Updated: May 27, 2005

Other useful things to know

Friends, contacts and neighbours

Peter & Ansie van Wel
           They run the gallery downstairs and are our 'anchor' for many things in the village. We've known each other for over 25 years. Their house is one street behind the Via degli Archi (our back door street) and their house is on the right hand side, easily recognizable by their paintings and open space in front of their entry. Being one of the first inhabitants of Bussana Vecchia and great supporters and protectors of the artistic culture in the village they have years of knowledge and experience with the town and many stories to tell. If they're not in the gallery they're probably at home, with phone number + 39 0184510384.

Jo Barudio
    
Jo has made Bussana his home some years ago. He's not only a professional woodworker/artist, but also can fix everything else, and has been the builder/designer of most of this house, his own house, Norbert's house (presently Benrdt), and working on the restoration of the house next door. With his small three-wheeled API he can get anywhere with any load and is, just like Peter & Ansi, fluent in Italian. Jo also owns keys to the house and can be reached at + 39 0184516079

Colin Wilmot

Sculptor and painter Colin definitely is one of the first people living in Bussana, and has over the past years restored and expanded his lovely home and art gallery so that they have all the amenities of modern age while preserving the old architecture and appearance. Together with Colin, we are one of the few survivors in the lawsuit for formal ownership against the Italian government. His house and art gallery is just down from the large church. Colin rents out an apartment as B&B to visitors who'd want to experience living in a medieval town but maintain a bit more luxury.

Massimo
He is the very kind and friendly owner of many years of the next-door restaurant and bar: the Osteria. See the Village and restaurant sections as well as the photo page of Massimo's and Nicoletta's birthday.

Kirstin / Kristina Wang
This lady, originally from Denmark, is an artist who decided she could better serve the many visitors of the village and her financials by starting an ice-cream shop than by selling art. With her traditional Italian ice-cream she is one of Xander's favorites.

Alessandra
Another of Xander favorites: She runs the Creperia in front of the house and is frequented regularly for our traditional crepes with "crema di marroni". If you obtain the status of a regular villager she may give you a bit discount. Unfortunately for the inhabitants, Alessandra moved her Creperie down to the beach area in Arma Di Taggia. It's between the little square with terraces on the beach, and the old medieval fortresss. Crepes are still good, and we do get there regularly because she's close to the best part of the beach.

Martyn Wright
He is a sculptor/portrait artist who owns the house on the corner of our street, next to Mundy's house that I just bought. He is also one of the first inhabitants of Bussana, but has been absent for many years due to a massive problem with his financials in the UK. He used to draw portraits in the small arch underneath our stairway but hasn't done that in the past 10 years. It is thanks to Martyn that we got to stay in Bussana in 1981.

Mundy Moore
Furniture designer who took over the house from his aunt Joan Armitage many years ago. When we were visiting Martyn one day, Mundy stopped by and invited us to stay in his house since he wasn't going to be there for a while. We've stayed in his house for many summers and have eventually bought it (=the house next door). Mundy's house is one of the 'treasures' of Bussana Vecchia in the sense that it has been almost untouched since it survived the earthquake in the late 1800's. You can also see this as a handicap, of course. For us, restoring the house with it's nice terrace and a living room that provides a great view over the main street is a great thing to do. Of course, Mundy is always welcome in his "former" house.

Vasco
Near the entrance of the village, opposite from where the scooters are usually parked, there is a small metal workshop where Vasco, presently retired, still makes his windows and doors. Also our front double "Dutch" door was made by Vasco. He has white-gray hair and often enjoys his wine on his terrace just above his workshop

Anna (and the bench)
There are multiple Anna's in the village, but this is a special one because she lives opposite from where our stairway begins, between some plants and a litte water fountain. She is an older lady with grey thick hair (see picture to right for a rare picture of Anna as well as the bench) and does not interfere very much with the day-to-day activities in the village, with one exception: She does not like the wooden bench (with garbage can extension) that I made some years ago from pieces of scrap wood.
I placed the bench at the little Piazetta Verde next to our stairway and it was an instantaneous success (except with Anna). Older people having difficulty walking of the main street use it to rest, Kirstin's and Alessandra's customers use it to eat their ice cream or crepe, tourists sit their to admire the view, people use it for a short siesta in the afternoon, and lovers use it in the evening to enjoy each other in the medieval town in the dark. Anna hates all of this because it supposedly ruins her night rest. Given the fact that we live above the bench and do not have this problem, it seems to be more Anna's problem than the bench's problem. Nevertheless, if the bench would suddenly be gone or chopped to pieces, the first person to consider is Anna, because everyone else likes the bench.

It needs to be noted, that the bench will have a different type of attraction to the villagers in winter, especially when they need to get wood for their fire places. Therefore, we take the bench inside the house when we close it for the winter and only return it when we open the house for the sommer. If you are the person supposed to do one of these activities: Don't forget the bench.

Slim
With his wife Enza, Slim lives in the lower part of the house at the corner (Martyn's house). Slim is involved in multiple activities in the village, and presently helps Massimo at the Osteria. Slim has also been doing quite some construction in the past and has helped Jo on several occasions. That relationship seems to have cooled off recently due to discussions over payments.

Berndt and Rosa
A photographer and reporter, Berndt has traveled often and far. He is greatly experienced in creating art photographs by combining multiple structures and images. He bought "Norbert's" house next to Jo this year and is accommodating himself, together with his wife Rosa, effortlessly to the bohemian life style of the village and an enthousiast barbeque fan, as you can see. In relation to his image manipulations: If you meet him you may want to show him this picture and ask him to point out what's "wrong" about it.

Francis Shaw
Visible on the left lower part of this picture with grey hair and green shirt, amongst several other "gang" members like Colin, Vasco, Berndt and Peter and Ansie. Francis is a composer for the BBC and excellent piano player. He has made the score for various plays and movies as well. He lives in the Via degli Archi behind our house. Francis is another of the four "survivors" who are still in legal battle with the government, and very active to continue this battle via the publicity channels that are available to him in the UK. thanks to Frances we have had several UK television crews visiting and filming the village and going in depth into the ownership issue.