Pizzo Harbour Project (Update Spring 2013)

 

oh, this looks so nice, crystal clear sea

 

 

the harbour project of Pizzo in April 2013

 

 

but what is this?

 

 

it's not finished!

 

The harbour project of Pizzo, still unfinished. I introduced this wonderful project that kicked off in November 2010 here. It will add so much value to Pizzo. In my previous posts I also explained why the works were stopped.

 

The new mayor (since May 2012) wants to continue though - however, as I understood, he also is reviewing the entire project.

 

In my last picture above, I indicated the missing parts of the original project: A long area of the harbour should still be excavated, and the entrance to the grotto is not realized yet (see blue space). A bridge (yellow) would allow pedestrians to cross the waterway and view the grotta azzurra from outside.

 

Sometimes, in the mornings, I see anglers on the new mole. Sometimes, I see a group of teenagers taking a walk. Once, I saw a small motor boat entering the basin for a curious tiny "harbour round trip". At least from time to time someone is using the unfinished construction.

 

 

MORE INFORMATION:

• For future updates, please click here:  Harbour Project
• The introduction to the Pizzo Project (including an update form June 2012 about the  stop of the project)
• Progress photos from November 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

Our Renovation: Palazzo Pizzo (a summary)

  

All began with falling in love with an over 200 year old house on a cliff in Southern Italy.

The story, the renovation, this blog - it all started back in 2006.

For several reasons it took us 5 years to renovate and decorate the palazzo.

It is our Italian home, away from our expat home in Asia.

Here are some milestones from our project:

Press: The New York Times and the International Herald Tribune feature our renovation project in the article "Expatriate Bloggers chronicle details of Home Renovation"

Facade - before and after - photos from above

Facade - before and after - photos from front and side

Facade - before and after  - photos from the Sea

Before and After Photos - all "before and after" posts show the long way we came

Maybe the biggest shock - the struggle with a TV antenna

My crazy tile mix for the kitchen - turns out sensational!

How we got the palazzo? - about eating ice cream and having a dream in summer 2006

Fanfare! - the renovation starts with good vibes in November 2007

online renovation - how to deal with a long distance project

Now I have to live with this - the "mistakes" we made

Restoring - click to read the whole documentation of the renovation progress

The Guest Residence - the vaulted cellar became a pleasant guest residence. To check availability in July and August 2013 please contact me at writing(dot)suzie(at)yahoo.com 

 This post should give an overview of our renovation project. 

It is easy to reach from the "Palazzo Pizzo Logo" on the side bar - and will be updated.

  

photo source: 1) by suzie for Palazzo Pizzo, 2) original photo by Caterina Maria Feroleto

Spring Cleaning in May - about updating and closing blogs

In searching for a translation of the German proverb: "Alles neu macht der Mai", I found "April showers bring forth May flowers". It is not a very close translation, but it has the same optimistic feeling of change. And that's what I wanted to tell you. I made a few changes on this blog, a kind of spring cleaning.

Bougainvillea on the sidewalk, Bangkok 

 

I was not happy with my side bar anymore. It was too cluttered. I remember, I had split the side bar into two columns to accommodate advertisers. Ha ha, but my blog has just one sponsored text link at the moment! So, I filled up the far right column with lots of eye candy books. But after all, it was too much. I feel, the trend goes back to more simple looks for blogs. Have you observed something similar?

That's why I moved all the beautiful coastal living and Italian interior books to my existing, but never used "BookStore". Check it out here :-) ! You will make me happy with a little amazon's commission (4% of the book sales price). No price difference for you. - BTW, I am still looking for a good book about Feng Shui - any recommendation?

My bookstore is not the only new "page" (or tab) on this blog. New is also "Life in Asia". I will explain.

kung fu vases from Spin, Beijing with red orchids

While living in China, I started my two blogs, Beijing Notebook and Palazzo Pizzo. This was over six years ago. Random observations noted in Beijing and a documentation of a renovation in the South of Italy - I decided to NOT combine the two subjects. My readership on both blogs had different interest. Just a few readers, came visiting me on both blogs.

After having moved from Beijing in 2008, I only sporadically updated my China blog. But my posts are still valuable and many new reader visit every day. Although, I am now looking for a nice last post, this blog will remain open for ever.

When we planned to move to Bangkok, Thailand in 2010, I started a third blog. And last week, I shut it down. Without prior notice. I was surprised myself. I just had to click one button. It is not deleted. But just not public anymore. Why? Lack of inspiration, lack of motivation. I deem Beijing is a lot more interesting than Bangkok. There was much more culture I was attracted to. My Bangkok blog bored myself more and more.

But being a good and happy blogger has not only to do with the subject you write about. Blogging is also interaction with readers - although, many blogger do not comment anymore on other blogs (I am pretty quiet myself). But even if I don't get comments on every post, I have an idea about who my readers are. I had a very nice readership over at Beijing Notebook. They enjoyed the information I provided, and that made me happy.

I also do have reliable and friendly readers here on Palazzo Pizzo. You know that, you are one of them! And I always enjoyed the blogging design community. I got and still get the best advises and inspiration online from design addict blogger and interior designers online! I love it!

I think, one of the reasons I had no more fun with my Bangkok blog, is that I never really connected with the readers. One day, I got my first insulting comment. When I published the comment and answered politely, it got even worse. I never ever had bad comments on my other blogs during my six years of blogging. Funnily enough, I am apparently not the only female blogger in this country who had to deal with strange comments. It seems a tricky environment.

While spring cleaning my blog today, I had a flash of inspiration. I want to give a new combination a try! I hope you are not only here to read about Italy, or renovation, and kitchen remodelling. Maybe, some readers wonder sometime about my life in our adopted home, away from our Italian home? These posts will be labeled "Life in Asia". And I promise, I will not overdo it. What do you think?

 

Spring cleaning, yes, apart from some new content, maybe a more visible face-lift is necessary?  Do you still like the look of my blog?? Although this blog is mainly about an over 200 years old house, it does not mean that the blog has to look like over 200 years old ... 

Saluti
suzie


Photo copyright: Palazzo Pizzo