Mary Wells | 04/04/2008 4:05 pm

Gypsy’s Personal Guide to Doctors, Drivers, Taxis, Shippers and Helicopters in the Med

Credentials: My husband and I had a summer home in St. Jean Cap Ferrat for 30 years and brought our children up from one end of the Med to the other. We had all kinds and sizes of boats and after selling my home in France I now spend summers on a Feadship called “Strangelove”. I have had many, many, many guests through the years and I know how painful it is to need a dentist and not know one. I am giving you the names, telephone numbers of friends you will be glad to know.

If you have someone you would like to add to my list please let me know. We all need friends when we travel.

Doctors in Italy:
The Genius: Dr. Luigi Marasco — Head of Burn and Plastic Surgery in the Brindisi Hospital. When necessary, for serious emergencies, he will travel. He is a life saver – he is just possibly an angel.
Tel: 39 0185 283 645 Mobile phone: 39 338 688 1723

In Portofino:

Dr. Fati: Reliable, Responsible: Tel: 39 0185 283 645. Mobile: 39 338 688 1723

Dr Ramasco: Reliable, Responsible: Tel: 39 338 281 1046.

Doctors in Spain:
Reliable, responsible. In Palma de Mallorca: Dr. Marisa Diaz Polo Tel: 34 071 681518

Doctors in South of France:
Excellent: In St Jean Cap Ferrat: This has been my family doctor in summer! Dr. Philippe Lemione. Speaks English, Philippe is a very good internist who knows the right specialist. Tel: 33 (0) 4 93 76 16 16. Mobile: 33 (0) 609 090988.

Dr. Veronique Coissard in Beaulieu Sur Mer, lovely and smart dermatologist, speaks English, Tel: 33 (0) 493 01 19 40

Dr. Simblser in Beausoleil, highly respected dermatologist in that odd French area squeezed right above Monte Carlo; experienced, speaks English, knows American medications, I’ve known him for years. Tel: 33 (0) 4 93 78 57 25

I just have to add Dr. Eric Maugee, dermatologist attaché to the Hospital Saint Louis in Paris – a good man and a good name to have! Tel: 01 48 74 12 94

Dr. Gerald Demaneuf, my favorite dentist, his office is in Beaulieu Sur Mer, he is excellent and he doesn’t hurt! Speaks English. I’ve known him for years in Beaulieu Sur Mer, Tel: 33 (0) 4 93 011 940

Laboratory Blood tests: Mr. Edery, respected, reliable, in Beaulieu Sur Mer, Tel: 33 (0) 4 93 01 12 59.

Shipping Agents You Can Trust: I’ve tried them all, I have shipped houses full of precious items so often you would be shocked so I won’t tell you. I think these are the best by far.

Best shipper in the world in my opinion: Tony Daddone, Kamino International Transport, 145th Avenue, Valley Stream, New York 11581. Tel: 1 516 825 4774, ext 3100 for Tony Daddone. Fax 1 516 825 4669. He never – and I mean never – lets you down. Call from Europe, Greenland, or the moon – he is affiliated with the shippers of the world and knows who is who – he will arrange everything.

Another great shipper if you own or charter a boat: Catalano Shipping Services.

La Panorama, Bloc C/D, 57 Rue Grimaldi, Monaco 98000. No matter where you sail, Catalano will find you to deliver or to take away, the five star shipper for yachts. Tel: 377 93 50 86 86.

Taxis, Limos, Drivers, Helicopters

Limousines, Monaco based:

2 M Limousines

Owner: Marc Bazzano – the best on the French coast in my opinion – very pleasant, smart, speaks good English, utterly reliable
Mobile: 377 (0) 6 80 86 40 27
Tel: 377 93 50 69 69

Limousines, Barcelona based:
Abaser: Tel: 34 93 245 78 29 www.abaser.es

Limousines, St Tropez based:
Riviera Limousine (Francis Laprade) Tel: 33 (0) 611 533 856

Limousines, Rome
Salvatore Rapicavoli: Tel: 39 329 623 1954; mobile: 39 (0) 6 783 49 022
Maurizio Benfenati: Tel: 39 388 231 151 28; www.coopsar.it

Local taxis, Portofino
Claudio: Tel: 39 335 533 2307
Giovanni: Tel: 39 340 47 33 160

Local taxis, Porto Santo Stefeno
Lucio: Tel: 39 335 126 2906
Marco: Tel: 39 339 399 7132

Local taxi, Viareggio
Alessandro: Tel: 39 339 61 58 852

Private Driver – Amalfi Coast plus

ALFREDO THE WONDERFUL

This intelligent, experienced and elegant driver and guide will pick you up and drive you anywhere in Italy. He is the very top of the line. Very good English. Tel: 39 334 330 21 92

Private Driver – La Spezia, Forte dei Marmi area
Massimo Gianfaldoni of Tuscany Dream Limo Service: lives in the area and knows it intimately – lots of shops in that area and he knows them all. I looked at houses in Forte dei Marmi, he has been sending me pictures of possibilities ever since! Speaks good English. Tel: 39 347 461 4390

Private Driver – Porto Cervo
Alessandro Tedde, Tel: 39 368 351 9386 or 39 333 935 5492

The Delightful Drivers of Capri
They sing, they gossip, they bring out the sun, they all know each other, in fact some of them are brothers, they tell funny stories – they should be on radio. They grew up in Capri where everybody knows too much about everybody else but they would never live anywhere else and they drive amazing cars. You are always a star in those cars. Very easy to find them up near the piazzetta in town, here are just a few telephone numbers:

The two, swinging, singing brothers: Nello and Antonio Federico, hilarious, great guys, speak very good English, Tel: 39 335 81 44 771

Another good one, doesn’t sing that I know of but speaks good English: Paolo de Gregorio, Tel: 39 338 284 7638

Private drivers n Brindisi (Italy)
Better than an ambulance if you have an accident in my opinion. Angelo, Tel: 39 338 373 7442 and Roberto, 39 30 939 820

Helicopters
Nice-Monaco: Heli Air Monaco: Tel: 377 92 05 00 50

Italy from Rome: Captain Ricciuto Tel: 39 347 354 9648

72 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Dear Mama, I’m certain more Americans relate to you than the world travelers. However, don’t ever give up hope: My cousin bought one Lotto ticket and won 8.7 million. Miracles still happen. I’m not advising you to go out and buy a Lotto. My husband has bought hundreds over the years and his biggest win to date has been a $5.00 windfall. Courage.

By Estimada C on 04/04/2008 3:21 pm

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I am with you—just happened to have a Med story. And I once went to Ireland for the weekend in more feckless days. Today, I spent half an hr trying to get reading glasses from ebay. Life is like that. If you do go someplace, take lots of peanut butter crackers. That hotel in Madrid? No room service. And no English, as I said. That’s my tip for the day—bring food with you. You never know.

By Star Lawrence on 04/04/2008 4:49 pm

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Been there, done that, Missy, and I do know what you’re saying. But I was in a program of financial recovery for just years, paycheck to paycheck, the same $25,000 in debt dragging around behind me like the chains on Marley’s ghost. One day I met a woman who gave me a hug and told me she had paid off all her debt in four years and she wanted to thank me because the way she’d done it was to do what I counseled her to do. I asked her how much debt she’d paid off, and she said (sit down) $187,000. I nearly fainted. The next year I really got with the program, changed my ideas, my behavior, and my heart toward money, and now am debt free, with money in the bank. It seriously is changing your tune about money, honey. I still struggle. But I don’t sweat bullets because I’ve got $6.15 in the bank. In the old days that could be A Good Day, because I wasn’t also going to have to pay $60 in overdraft fees. I am a bull-headed, stubborn, hard-rock case about everything, so I am serious that if I can change, anyone can. Believe in yourself, in your dreams, in your talent, Mamacita. Anyone who can write and think the way you do can make a hundred thousand a year in any economy. It ain’t easy, and not everyone could, but I believe you can.

By Mugsy Peabody on 04/04/2008 6:43 pm

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Mama/Mugsy, I lost $700K+ from the accident I was in….and when I say $700K…that’s when I stopped counting….I actually don’t know how much because that’s when I realized my life had been completely altered and needed to start paddling in another direction. Mama didn’t you say you have your own home, and your children, and presumably your health, and an Internet connection, and you are here with a bunch of smart women. So, be grateful for all of that. Gratitude is the best fortifier of energy and courage. Dwelling on the situation instead or a solution really is energy draining (we’ve all done it…until Mugsy said you finally wise up and go in another direction.) Really, I am emphathetic….but half of the 6.6 billion people on the planet don’t have water or food. And probably 100 million in the US are in the situation you are in. Look at where you are rich, and realize that money is just energy and it does respond, truly, to how you think and what you say. Be proud of yourself that you have the character to pay your bills. You really need to start thinking differently about how you characterize your relationship with money. You use very self-limiting language and every cell in your body responds to that. So just begin by being award of that language. I know it takes courage to be in your spot and still believe. But we can all see that you’re intelligent. Instead of wasting time and energy saying how rough it is (we all know in our own ways, and many in the same way) believe in yourself and post some of your talents, abilities, what you like to do and we can brainstorm with you if you like. There’s a lot you can do for free with blogger to set up a site and problogger.com wth info on how to monetize it and Craigslist if you have an ability that can meet a market. Or maybe there’s some other ways we can all help think of a new plan. Anyway. Believe me I understand. But let’s do something to help your situation. When going through hell, that’s no time to stop and smell the roses, kid. What do you think? Also take a look at meetup.com in your area and see if there are some technology groups…or entrepreneur groups etc. Here in San Francisco the tech groups have 2,500 members and very helpful. With an Internet site there are a lot of things you can do from home….I know people who live in Europe/Asia/San Miguel de Allende, Mx and work at home for Silicon Valley companies. I admire you stating I have a situation here…so let’s try to fix it.

By Buh-Bye Hillary Hillary Buh-Bye on 04/04/2008 10:29 pm

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Now, hang on Mary. If even you’re going to British Columbia where a dollar is still a dollar, (may be misquoted from previous posting by Mary) - I don’t know what chance the rest of us will have to use this information. Still, I live in hope! Life on your feadship must be fun - I think I saw it in Monaco a year or so ago when I got a few more euros for my dollar. How nice to just be able to sail away…

By Michelle M on 04/06/2008 1:22 pm

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I am going to think about this. Woman you need a trip to somewhere! I am about to get on the boat I live on 6 months a year - I love the freedom. When I get the boat numbers I will give you one and let’s talk about how we can get you someplace fun. I can’t do this for the world but maybe I can figure something out so that one woman can have a short and sweet trip someplace. I don’t know if I will be permitted to do this but I will give it serious thought. What is your family like? Sisters? Brothers? Your mother, dad? Was there fun when you were young? I can’t say I had fun until I started to have a success in business - before that it was straight uphill. But I loved learning, I love learning, and I could always imagine different lives and beautiful places. Maybe because my father created a wonderland of a garden from wild flowers he found in forests and fields around our town. We didn’t have much money but we lived in all that beauty and nobody had any money then in our part of the world. Do you watch much TV? Mary

By Mary Wells on 04/10/2008 10:17 pm

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Well, now I just HAVE to get sick in France!

By Tinka Parker on 04/04/2008 3:42 pm

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Information is always good to have on hand, gotta hand it to you there….but I don’t think the majority of us can even relate to this lifestyle. Can we trade places for awhile?

By DG JENK on 04/04/2008 3:57 pm

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I’ve known some gypsies (real gypsies). I’m a nurse and have cared for them while in the hospital. To the best of my knowledge, none of them had a boat, helicopter or limosine. Nor did they have a need for them. It’s all about what we choose for ourselves.

By FA S on 04/04/2008 4:38 pm

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Well, Mary, I was tempted to write “ha ha ha ha ha” as my only comment on your guide but decided that would be rude. Instead, I will say that, considering the dismal state of the economy and the struggle that most of us face as the prices just for food increase weekly, I think it’s a little unrealistic to offer a guide that only 1% of 1% could ever use. Maybe I’m wrong, but that’s the way it looks from here. I just cancelled a late summer trip to Europe because the dollar is sinking, rapidly! Gas in my city has hit $3.60/gallon, so that makes the current cost of driving to and from the airport about $60!

By Maurine H on 04/04/2008 7:24 pm

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have been to england once, not to any other countries, like mamacita, no extra money, still havent seen all of the good old usa yet. think i’ll stick to america for awhile,

By louise cooper on 04/04/2008 8:06 pm

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I am very grateful for the things I do have. I have my husband, my two grown children, a Masters’ degree, and a home. After almost 30 years in the public schools, I walked out the door in a fiery huff, and now I’m an adjunct professor at a community college. Here, I have found my calling. I am also very active in the area of social media; I have a blog with a very large readership, and I am a professional writer for several online businesses. I’m active in BlogHer, Linkedin, Twitter, Digg, Stumbleupon, etc. I don’t have much time to mope. But sometimes, when I read what some other women are able to do, seemingly without a lot of effort or sacrifice, it makes me pensive.

By Jane Goodwin on 04/04/2008 11:31 pm

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Mamacita…Congratulations!! Great to hear!! What do you teach? “Seemingly without a lot of effort or sacrifice…” Did you read Mary Well’s autobio….”A Life In Advertising” if not run to get it at the library. She didn’t start out with bags of money or connections…just tons of smarts and hard work. People who make their own fortunes are heroic. I’d be glad to add your link to the blog roll on my site. If you’re interested email me there (if post email addresses on a site like this will get on a lot of lists) http://web.mac.com/myfrenchheart BTW…I know of several academics who were practically existing on cat food before they wrote hit books (of course that doesn’t happen often.)….Frances Mayes “Under the Tuscan Sun” and “The Thorn Birds” Colleen MacCollough…I’ve heard both of them speak (esp Colleen) of just how bad it was before she sold he book…..

By Buh-Bye Hillary Hillary Buh-Bye on 04/05/2008 12:48 am

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Suzanne, I love to add people to my blogroll and Google Reader! (Well, not just anybody, but good writers with something to say!) You can find me at http://weeklyscheiss.blogspot.com and I’m on my way to your site right… . now. Does anybody else have a blog or website to share with us?

By Jane Goodwin on 04/05/2008 1:07 am