Welcome From Sicily

[SDJim]

Greetings All,

This is our bi-annual trip to see my daughter, SIL (He's a Federal Firefighter working for the U.S. Navy) & Grand Kids . . . The last time they were in Naples and for the next two years they are in Sicily.

The last time I came out here I hadn't gotten into wet shaving so I didn't do any looking, this time based on Marco's suggestions, I tried out the local Auchon's (a department store) and a local perfumeria to see what was available. In the perfumeria, they had some Proraso products and the Nivea line, but mostly canned foam I can get back home.

So we hit the Auchon's and they had most of the Proraso line and a couple of others . . . I picked up some Palmolive (Classic and Menthol) and a jar of Figaro (which reminded me of Vito's w/ coconut) at €1.60 / $2.05. If that works out, I might have to grab a few jars before I go . . . And see about including it in the quarterly care packages which would displace some coffee products but still might be a bargain. The only DE blades they had was a 5 pack of Wilkerson's that were pretty pricey.

Anyway, that was the first of the stores, there are a few more as well as some other perfumeria's in down town Catania we are going to check out later this week.

Ciao for now . . .

 

[Crixus]

If they have more than just Italian soaps, get a big box of Speick sticks.

 

[j_fro]

Hmm that blue Proraso cream ... unavailable in the USA currently?

 

[SDJim]

If they have more than just Italian soaps, get a big box of Speick sticks.

No Speick, I checked. I did find out an old friend of mine is now stationed in Germany, so there's another option.

One of the Italian Fire Fighters has an Uncle that's a local barber and is supposed to be checking on the availability (or not) of the 1kg blocks of soap for me . . . We'll see.

 

[malocchio]

Nice haul !...you never know,you may walk into a little shop and find some obscure items...just enjoy the beauty of taly and load up on cannoli and gelato !

 

[Crixus]

No Speick, I checked. I did find out an old friend of mine is now stationed in Germany, so there's another option.

One of the Italian Fire Fighters has an Uncle that's a local barber and is supposed to be checking on the availability (or not) of the 1kg blocks of soap for me . . . We'll see.

Jim, it might take up valuable cargo space (and weight) getting a big 1kg soap block back to the US, especially since you can find it so reasonably over here from online vendors.

One of the great soap makers of the world is Valobra. They make the excellent hard pucks for AOS, C&Speake, etc. Quite expensive for us to acquire in the States. You should check and see if they sell inside Italy. Have fun.

 

[leonidas]

....i still can't find the Proraso Blue here.....yet

 

[SDJim]

Jim, it might take up valuable cargo space (and weight) getting a big 1kg soap block back to the US, especially since you can find it so reasonably over here from online vendors.

One of the great soap makers of the world is Valobra. They make the excellent hard pucks for AOS, C&Speake, etc. Quite expensive for us to acquire in the States. You should check and see if they sell inside Italy. Have fun.

One of my check-ins is now going back empty . . . So there's room there if I get lucky I'll have 50lbs to play with . . . less an offset for coffee products . . . The good thing is my kids know what I'm looking for now so if I need something, they can throw it into the quarterly CARE package via the USPS. So @ $14&change per package, the added cost isn't that bad.

 

[SDJim]

I shaved with the FIGARO this morning and the last of my double edge Gillette razors I usually take when traveling . . . Tomorrow I move to the generic of the BIC Sensitive (one blade disposable) razor.

The FIGARO mixed up a nice slick lather even with the crappy AOS brush that comes in their sample kit. Following my usual routine of shower, apply my home made pre-shave oil then soap, with little effort I got a DFS for my effort. At $2 a jar, I may have to pick up a few more jars to take back with me . . . Or get a pack myself a large Priority Mail carton and send it home . . .