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

JB- you are absoulutely correct, it does not matter how much money any of us have. I posted a comment earlier saying that I felt like I could not relate to what Mary had posted, and after reading your comment I changed my mind. You reminded me that it’s the moments we create that matter, not the “stuff” we have. Thank you for your insight, I will remember this lesson. Have a great day!

By DG JENK on 04/09/2008 9:22 am

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Mamacita, I used to be a part time marketing instructor to MBA’s and referred to it as my “community service”work since it was so low paying. I had several part time jobs in addition to a cottage industry out of my home and 2 babies (2 year old & infant). Plus I did volunteer work. lFinally, I got tired of my focus being divided into so many directions- it took a lot more energy and time to keep changing gears and I quit the part time status and got a full time job. Made a lot more money, had a lot more time and energy and simplified and improved my life. I would never do the fractured thing again. The analogy works - fractured.

By Kay Sara on 04/08/2008 12:57 pm

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Well, I thought the suggestions were great; it’s about networking, using our hunting and gathering skills in a different manner. I live in a 2-room pool house with my husband, and it’s wonderful. Different doors open, and adventure is there. Money is very nice, but without money, after a real financial reversal, we lived in Ukraine for a year (before, during and after the coup), and later Minsk, another year, and before that went to Siberia, and we were wealthy there. Of course a lot of times, there was no food; but our train rides (hell-but character building) were only 12 cents. Everything depends on your point of view; which doesn’t mean it’s not important to listen to the “midnight sighing of the poor.” I go to a consignment shop in town and found lovely red alligator pumps for 50 cents. I was raised in Boston, trained in Filene’s basement; bargain basement of the world, and learned how to cavort through the world on little when needed. It’s beyond the fringe and scary, but inwardly my world is terrific, and I am immensely grateful for everything. I wrote a book Without A Net: A Sojourn in Russia, and the 2nd edition has pic of a lady in a very big furry hat-that was after paying about $50,000 to the IRS and selling everything. A couple of years later some wonderful heart surgeon wrote of the fee for my aortic valve replacement. I like to recommend things that help people. Whether we have $ or no $, without a sous, it’s good to connect and hear what works!

By Esther Bradley-DeTally on 04/08/2008 6:30 pm

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On my first visit to this site I read Mary Wells tips when in France, Spain, etc and I wondered if I could relate to these woman. It was a bit disconcerting but I am keeping an open mind/heart. Everything is relative as they say. I found it fascinating to read the ensuing emails about this topic. I found a theme of sorts regarding our stance towards prosperity —however we individually define that. At age 55 I have decided to change how I view my personal relationship with money.For years I believed that in order to be spiritual money should not be important. So I did not attract it to me and life was hard. Now I see that money is neutral it’s what we choose to do with it that is important. I can be spiritual and have money;perhaps do much more that I ever dreamed. My Higher Power wants me to be happy and secure. Wish I knew that in my 20’s, 30’s and 40’s!! Let us keep sharing. It’s what we women do best!

By peggy portland on 04/09/2008 4:10 am

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Many of us have been very successful in our careers and have done well financially, so we can afford to travel and enjoy the finer things in life. However, private drivers and helicopters in Forte dei Marmi, Portofino and Porto Cervo are conveniences suitable only for the hyper-rich and out of reach of the average career woman - probably even out of the reach of some of the successful women who grace the masthead of this site. Ms. Wells is to be admired - she made it through her smarts and hard work. But her success and lifestyle have taken her to a place far removed from that of the average person - even relatively successful ones. Although well meaning, I find many of her comments not very realistic or useful. We all dream and many of us aspire to bigger and better, but when I read her posts there comes a point where the information is so out of reach that it seems as if it’s just a put on.

By Johanna Hoffmann on 04/09/2008 12:03 pm

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Being from down under the most amazing thing about the US to us here is the aspirational and inspirational go get’um attitude. I think it’s great to get info that could be useful one day. I think it’s great that Mary has succeeded in life the way she has. I can’t see me availing myself of any of the numbers any time soon - but hey - who cares. Life is too full of the bad stuff nice to read some lighter stuff for a change.

By Andrea Fletcher on 04/09/2008 8:40 pm

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This is absolutely fascinating to me. I can relate to so much of what I have seen here! I guess what I would observe, is that this site is democratic in the extreme. As participants, we come from all points along the spectrum, and we can all gain from the contributions of all. Although we may not currently have the means to need all of the information Mary offers, some may, and some may later. If one of us chooses to offer strategies for survival during this challenging economy; Mary may not need that information now, but when she was younger, she may have been grateful for the information. Perhaps part of the evolution of the site will be an ethic, not to criticize a well meant contribution (unless, of course, someone chooses to make offensive contributions!), but instead, be grateful for a site where we may share any and all of the means of helping one another through life. If I don’t need Mary’s list, I’ll find another spot on the site with something I would like to participate in, or I may choose to make my own contributions. This is a site for everyone. I am thrilled at what I have seen here thus far, and can I hardly wait to see this site meet its potential!

By Vicki Carroll on 04/09/2008 11:31 pm

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Lest we forget, life is all about the little choices we make each day, multiple times a day, that lead to our quality and type of life. I am most often MY own worst enemy b/c I have the say in my life whether or not I will rise to the challenge to make decisions that will lead me closer or farther away from my priorities. Parenthood is a choice, so while I empathize w/ the lack of money for leisure, it was a choice. a career is a choice, whether or not one chooses to pursue it. I choose to not be a single parent b/c I do not have the resources to provide a child/ children with the lifestyle I want to give them; so guess what, I made this choice of my own volition. America is not the land of equal opportunity for all that’s for certain, but personal decision making and problem solving skills go a long, long way to creating quality of life. I do not yet have need for the list of phone numbers in that area of the world in case of needed services, but I chose a profession that is fulfilling yet pays poorly. However, I also choose to work my full time career and a part time job on the side so that I can enjoy my life’s pleasures. again, choice. I desire more options but the only thing I have control over in life is myself, and quite frankly, sometimes that’s a brutal stretch. So, keep those phone numbers handy, dream, plan, and take action if it’s a priority. I must say i would trade parenthood for future trips across the globe if the circumstances are right; but for now, I’ll enjoy my trips w/ the optimism that I will also one day experience the joys of parenthood that I so desire…Best of luck to all you ladies!! I must mention that I grew up w/out plumbing, gross!!! and eventually landed in the foster care system:( plus have had the need to tackle mental illness, addiction, poverty, and the trauma of severe abuse & neglect) but w/ the love and caring of exceptionally strong woman and men in my life, my “village” as I call them, I would not have the humble, simple, yet quality life that I have today. So I don’t believe in the pull yourself up by the bootstrap mentality…that’s too trite for the condition we call living. I do not say this to impress you, but to impress UPON you the tale that “if life gives you lemons, make damn good lemonade ladies!”

By J. Murrillo on 04/10/2008 12:41 am

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Suzannne, talk of Paris, and saving for travel puts me in mind of an exquisite French teacher I had in school, Sylvia Shenk (nee Miller) who loved France and so inspired a love for everything French. She was a brillant spot in my life when I had a terrible home life, and so.. I have a special spot in my heart for France. I informed my two daughters we were going in 5 years ; start saving (!) (September,its already been a year). I hope they took my seriously. If they’re not ready when year 5 rolls around, I’m going without them. I’d love to have the company of the other ladies on this site; how about it? I’m on Social Security - if I can save and do it, anybody can! Maybe we can get a reduced rate?!!

By D V on 04/10/2008 4:55 pm

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FABULOUS Information, my brother teaches in Spain some times, I’ve been to Italy and planning to return, Switzerland as well….Amalfi Coast a must, as is Southern France….BLESSINGS to you, Dear Mary, I’m taking your post as an indication I will be going soon…..can’t wait….THANK YOU SO MUCH. Naomi

By Naomi Stauber on 04/10/2008 5:48 pm

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What a great Site, the product of a lot of people’s work and lifelong contributions.

By D V on 04/10/2008 10:29 pm

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Ms. Wells, It is not as if you gave out hair and nail professionals! The right Doctor and Dentist is very important. And such a helpless feeling to be out of the country, not speaking the language and sick! I have met the smartest women executives who have picked the worst MD’s! Incompetent but charming. I am going to print out the Dr.s and drivers and keep positive thoughts.

By Sabrina Lynn on 05/25/2008 9:40 pm