Getting stuff delivered in Abruzzo can be challenging to say the least. I once ordered some stuff from America and I was summoned to the post office 3 times – to collect my parcel you might think, but no, it was just to collect a letter from customs asking me what was in this parcel. I filled it in, and sent it back but the parcel never came, it was sent back to America anyways.

Also it can be challenging getting things delivered by courier. If you are expecting a delivery by courier you must put a sign outside your house with your name on it. Otherwise the delivery driver will just drive off. Also be sure to give the company sending the parcel accurate details for contact telephone numbers, if you live in the country, your delivery driver will more than likely struggle to find your house and because he is Italian and lazy and it might be coming up to lunchtime, he will quit and go home for lunch. Then you have lost all hope of ever receiving your parcel. (this happened for my husband’s birthday and he never got his birthday present, it winged its way back to Britain)

So far the best way to receive a parcel is through the simple post. The reason for this is that the Abruzzo post lady only has to find your house once to know where it is and then faithfully come back most days to deliver stuff. In fact, as soon as she drove down our lane, saw our old bright red galoppe car with a British number plate she greeted us like long lost friends.