During your stay — Casale Apricale

Always close the gate

Please always close the gate behind you — especially at night. Wild hogs roam the hillside and will happily wander onto the property (and into the garden) if the gate is left open.

Rubbish & recyclingKey card, bins, coloured bags & the sorting table

The municipality takes recycling very seriously. Rubbish is dropped at the automated collection bins — they open with the key card on the shelf in the kitchen.
The closest options are the bin close to the cemetery and the one on the parking at the lower end of the village.
Please use the coloured bags for the categories below; general waste goes in the grey bag. Glass (in a lockable grey bucket) and paper (in its own bag) can go in the garage. The trashcan in the kitchen has three zones. The one of the right for general waste, the top-left for plastic and metal, and the bottom-left for organic waste.

Type	Bag colour	Belongs in	Doesn't belong in
Organico (food waste)	Brown bag	Fruit and vegetable peels, leftovers, eggshells, coffee grounds and tea bags, small bones, paper napkins used with food.	Packaging of any kind, liquids such as oil or milk, garden waste.
Carta (paper)	White bag	Newspapers, magazines, flattened cardboard and boxes, paper bags, food cartons.	Greasy or dirty paper (pizza boxes with residue), receipts, plastic-coated paper, tissues.
Plastica & metalli (plastic & metal)	Yellow bag	Plastic bottles and containers, food trays, cans, tins, clean aluminium foil, drink cartons.	Styrofoam, toys, dirty containers, plastic bags not used as packaging.
Vetro (glass)	Green bag or the glass bell	Glass bottles and jars — empty and rinsed, lids removed (lids go in plastic & metal).	Drinking glasses, ceramic, plates, light bulbs, mirrors, window glass.
Secco residuo (general waste)	Grey bag	Everything that can't be recycled: used tissues, hygiene items, vacuum bags, dirty packaging.	Recyclables of the four types above, batteries, electronics, chemicals.

Wi-FiNetwork name, password & data

Network: Casala Apricale — the password is OliveTree!
The connection comes with 250 GB of data per month, which should be ample — but please avoid streaming 4K movies all day.

WaterDrinking water, the storage tank & using water sparingly

Tap water is safe to drink. We are hooked up to the municipal water supply with a 3000L storage tank at the top of the property.
We recommend running the taps for a few minutes when you arrive to ensure you have fresh water.
In dry summers the village asks everyone to use water sparingly — please don't leave taps running.

Gas & cookingThe gas tank, stove, oven and hot water

The house has a 1000L gas tank underground next to the driveway. We ensure it is always filled.
Gas is always on, so you can immediately use the gas stove and have access to hot water and heating.
There is an oven, microwave, coffee machine (Nespresso cups) and kettle for you to use.

AppliancesTV, Bluetooth speaker, and the automated canopy

The TV has Chromecast and is connected to the Wi-Fi. Behind the television is a Bluetooth speaker which you can also bring outside.
There is an automatic canopy in the little patio. You can control it using the Somfy remote. The first light on the remote controls the canopy itself, the second and third light control the built-in light strips.

ElectricityFuse box, Italian sockets & adapters

The fuse box is in the small hallway between the downstairs bedroom and kitchen. If a breaker trips, flip it back up.
Italian sockets are type C/F/L. And the house also has standard Dutch plugs in selected places. If needed, there are adapters in most rooms and spares in the garage.

Waste waterThe Imhoff tank — what not to flush

The house uses a two chamber Imhoff tank.
Please do not use or flush harsh chemicals (like bleach) as they kill the bacteria required for decomposing.
Please do not flush wipes, tampons or paper towels — they can clog the system. Use the bins provided next to the toilets.
Please do not pour cooking fat or oil through the sink.
If you arrive after the house has sat empty, please throw some septic tank tablets in the downstairs toilet, let them dissolve and then flush.

MosquitosTiger mosquitos, plug-ins & repellent

Like most of Italy, Liguria has tiger mosquitos. Contrary to the mosquito you might know from back home, tiger mosquitos are mostly active during the day and can be quite aggressive.
There are electric mosquito repellent plugs in each room. These are very effective (even with the window open) — plug these in before you go to bed, and don't forget to unplug them in the morning. You can also use these in the living room during the day if you want.
There is mosquito repellent on the kitchen shelf. Feel free to use it, but please replenish if it runs out.
There is a terracotta dish and mosquito repellent rings (that you can light) in the cupboard below the oven. Use these when you're sitting outside to keep mosquitos away.
Tiger mosquitos love stagnant water. If you see puddles in pots or gutters, please turn them around or clean them out to avoid breeding grounds.

The gardenAndrea's care, irrigation, olive harvest & fire risk

The garden is being looked after by our neighbour Andrea. There is an automated irrigation system running off a separate irrigation water supply (the other two big water tanks on the property).
Feel free to water plants that look in need of some additional care while you are there. The garden is a gem and we would love to keep it that way.
The olive trees are harvested in November; if you're here then, you're welcome to join.
Please don't light any open fires or BBQs in summer — fire risk is high in the valley.

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