano 055 85 31 89
www.verrazzano.it
Piazza G. Matteotti, 28
Greve in Chianti
Euro 90 (ask for a room in the back, not overlooking the square which can be noisy)

Albergo del Chianti 055 85 37 63
Piazza G. Matteotti, 86
Greve in Chianti
www.albergodelchianti.it
Euro 95

You can also check out the list that they have here http://www.emmeti.it/Welcome/Toscana/Chianti/Greve/ospitalita.uk.html as well as check our affiliate Venere (on the right side of the forum, click the link to give the info you are searching for).

Besides the meal we will have a few fun quizzes where we can work in teams, a used book, DVD, Video, etc. table (bring one, and take one), as well as prizes and surprises.

We are also doing a writing competition for articles for the site which is open to all, not just those attending. These can be personal accounts of your adventure, "how to . . ." articles, how things work, etc.

So who's coming to lunch?

edited to fix price of PayPal payments. For 20 euro they take 1.13 euro in charges.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Cristina,

WE are!!!!!! Sign us up, cash our check, set us a place at the table!

We plan to bring books, and now that you mention it, maybe some DVDs as well.

What time will the festivities begin....and end?

e mails to cristina@expatsinitaly.com, right?

Yep, sorry about that, emails to cristina@expatsinitaly.com

Time will be announced later but should be somewhere around 11 to 5.

Barb, send me an email with Monster GTG as the subject and I will send you the relevent info (including the correct email to use for PayPal which is not my expats email)

Cristina,

Since my wife and I will be coming in from the States, I would like to suggest for those coming from abroad to bring something for an Expat In Italy that they miss from home. For example, it could be ziploc bags, marshmellows, a jar of salsa, spices (Thai, Chinese, Indian, etc.), over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, e.g, aspirin, cold tablets, children's cough syrup, etc. Items that either you cannot get in Italy or difficult to find if you live outside a big city like Rome.

While it's called a Monster GTG, it is reminiscent of a celebration like a block party, neighborhood get together, 4th of July picnic, all rolled into one event.

We were very fortunate to attend the Cortona GTG last May and met many wonderful Expats, friends of Expats, neighbors and visitors to Italy like us.

Martha and I look forward to coming to the Monster GTG, renewing aquaintances and meeting new people.

Cristina and other readers of this post, let me know if you are interested in bring something from home to Italy. I'll organize and coordinate this activity with interested individuals.

That's it for now. Ciao, Ben

quote:

Originally posted by 2Italy2:
Cristina,

Since my wife and I will be coming in from the States, I would like to suggest for those coming from abroad to bring something for an Expat In Italy that they miss from home. For example, it could be ziploc bags, marshmellows, a jar of salsa, spices (Thai, Chinese, Indian, etc.), over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, e.g, aspirin, cold tablets, children's cough syrup, etc. Items that either you cannot get in Italy or difficult to find if you live outside a big city like Rome.
That's it for now. Ciao, Ben

Ooh yes please.....
How about Richard Gere ??? Reckon you'd get through Customs with him?

Carole B.

quote:

Originally posted by Carole B.:
How about Richard Gere ???

Oh, can you make it two of those?

Update: If paying by PayPal with a credit card, the price is 21 instead of 20 because PayPal is charging 1.13 per payment. If you transfer money from your PayPal account instead, it is just 20.

Remember, reservations are not confirmed until payment has been made and the reservation sheet has been completed and returned. Although we have over 100 people who have said they will attend on the other thread, the count will only be for those who have paid and have sent back the reservation confirmation sheet.

Did you get my email for cristina? Bit worried it hasn't got through since I haven't heard back from you...

I sent you an email this morning. Let me know if you have not gotten it.

Cristina, I sent you an email as requested above but haven't heard back from you. No big rush, but I do want to make sure that we make the cut!

Barb, I sent you an email this morning. Check your spam folder.

I don't have a spam folder....and I also don't have your email. Did you use the rome.com email address?

Barb, I clicked reply from the email you sent. If you don't have a spam folder do you have a junk folder (you must have something as all online clients are set up with this)?

Also, for all, a few people have sent the email to info@expatsinitaly.com but as is in the first post of this thread, the requests need to go to cristina@expatsinitaly.com otherwise they end up in my junk/spam folder.

Ciao Cristina!
I sent an email to your cristina@expatsinitaly two days ago and have not heard back. I didn't see it my junkmail folder either. I just wanted to check with you incase you didn't my email. Thanks.
Cyn
americanmedusa@yahoo.com

Ditto....
Carole B.

I just checked my junk folder and both of yours as well as another were in there. I really hate my ISP! I will send you the info in a few minutes.

Got it thanks! Does this mean I will see you there Carole? Can't wait!

Cyn

Cristina,

Ditto for me also. I sent you an email MSG with the correct email address on the 20th with my Paypal Confirmation No. and the information for the Monster GTG Reservation Sheet.

If you can give me a status, I would appreciate it.

Mille grazie, Ben

quote:

Originally posted by Cyndi:
Got it thanks! Does this mean I will see you there Carole? Can't wait!

Cyn

I reckon it does.... Want me to bring any Pepperoncino Chocolate from the chocolate factory?????
Dunno' about you, but I'm getting really excited (and a little scared/aprehensive too - So many new faces, but 'old friends').
Carole B

Is there a train station in Greve in Chianti?
I tried to use the online train sites and Greve in Chianti doesn't seem to register.
Thank you,
Anne Marie

Anne Marie, I think you will need to take a bus from Firenze.. look up SITA, which should be at www.sita.it

Cristina: Any news about furbearing guests?? I'm sure CaroleB. will want to know as well! Thanks!

can I ask how many (around) have paid? I would like to go, but I am not so sure that hubby will be ok to paying for something that we dont even know if there will be room for us.

I will announce when we get to 80 so that everyone knows we will only have 50 spaces left. I will not send off information to payment unless there is space left.