The times I mentioned this to my mother, she would discount the notion, saying that Italy was dirty and poor, even though she had never visited it herself. We gave the apartment a name: Case Serre Holiday Apartment; Serre being the neighborhood that we lived in. The plan came together this past winter, always being the optimist that COVID restrictions would be lifted. We are family we are blood we are Italian together. Unbelievable! on your back, that you keep the weight to a minimum. You may gather that I was excited when Angela set a date for coffee at her fathers house. He is fearless on long ladders, both when he built our home in Virginia as well as painting here. Yes, Tim Allen (The Tool Man) is one of his heroes. Tufillo is a lovely small village inhabited by such big hearted people with a characteristic historic center dating back to the 13th century. As always, we wish you all good health, a time to find blessings even during these unsettling months, hope for some normality in the New Year, a visit to Abruzzo and maybe even to Roccaspinalveti in 2021. The length is good for us, just 90 km, so Romeo and Miss Kitty do not have to stay in the kennel too long. The bathroom consists of two rooms joined by a very narrow opening. Times and technology have given us the freedom to go light and Im loving it. It takes the pressure off of you and you have your freedom to travel. Did we use our insurance to cover? This town is at the edge of Abruzzo with Molise (the next region south of us) just across the Trigno River. I will explain that decision in a bit. Then there were the solid bonds built between me and the people of SAR, whether in my group or throughout the state. Just know that there is much not said in this post but experienced. Giacomo has restored the exterior stonework to its stunning original beauty, with some added modern touches. Finally we got a break with cooler Fall temperatures arriving. But know this about John and I; we have a higher compass that we trust. Locorotondo Martina Franca, 16+ km /10+ mi. The next step was a bit precarious and sensitive. Finishing a lavish breakfast, situated on the terrace with a stunning view of the town, we gave our appreciation to Alberto and started up the trail to Passo Leonardo. Would they genuinely want to know me, to take the time even though my understanding of the Italian language is still somewhat basic? This is so very different from years ago, when backpackers would go out with huge packs containing way too much heavy gear. . We were able to buy the perfect tub online from Manomano as well as the duel-head shower system. I missed all the amazing stories Grandpa Carlo had to share, and now it is too late, sadly to say. This drive manifested itself in me as a pride of my heritage of being Italian. Im sure most people felt the same about isolation. Whether you need primary care or complex They are water resistant and by giving categories to each bag, I can quickly remove what I need with out having to search and repack. John will be adding French doors between the two, so if we have family or friends visiting, we have extra room for them if needed. Once we completed that, we headed out onto the trail, skimming the edge of the valley as we worked our way down to the river. Manu, the teaching coach encourages us to add daily immersion at home. This evenings stop, the B&B in Centro a Pacentro, was just what we needed: quiet, lovely views, center of town, gracious hosts. The perks were many: meeting wonderful folks, promoting the area and artists, offering a relaxing and comfortable accommodation where only one B&B existed in town, and having extra income to help with our upgrades in our home. I may have not been active in search and rescue for the past 4- 1/2 years living here in Italy, but with Romeo by my side, we never truly left that life. WebTheir Abruzzo store is situated west of Pescara in the city of Chieti. How do I approach my living relatives in a manner that was not threatening and once I explained how I was related, would they be interested in getting to know me? We viewed a couple of prospective homes in Tufillo but they didnt meet our criteria. All three of us have embraced this great concept. We became candidates for Dogs East SAR group, but after a few months we moved to K9 Alert SAR Dogs located closer to my home near Richmond. -storage room for wine and stall area for animal such as donkey.) How amazing is that! We also decided to open a doorway between our two small bedrooms in our home, creating a suite. This I wanted to replace with a deep soaking bathtub and shower combo. Sue moved to Le Marche in Italy from London in the UK in May 2013 after falling in love with the country during a holiday. This trip was not for the faint of heart or a casual hiker. Come join the discussion about Bars and restaurants are closed, only allowing takeout (or takeaway as it is called here). John and Giacomo are on the upper level finishing some plastering and tomorrow they will continue on the tiling. The forests were mystical with fog and I hoped that we would see a wolf or fox. John and Alex just go by end weight and shake their heads at me, but I reveled in it! And its important to keep your connection to friends in your original homeland. They assist you with the weight of the pack, give you stability, protect your knees on long, steep descents and give you the feel of having 4 legs instead of 2 when you head upwards. Forum for Expats Living in Italy on Expat Exchange. We found Giacomos house. My mom and dad were both born in Brooklyn, New York in the early 1900s. We purchased special epoxy tile paint (online from Leroy Merlin supplies) to cover the pink & brown flowered tiles with a cream color, while other original tiles where covered with a stunning faux stone porcelain purchased from same building supply in Gissi. my telephone bill plus charge for the internet every two months is approximately 120 euros also the charge for cable tv is higher i pay about 50 euros a month most notable difference is in the gas We knew these 6 days would be a challenge, but oh so rewarding. My last, dear Romeo, was the best of my best. True that some of my younger cousins do speak some English and they wanted to practice their language skills, but most of the day was in Italian. We added Self Check-in as well as got onboard with Airbnbs Enhanced Clean program. The communities involved in this project include: Carunchio, Castelguidone, Castiglione Messer Marino, Celenza sul Trigno, Fraine, Montazzoli, Municipality of Roccaspinalveti, Schiavi Di Abruzzo, Torrebruna, as well as the Proloco San Giovanni Lipioni. During this scorching, record-breaking, hot, dry summer, we simmered under our ceiling fans day and night. Family can unintentionally instill a drive inside us. And what is this about navigation? The wall had been cracking substantially due to moving water. So what else have we been doing besides hiking? And it was a grand success! We were ready for some fun! For those younger than us, we would grant the week would not have been as daunting, but as we three are all in our 60s, with me a few months from 70, it was an eye-opener. Outside management may be worth considering for those thinking of doing this type of rental. Very exciting news. We planned to visit the US and family planned to come to see us but then COVID hit and plans were crushed. Certainly, family and friends would come to visit us here in wild Abruzzo! The good news, after many months, is that we can now move throughout our region as well as Italy and beyond. We saw it in the mountains of Virginia, where we both lived for a number of years. Never to be forgotten. As we settled into life in Roccaspinalveti, I decided to reach out to find if I had any living relatives in Abruzzo. Searches could be anywhere in the state of Virginia. We added self-checkin with a lockbox for the keys. Boots (Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid GORE-TEX) are now well broken in and they are a dream. After lunch we headed down from the pass in the direction of Caramanico Terme (a famous town here in Abruzzo for their thermal baths). We assisted the local sheriffs office as well as responded to a few regional searches. As we had a lot of running around to do even before starting the cammino , we decided to go up the day before our start and just relax in Sulmona that evening. So apart from gear, maps, route preparation, there are room and dinner reservations to be made and sack lunches to reserve (il pranzo al sacco). Not worth it was it because it was never large enough but certainly annoying enough. My fathers family Brooklyn early 1900s. Until then have a blessed Christmas and Holiday Season! Another item I got on board with this time is using dry bags to organize my stuff. We wanted the size to be about 1/2 of what we had in Rocca, move-in ready, a small garden would be nice, but most of all we wanted a view. Rents in a provincial city will range from about $400 to $700 for a furnished apartment. We will miss the many wonderful folks of Rocca, but it is not a long drive back to visit. Loads of fun and I encourage you to watch if you enjoy beautiful places to stay and food porn! A note about lunches, every day we packed Il pranzo al sacco, whether a pizza, panino or some other bar type food. Please humor me as I was in search and rescue in the USA for over 25 year. This was early May and we figured that maybe by mid July or so we would have some interest with serious buyers arriving in Abruzzo for the summer months. My tool man, as always, had a plan and the wall is now stable after a lot of cement work. We did spend an October day hiking with the group Majexperience, as always a great time. If I had my way, wed hike every day! Interestingly, an astounding 80% of the people who live here own their home. And just because you speak the same language, you may find that you dont share similar interests and it is hard to include them in your tribe. They so love to work when their rewards are food, toys and praise Training with them was always the best part of SAR for me, and their devotion to me and their work unfathomable. We were ready and Abruzzo Rural Property handled the rest. It was our first cammino and we thoroughly enjoyed it. We arrived in Taranto midafternoon, got our final passport stamp and threw our travel stone into the sea at the Sailors Monument. still in the works. I was in the midst of training my third dog, Orso, a monster-sized Labrador. But our town, or municipality, is relatively large, with mountains, forests, rivers; lots of places to exercise, relax and not see another person. It does make a difference, so do not give up on your dream. On this cammino, we will travel many miles on secondary roads, so we made certain our feet could handle the hard surfaces as we carried all we would need for the week in our backpacks. It offers its own private entrance and parking area, long balcony looking out over the mountains and hills of southern Abruzzo our backyard. We've compiled a list of the 12 best places to live in Italy based upon expats' Its situated on the spine of a ridge, and just a few minutes out of town, there are lots of hiking trails and country roads to be discovered. I had been actively looking for a volunteer group to join, to give back to the community where I was living in central Virginia. One of the biggest surprises of today, which absolutely wowed the three of us, was walking through the expansive area of shepherd huts ( le capanne in pietra a secco) and pasture enclosures of dry stone, hundreds and hundreds of acres. After a long, precarious, rocky descent, we reached our final destination of the cammino: Abbazia Di San Liberatore in Serramonacesca. Finally, after a year renting, we purchased our home in Roccaspinalveti located in the Frentani Mountains of Abruzzo. It is open Monday to Friday from 10am to 8pm, and weekends from 10am to 9pm. We discovered two small cantinas under our house, and it took agreements, some exchange of money on our part, an architect involved as well as our notary. What ensued was me obtaining my dual citizenship and then the decision was made to retire in Italy. John did all the refurbishing, maintenance, cleaned the bathroom and kitchen, vacuumed. The air cooled, we gave a sigh of relief and caught our breath. Ill bring many of my potted plants and flowers and I have lots of trails, fields and woods to hike in just a step away from the house. In January 2021, the project called Terra delle Radici (the Land of Roots) was presented to the public with the aim of organizing and promoting tourism in the Alto Vastese area. Friends dream but reality of a busy life in the US prevented them from coming over. Again, a lot of work with not much return when you consider that I was doing all the laundry. It began with the woods and dogs, both which I were very comfortable with. Definitely a tough day, but invigorating and satisfying. Below is that story. It has virtually no rainfall and a rustic, easygoing lifestyle. Its been a few weeks now that I have been hiking with my full pack, adjusting, adding, subtracting. Well at least most of the time. The inhabitants go to great lengths to reach out to you as you settle in, inviting you to a lunch or coffee. I choseTouring Abruzzoand with the wonderful help of Luciana and Alberto, the De Felice tree was fleshed out all the way back to the early 1800s. This hike was just before lockdown and we were legal. I encourage you to browse the various pages of this site to better understand the objective of the project, which involves the Alto Vastese and Valle del Trigno Study Center (altovastese.it). And Giacomos family.. a triple blessing. I am sure that we will discover more once we are there full-time. During this time, I found out that I had cousins from my mothers family living in San Salvo. WebExpat community in Abruzzo, Italy: Just Landed Abruzzo Abruzzo Events Post event Meet fellow expats in Abruzzo Living in: Advanced options Ralf Damasus Oenning Dale We were enchanted. During this time with NCSO, with Mike Hull, a world renowned Man Tracker and Massie Saunders, local search manager, we formed the local search group, F.I.R.S.T., Fast Initial Response Search Team. The most recent COVID regulations allowed takeway or outside seating. How did we get from putting our house on the market in May to this point? All three of us were way too tired to even think about driving home, so we spent the night at our starting bed and breakfast, B&B La Dimora. We had run out of steam and wanted our cammino passports stamped and to receive our certificate Testimonium. Alex has an Osprey Eja 38L, John a Quechua Forclaz 40 Air+ and I have an Osprey Tempest 40L. Our host there is a very talented sculptor, along with being an excellent restaurateur. But hiking with Alex and Maria was a relaxing time; time for those conversations and observations that come naturally with friends. Being unsure of what we might accomplish, we had to try. Stopped for an abundant and delicious tasters menu lunch at LArco Antico Ristorante Pizzeria, just off the trail. Today was the longest day but beautifully set in forests. Our packs all range in size around 40L. , Until next time, thank you always for stopping here at my blog to catch up on our adventureshope you are having a great summer! John opened up the narrow doorway between these two rooms with an archway for an elegant look. A few trails listed as easy would have been treacherous if it had rained. Virginia Department of Emergency Management, Abbazia Di San Liberatore in Serramonacesca, Follow Navigating Life in Abruzzo on WordPress.com, My grandfather, Carlo De Felice, and his wife, my grandmother Maria Laura Paciello, Brooklyn, NY, De Felice Family Business, Blacksmiths, San Salvo, Filippo De Felice, father to Michele De Felice, San Salvo, Michele De Felice & Adalgisa Maccarone on their wedding day, San Salvo, Raffaele De Felice, 1st cousin to my grandfather, Carlo, and grandfather to Michele, San Salvo, My mother, Helen Mary De Felice, Brooklyn, NY. You may have to go to other towns to find a like speaker depending on the expat residents in your village. Doesnt mean I understand all the words as they speedily talk along, but I understand the gist of what is being said. They could stay with us and have their own apartment with privacy and the dynamite view. If you follow any Facebook Abruzzo nature sites, this is the famous hermitage where a belly crawl along a narrow ledge is required to enter the hermitage. The leaves were just changing and the temperatures were cool with the rain. We quickly exited the lovely city of Locorotondo to the countryside into a wooded trail. Location for training could be 20 minutes up to 3 hours from my home. The depth and width of the beauty of the Majella is not done justice here. In Serramonacesca, we piled into Alexs car and headed the hour back to Sulmona. We previously had visited Sulmona a few years back, but never took the time required to truly appreciate this city. Good thought but it didnt look like a lot of takers from the get-go. We arrived at Caramanico Terme, found Hotel Viola to check-in to our rooms, walked around a bit and had dinner back at the hotel. The fresh recognition by UNESCO of Celestinian Forgiveness as an Intangible Heritage of Humanity further increases our responsibility in worthily cultivating the memory of this great person who distinguished himself in life for difficult and often innovative choices for the dictates of the Church of the time .The Way is 90 km long. My husband comes with many talents and home renovation is definitely high on that list. Finding a property in the Abruzzo region gives you a perfect passport to some peaceful and tranquil country life. This astounding villa not only provides some amazing views, it's also close to the National Park of the Gran Sasso. At the moment, this property is used as a B&B, so what you do with it is up to you. For me, with my daughter already grown and my husband a busy chef, I was able to balance training commitments, searches with my career & family life. WebIf you are looking to connect with Irish expats in Abruzzo, Italy, then this page brings together all the latest expat blogs Abruzzo written by Irish bloggers, any interviews, Not that they asked to see this, but I just felt it was a reassuring measure for them to see the actual family connection. But we so love our house (about 250-300 years old) with a very modern interior. Little did I envision how much more it would mean to me and what it would require of me! They appeared too crowded for us with the summer influx of second homeowners and tourists. So we had three great years, with exceptional ratings by Airbnb & Booking.com. We will return there most definitely. The weather, rural setting, friendly folks, and the mountains reminded us of our home in Virginia, but of course, we were in Italy. He can no longer handle the long hikes, but we do get him out for neighborhood walks and sometimes a short one up the mountain. Level of commitment was high. There was search strategy & scent theory, First Aid, dog obedience, multiple search tests for both my dog and I, radio comms, evac strategies and techniques, the list goes on and on. It is everchanging depending on the weather and lighting and I just cant get enough. The Italian language had not emerged nationally yet and the inhabitants of these lofty towns developed their own, as still heard today in the dialects of each individual town. But at our age retirementwe just didnt need the hassle. All the food we ate during this week of cammino was excellent. Im either alone, hiking with John, or sometimes in a larger group, most likely strangers with a guide. The project will continue to grow and I am excited to see what it will bring to our area and also how we might all contribute. What next ensued was serendipitous and I honestly believe I was pointed in the right direction at the right time. Well keep you posted of our next adventure here. A few houses kept coming up on that list over time and a few I should have crossed off as way too big for just two old retired folks! In small towns you can find rentals from $300 and up. But first let me back up a bit and give you some history of my family. I have a lot of researching to do on the Giordano family and hope to start on that soon. Did I really want to leave my friends and the mountains of Virginia for a foreign country? With his support and sacrifice for so many years, I was able to commit long hours to my dogs and SAR, many of those hours away from home. Useless as far as an airport connection goes as Milan is 5 hours on the express. Any thoughts of writing a post for this blog were clouded by the mind-fogging weather. Moving not an easy process as many of you have experienced. Here are a few pictures of the apartment and view. This group then became my family for the next 26 years, with a brief absence with my third dog, Orso. Also the summer temperatures ran hot and humid. First couple of days, we purchased lunch at a bar before we started out. And we did! Also, during that time, John was actively involved in helping Giacomo (owner/contractor of our Tufillo house) with finishing the tile work and other projects there so we could move in. The last few days, we were able to buy lunches at our accommodations. Weve compiled a list of the 12 best places to live in Italy based upon expats recommendations.
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