I have to proudly say that we did this rental well. Views to Blockhaus, the Adriatic Sea, the Gran Sasso filled this day. We will miss the many wonderful folks of Rocca, but it is not a long drive back to visit. Our lovely host, Marisa, bubbles with enthusiasm for the love of local foods, the heritage of the area, and the opportunity to chat with guests. He was extremely helpful, giving me leads on other houses for sale by owners and answering all my questions. But hiking with Alex and Maria was a relaxing time; time for those conversations and observations that come naturally with friends. John finished the renovation with a glass enclosure (Amazon.it), towel warmer and floor tile. Technically, we did a walk in the Parco Nazionale della Majella. After a long, precarious, rocky descent, we reached our final destination of the cammino: Abbazia Di San Liberatore in Serramonacesca. Both of us have OC tendencies so offering a sparkling clean accommodation with numerous amenities was just something we fell into naturally. Good thing Im hiking a lot as our daily calorie intake is astonishing! Between the jungle, wildlife, and ever-changing Corozal Bay, I never tire of taking my surroundings in. Well at least most of the time. We had guests who came to relax and hardly leave the property. There is a park kiosk here where we were able to get our cammino passport stamped as well as obtain tickets for a self guided tour. Again, a lot of work with not much return when you consider that I was doing all the laundry. But let me back up a bit prior to this new lockdown. We Americans might think of this more of a canyon or gorge! Us old folks are happy that we didnt quit but that we enjoyed this wonderful day. It was an intensely hot climb to the hamlet and cold drinks awaited us and cool rooms to relax at Agri Pietrantica. We did have our rental apartment, Casa Serre, to take care of as we actually had guests this summer and fall. It was a grand gathering with six of my cousins! The depth and width of the beauty of the Majella is not done justice here. There are important things to consider before going into the mountains for 6 days, even thought these can be considered day hikes all strung together. The day closed with us returning through pastures in the cold rain as evening approached. We realized, after the first season, we had to set a minimum of 2 nights for a booking. WebAppealing to tourists and retirees alike, Bari is home to numerous shops (local mom-and-pops as well as high-end designer goods), museums, theaters, universities, a train, and bus hub from which to explore points north, south, and inland, an airport, and a cruise terminal. Not worth it was it because it was never large enough but certainly annoying enough. These majestic animals were bred for this work and they truly looked in their element, well fed and handled all by voice commands. We are all looking forward to being together over a meal or coffee again soon, both here in Roccaspinalveti as well as in San Salvo. Being unsure of what we might accomplish, we had to try. The narrow street through the medieval center just captured our hearts, with many stone houses and palaces along the way. Just a thought. Wed greet our guests across the courtyard, but we all maintained our distance. I did notice that the hosts were glad to see tourists returning after a long and painful year of Covid. So we felt it was time to close on a high note and we are very grateful and thankful to the wonderful guests we were able to host. The desire to move closer to them naturally evolved and it has certainly intensified these past two years with COVID restrictions. A true romantic, she is an avid cook and wine British Expat Living in Italy - Interview with Sue. 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. Giacomo has restored the exterior stonework to its stunning original beauty, with some added modern touches. So it began all about woods and dogs but it morphs into so much more! We first rented a farmhouse in a small town about 15 minutes from the Adriatic Sea just north of Pescara. Our dogs will always be a part of us. Navigating Life in Abruzzo | Not Really Expats Living the Dream The two cabinets were spray painted a cream color very similar to the painted tile and plaster walls were painted a calming sand/mocha color. This would be one of my favorite days as the views are long and wide and very green this time of year. I wish I had room in this post to go into all the spiritual nuances of the hermitages, but I leave that to the professionals on the many sites that can be found on the internet! Weve been pushing hard on updates, as we have decided to sell our home here in Roccaspinalveti and move closer to the Adriatic Sea, in turn being closer to my San Salvo cousins. Little did I envision how much more it would mean to me and what it would require of me! Martina Franca Crispiano, 30+ km/19 mi. That got us thinking that we would like to live in Italy a few months out of the year after we retired. . Good for me as well as for those dining near us, especially at some of the nicer restaurants. I did not pay a lot of attention to the conversations when I was young, as Grandpa would speak in dialect and Mom would answer him in the same. We were excited! I love my pack and have fiddled with it until I have the straps just right for this load of stuff Ill be carrying. We added Self Check-in as well as got onboard with Airbnbs Enhanced Clean program. We know we are truly home. I am very spoiled with my own personal Tool Man! And its important to keep your connection to friends in your original homeland. We would start in Polignano a Mare and complete the trek in Taranto. I am as ready as I can be but I know the elevation gains and descents on a few of the sections are going to be tough. We had many positive reviews and high scores with both Booking.com and Airbnb. This town is at the edge of Abruzzo with Molise (the next region south of us) just across the Trigno River. It was amazing. Movement is allowed around our municipality for necessities and health reasons, exercise being one of those reasons. But dont get me wrong! You can snag a home there for between 35,000 to 90,000. If I had my way, wed hike every day! I do have to say our feet are a tiny bit tired. We added a few more visits to other regions over the past years, but we always made time to visit a small village for a few days in Abruzzo. In fact, my mothers father, Carlo De Felice, was born in San Salvo, only 40 minutes from where I live now in Italy. While we were in the process of retiring from out careers in Virginia, selling our chalet home in the mountains with thoughts of downsizing in Abruzzo, I had been already cruising some excellent home sites and creating our top 20 home list. As this cammino was a group and John and I are more comfortable on vacations with just the two of us, we decided that I would organize a cammino and invite our close friend Alex. I hope you enjoyed this posting and please let me know if you have any questions about how and why we do what we do here. But for us, it was a new discovery We started (and ended) at SAN PIETRODEGLI ALPINIAROCCASPINALVETI, the small chiesetta (church) on the mountain. WebItaly is beloved by expats, global nomads and retirees. It lives in my heart and I encourage you to visit this breathtaking area of Abruzzo. 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 discussed our ideas for the new look and he is was full steam ahead. WebTuscany is quite popular with expats. Well keep you posted of our next adventure here. We did drop off our pets at the kennel, met up with Alex to ride-share from end town (Serramonacesca) and parked our car for the week. Another great dinner planned for this evening to refuel and enjoy the local cuisine, Alberobello Locorotondo, 19.9 km/ 10.5 mi. Puglia This large region juts into the Adriatic sea, 50 miles from Greece, and is the ideal choice for a retiree craving beaches, waves and seafood. I had so missed them all. I used all the information that Alberto collected along withFamilysearch.org,Ancestry.co,Ancestry.it, andantenati.san.beniculturali.itfor my research. Quick note about lack of food pictures. We stopped at the pass for our lunch and sat back to enjoy the majesty of the mountains. No, I have not forgotten my fathers side of that family. Once the main kitchen is completed, we will turn the lower one into our dining area. The leaves were just changing and the temperatures were cool with the rain. We felt that the kitchen space, hallways and eventually the master bathroom should all flow with one tile. 2.2K members Join group About this group Expats living in Abruzzo & Molise is an international social network Our goal was Il Laghetto di Pietra Cernaia, a small lake at the foot of a monstrous rock outcropping. It was so heartening to see young adults getting gardening instruction as we walked past them early in the morning. We were Americans! Let me take you back to the early 90s. What you will find, though, if you Italian is limited or if they only speak a dialect, your conversation will inevitably hit a wall at some point. There are several companies here in Italy that will help you locate your relatives. 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. William Russell's private medical insurance will cover you and your family wherever you may be. But at our age retirementwe just didnt need the hassle. This trip I just wanted to relax and completely enjoy my dining experience without using my phone. But truly the strongest and incomparable bond I had was with each of my amazing dogs. It began with the woods and dogs, both which I were very comfortable with. There we headed back up to this amazing structure in the cliffside. The majorities of these were never brought to our attention and only found after the guests checked out. The lower apartment, we successfully rented out short term through Airbnb and Booking.com. I wanted you, my reader, to have glimpse into this unforgettable week, so you could also feel a part of this, and maybe someday step out on these trails. Now these guests were not the norm and we had many wonderful guests, but it was just time for us to move on to another adventure. I take good care to have all the information and supplies we will need to make sure were safe and not lost: maps, GPS with tracks loaded , potable water locations noted, understanding daily expectations of a section (tappa) length and elevation changes, electrolytes, light source (flashlight or headlamp) etc. Latest Blogs by Irish Expats Living in Italy Green Holiday Italy The hike was filled with long views, stunning fall colors, discoveries of ancient farmsteads and homes and the development of the Valle del Treste trail network. It is open Monday to Friday from 10am to 8pm, and weekends from 10am to 9pm. I was in the midst of training my third dog, Orso, a monster-sized Labrador. Our third day tested us our endurance, strength, and for me, a bit of courage needed. We added self-checkin with a lockbox for the keys. We've compiled a list of the 12 best places to live in Italy based upon expats' Italy Expat Forum: Jobs. When I was young, I would camp out in the backyard. The inside is all modern, with new utilities and lots of marble and porcelain tiling. John and Giacomo are on the upper level finishing some plastering and tomorrow they will continue on the tiling. To be able to experience all these many hermitages within a 6 day span has truly been mind boggling. So come prepared to accept this, especially if you are choosing to live in rural Abruzzo. We had run out of steam and wanted our cammino passports stamped and to receive our certificate Testimonium. We just couldnt work that into our pricing during COVID, but it is definitely one way to manage a holiday apartment. John finished painting the house and it glowed. Italy is beloved by expats, global nomads and retirees. The plan came together this past winter, always being the optimist that COVID restrictions would be lifted. We are a team, my dog and I. As we are very avid promoters of this area, we then decided to offer the apartment on Airbnb & Booking.com. As we found out, most of the hermitages are only open on the weekends, especially so early in the cammino season, so we enjoyed the expansive views, a short respite, before we continued back down and onward to Pacentro. It takes the pressure off of you and you have your freedom to travel. I have to say that I am one of the lucky ones. Searches could be anywhere in the state of Virginia. still in the works. How I miss those times, as we all grew older, moved further apart, and our grandfathers and grandmothers passed away. 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. , Until next time, thank you always for stopping here at my blog to catch up on our adventureshope you are having a great summer! We continued our vacation to other parts of Abruzzo, Marche, and Tuscany. You may have to go to other towns to find a like speaker depending on the expat residents in your village. The blog is run by Katy and Susanna, two expats residing in Sulmona. And of course we have been hiking, whether a road trek, some trails around Roccaspinalveti or now back out in other areas. Our host there is a very talented sculptor, along with being an excellent restaurateur. Sicily If youre seeking island life in your golden years, Sicily is a great choice. the list is long. It just took too long to clean, and then turn the apartment around to be rebooked after just one night. The length is good for us, just 90 km, so Romeo and Miss Kitty do not have to stay in the kennel too long. Up the mountain, along farm roads and fields below the wind towers, down to the hamlet of Olmi, through the woods to return up the mountain to the church. John, Alex and I carried all of our necessary supplies for the week apart from breakfast and dinner. Now that chapter is finished and we have turned the page, as sad as it may seem to be at this very moment. I most likely will never become fluent at my age, but will be able to contribute to the conversation. On a personal note, we are loving this cammino. When it comes to We knew these 6 days would be a challenge, but oh so rewarding. The access point to our next hermitage, San Bartolomeo in Legio, was via a narrow steep descent into a canyon. And Giacomo. It offers its own private entrance and parking area, long balcony looking out over the mountains and hills of southern Abruzzo our backyard. A few factors led us to choose this particular cammino, apart from the breathtaking scenery and history. Who would have thought that within two weeks of listing, we would have an offer, and by early June a signed contract. Alex has an Osprey Eja 38L, John a Quechua Forclaz 40 Air+ and I have an Osprey Tempest 40L. We gave the apartment a name: Case Serre Holiday Apartment; Serre being the neighborhood that we lived in. Both days had perfect weather, far-reaching views to the Majella and Adriatic, and stirring remains of civilizations and inhabitants long gone. John and I along with our good friend, Alex, are getting ready to hike the Cammino di Celestino in a few weeks. Map, compass, GPS all became tools to help me get to where I needed to go. Of course, you can do this cammino with a tent, but we just needed a vacation with a bit of comfort and pampering. You could not tell that I am Italian by heritage with such a name, except possibly for the Rosalie. If you are looking to connect with expats in Italy, then this page brings together all the latest expat blogs Italy written, any interviews, articles and news items we have here at ExpatsBlog.com. Thank you, Pasquale for your passion with food! Below is that story. And how are Pierre and Sofie now back from the kennel and acclimating to the new house? 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. Lunch plus our granola & powerbars, electrolyte gels kept us going until we reached a local bar at the end of each day. I thought Id share some of what we have been doing to prepare for this chock full of hermitages, amazing scenery, medieval villages, deep valleys, jaw-dropping mountains and of course great food 90 km 6 day walk in the Parco Nazionale della Majella. After lunch we headed down from the pass in the direction of Caramanico Terme (a famous town here in Abruzzo for their thermal baths). Finally, after a year renting, we purchased our home in Roccaspinalveti located in the Frentani Mountains of Abruzzo. Doesnt mean I understand all the words as they speedily talk along, but I understand the gist of what is being said. So to reconnect and add joy to my life, Im building a tribe of English and Italian speaking friends. Ancient olive groves, fields of salad and many other vegetables, grapes, trulli, wonderful lunch with Maria (Trulli alla controra)..the list is long of all the wonderful experiences today. Whether you have settled as an expat in Italy or are still living in the United States of America and planning your upcoming foreign assignment, InterNations Italy Is Italy good for expats? Below are some of the towns & areas we will be staying in. Take a peek. What can I say we couldnt resist the view, great condition of this more modern house (built in mid70s), the price (which I had followed for three years as it slowly came into our budget), good size yard, private parking area, etc. Do I enlist an Italian friend to come with me to interpret or just take the chance on my own? And there are millions of visitors to Tuscany every year. Casa in Avezzano on Via XX Settembre is a home furnishings and accessory retailer featuring a well-curated inventory at discount prices. You can catch up on our preparation to our new place and its location from two of my most recent postings; A Change ofPlace and A Giftfinding Tufilloand Giacomo. 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. Coming soon Home | Terms | Contact | RSS, American Expat Living in Italy - Interview with Alexa, American Expat Living in Italy - Interview with Sophie, Canadian Expat Living in Italy - Interview with Jasmine, British Expat Living in Italy - Interview with Sue, Australian Expat Living in Italy - Interview with Cherise Vecchio, Best expat retirement destinations on the planet, American Expat Living in Spain - Interview with Jiab & Jim, German Expat Living in Jordan - Interview with Bastian, American Expat Living in Germany - Interview with Cherie, Filipino Expat Living in United Arab Emirates - Interview with JM Kayne. on your back, that you keep the weight to a minimum. With my search and rescue background and many hours in the woods on trails as well as off trail, I felt confident that I could manage all the details. WebIrish Expats In Abruzzo, Italy If 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, articles and news items we have here at ExpatsBlog.com. The inhabitants go to great lengths to reach out to you as you settle in, inviting you to a lunch or coffee. Manu, the teaching coach encourages us to add daily immersion at home. 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. The house has been a restoration project that reflects the artistic talents and expertise of Giacomo Ottaviano (owner/contractor), but upmost the work is from his heart. Until then wish us safe journey and a spirit of gratitude to enjoy this newly restored freedom. 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