I just got back after two weeks visiting relatives in Sicily and I could not get over the prices! OH MY GOD!!!! Good thing that I had a place to stay and relatives to feed me because I would have gone broke in 3 days! I used to buy some nice clothes over there but it has gotten really expensive with the lame dollar. What a joke! But I had such a great time and the weather was nice. I am already missing the good expresso and my aunt's pasta al vogole. It has clams and it is so delicious.
My relatives are so funny! They ask "Why you reelect Busha! I said don't go there!Ciao!

Zita

The Euro probably has something to do with it, but not as much as the dollar in freefall.

Had the Italians retained the the Lire and stayed out of the EU I'm not convinced things would be any less expensive, but perhaps they might have been. Too late now, though. For some, going to Europe may no longer include buying a lot of things to bring back.

Glad you had a wonderful time anyway.

Grazie! My relatives complained also about the prices of things. Everything went up at least 30% they said. I can live without the shopping and I feel so lucky just to be able to go to Sicily and see my cousins, aunts and uncles. It is such a great place and I miss Italy like I do a person! I might go back in the spring I hope.

Zita, it is probably cheaper for all your relatives to come visit you here in the States, and buy all our cheap goods -- Thanks to Busha!! Ciao

Budman, you are right and that is exactly what I tell them. They know i don't like to get into politics and I hate to have to defend my country. My uncle Nunzio was trying to get me to admit who I voted for. "You vota for Busha!! He tries to speak in English. Its hilarious. I would tell them who I voted for. I try to change the subject and to find out the dirt in the family.
Politics is a no-no in my book.

Just a little editing to do. I would NOT tell them who I voted for.

Zita, all my friends in Italy, northeast Italy, have also complained about the increase in cost. They also told me cost are about 30% higher than when they had the lira.

So why we travelers complain about the the lower dollar and the inflation in Italy we do have a choice. And the Italians do not. We can travel there or not. They live there.

I thought Italy was pretty reasonable, but then again I live in Northern Ireland.

Yes Ann, it's cheap as chips for a London-liver like myself.

It's got to the point where it practically costs me the same to get on a plane (cheap flights) and go for a holiday than stay at home doing the daily grind.

Wow Ann and Kate, you should come to the US or even Canada if you want a inexpensive holiday. Your money is worth so much here! I think the rate of exchange is even better for you in Canada. Of course this time of the year you most likely want to escape cold weather. Florida has great deals and California and the South West would be interesting too.
I don't know how you can survive with those prices in Btitain! I guess by comparison, Italy is cheaper.

I have heard the complaint about increased prices every since the euro went into effect. But I am skeptical that the increases were as much as individuals claim for the simple reason that a 10%+ annual increase in prices would lead to a general economic crisis. I would need some official substantiation to believe such increases.

Zita, I totally agree with you. We were in Rome for a short 3 nights about a week and a half ago. While we had a fabulous trip (it was our 2nd time there), the weakened dollar made the trip a lot more expensive. I did some Christmas shopping there for some things that I can't find at home, but I definitely paid for it! And even a "cheap" meal certainly wasn't cheap! We are going to Europe again in May, but after this trip we redesigned our trip to include apartment rentals with kitchens for longer stays as opposed to hotels and traveling to a new location after 3-4 days. We were considering skipping Europe alltogether but we decided that with a little more budgeting and the much lower costs of the apartment should make the trip doable.

I think you mean pasta al vongole and yes, that is a great pasta with clams (one of my favorites!) yummy.

True enough, I too miss the prices with Italian lire but then again, all of Europe is expensive with the euro. Your Italian relatives should know that the Italian lire/euro thing has nothing to do with Bush. In fact, that whole change was elected by the European Union prior to 2000, the consequences should have been foreseen as with the introduction of any new currency. I think it will continue to take a few years to iron out the differences between the two. In the meantime, Europe will continue to be expensive, however, it still is possible to find budget accommodations and deals as I do!

Zita, according to the OECD the CPI in Italy increased 8.1% from 2000 to 2003 and will increase about 2.2% in 2004. Not the 30% you quote.

France from 2000 to 2003 was 5.8%, the UK was 6.5% and the US was 6.8%.

You can find this info at www.oecd.org/dataoecd/42/36/18628078.pdf

Prices to Americans have gone up because much of the rest of the world has decided to stop subsidizing us. Get used to it.

WHile your figures may be based on fact, the average Italian has been slapped with what certainly looks and feels more like 30% if not more increase in daily cost of living. Our family and friends in Florence are in sticker shock everytime they go to the local CO-OP or any other food store or retail shop. Mind that wages (controlled by the gov't) have not gone up, and the truth of the matter is that they are ALL facing a serious financial challange. Don't forget, Italians are used to fine clothing, shoes and month long holidays.

I remember like it was yesterday, a cappucino from a typical Rome snack bar was 1000 lira or 68 cents at the time. A pastry was circa 900 lira.
Those were the days!

Calamari, my friends in Italy are in shock also! And so are my SIL family in Rome. It is a problem for sure. Especially for the Italians, we at least have a choice of travelling there or not. But I sure want to take that trip next June.

My Italian friends are also in shock over the prices. One told me of an informal "string bean protest" last year. Markets had raised the price of beans and other produce to almost double the pre-euro price, and Italian shoppers protested by not buying. They'd finally had it. The same friend says the prices have receded a bit, but they're still not back to normal.

During my trip in October, a front-page article in the paper stated that the average price of a cup of espresso at a bar had gone up 108 percent since the euro. The article even analized prices by region.

I remember the days of the super-lire. . . 2200 lire to the dollar, before inflation arrived in Italy. It was like vacationing with Monopoly money -- things were so cheap. Less than 20 years ago you could get a modest room with bath and breakfast in Venice for about $40 per night.

Calimari says: "the truth of the matter is that they are ALL facing a serious financial challange. Don't forget, Italians are used to fine clothing, shoes and month long holidays."

As I had my morning breakfast of champagne and oysters, my crystal flute kept overflowing with the copious tears I was shedding while contemplating the challenge faced by your Italian compatriots.

But then, my manservant delivered my Wall Street Journal and I read the
article about Sarah Altmed, a widowed mother of 2 sons, 13 and 11, who has
spent 17 years working with the developmentally disabled in Maryland and earns a queenly $12.06 an hour.

Ms Ahmed arrives at the group home at 4PM and leaves the next morning at 8AM.
She isn't paid for the 6 hours, 11PM to 5AM, that she sleeps.

Her and others like her, I'll cry for but not for Italians who may have to forego some new clothes and shoes and face a reduced vacation.