John was able to get not only the tile off the lot, but the proper primer, adhesive and grout to insure a successful installation. We gave the apartment a name: Case Serre Holiday Apartment; Serre being the neighborhood that we lived in. Alex has an Osprey Eja 38L, John a Quechua Forclaz 40 Air+ and I have an Osprey Tempest 40L. Family is paramount in the hill towns where ancestors defended their lands that surrounded these strongholds. 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 blog is run by Katy and Susanna, two expats residing in Sulmona. Admittedly, we were exhausted at this point.. the 6 days rushing up to us as we toured the cathedral. It all started with a trip to the medieval village of Scanno in the mountains of Abruzzo. I hope for many more trails with these ladies. Some of the accommodations I chose for this week were a bit more basic than others, but all facilities were clean, food always great, and hosts helpful and gracious. 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 what is more important than learning the language is that I am feeling part of the human race once more! And thank you for the best marked route we have experienced in Italy since moving here over 5 years ago. The depth and width of the beauty of the Majella is not done justice here. 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? What next ensued was serendipitous and I honestly believe I was pointed in the right direction at the right time. Our cats, Pierre and Sofie, will have few levels to run up and down as well as a new cat enclosure for the terrace. It was so heartening to see young adults getting gardening instruction as we walked past them early in the morning. Wed greet our guests across the courtyard, but we all maintained our distance. Think of the clans, groups of related people protecting and fighting for their loved ones. Topic posted by jyn. The climb moderated and we came to the side trail that would take us down to the hermitage San Giovanni allOrfento. To give the house more flow from one room to the next, we decided to over-tile the kitchen, entrance hall all the way into the bathroom. Vasto Italy. 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. 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. After such a hot, dry summer, with treks and hikes difficult by mid-day, Im in a hiking frenzy. WebItaly is beloved by expats, global nomads and retirees. But at our age retirementwe just didnt need the hassle. So, why did we close after just three years if things were going so great? Another great dinner planned for this evening to refuel and enjoy the local cuisine, Alberobello Locorotondo, 19.9 km/ 10.5 mi. This successful venture not only gives us some additional income but allows us to share the love we have for this region with others. 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. Abruzzo is also cheaper than more populous areas of the country. WebTheir Abruzzo store is situated west of Pescara in the city of Chieti. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. I wanted to bring this, along with some of my family pictures, to our next visit. We did spend an October day hiking with the group Majexperience, as always a great time. I want to pack in as many experiences as possible before the ice and snow arrive later this year. I love my pack and have fiddled with it until I have the straps just right for this load of stuff Ill be carrying. Light fixtures still need to be installed, artwork to be hung, kitchen, master bath, etc. You may find that local families are very tight and there may be some exclusion to you being invited to family events, unless you are directly related or have been close friends for years. Also the summer temperatures ran hot and humid. However the bus service across the mountain is very good and I've only ever heard of it once being delayed due to snow. And as our older cousins are unable to travel to Rocca in their advancing years, it just made good sense for us to cut the drive time so we could visit them more often. -storage room for wine and stall area for animal such as donkey.) John and Giacomo are on the upper level finishing some plastering and tomorrow they will continue on the tiling. Leaving Roccaspinalveti isnt an easy decision, but the pull of family and the sea are calling us. Here he is greeting us upon our return from one of our hikes. Little did I envision how much more it would mean to me and what it would require of me! 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. an exposed passage on an overhanging ledge and a staircase carved onto the rock which, even being the both really short, must be considered as EE difficulty passages (Expert Hikers). My last, dear Romeo, was the best of my best. It has virtually no rainfall and a rustic, easygoing lifestyle. When it comes to It encompasses all of this, and more. Abruzzo is in the center of Italy, with its western border a mere 31 miles from Rome. Long considered part of southern Italy politically and culturally, it enjoys a central location that is bordered by the Adriatic Sea on the east, Le Marche on the north, Lazio on the west, and Molise to the south. Many settle in larger cities such as Florence. It is peaceful and true to history and Italian culture. John and Alex just go by end weight and shake their heads at me, but I reveled in it! But our town, or municipality, is relatively large, with mountains, forests, rivers; lots of places to exercise, relax and not see another person. I was looking at two of my cousins. Work in progress and completion John primed the old tile in order to prepare for the new tile to adhere. Below are some of the towns & areas we will be staying in. 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. Here are some comparisons from when we first saw the house back in November of 2021 and our progress up until today. The good news, after many months, is that we can now move throughout our region as well as Italy and beyond. It was a grand gathering with six of my cousins! 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! 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. Thank you, Pasquale for your passion with food! Loads of fun and I encourage you to watch if you enjoy beautiful places to stay and food porn! I have to say that I am one of the lucky ones. Finally we got a break with cooler Fall temperatures arriving. We had an evening walk around town and then enjoyed a delicious meal before a very sound nights sleep. 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. If I had my way, wed hike every day! 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. Phew challenge accomplished and we continued on. If you move to one of these stunning and very friendly towns, you will be welcomed with open arms. And I highly recommend any guided hike with Ercole! Its been a long year with restrictions and we are way overdue for a break. Roccaspinalveti has been an amazing place to live. We completed our upgrade projects and our curb appeal was at its all-time high, with many of our flowers blooming, especially my roses. 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. 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! Im experimenting with summer weight wool tops, which do not retain odor as other fabrics. As the house is about 45 years old, there was some cosmetic updating to be done along with a few major additions, such as adding a new boiler and double-glazed windows to our living space. John opted to watch our packs, as he and I both started this cammino with compromised knees due to recent injuries. 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. All these individuals become part of your support network and many lifetime friends. We are a team, my dog and I. 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. I am 100% Italian, Italian/American that is, with dual citizenship with the United States and Italy. 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. . We opted to tile over the old, which is a very common method here. Six stages that allowed us to visit 2 abbeys and 7 hermitages, retracing the steps of Petro Angeleri the hermit who was elected Pope in 1294. 130 km on foot from the Adriatic Sea to the Ionian Sea. The day closed with us returning through pastures in the cold rain as evening approached. The weather has been clear (thankfully) and hot so spending most of the day on a lovely and well-shaded wooded trail was a blessing and a pleasure. 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. We had a break in the weather for a little while and were able to eat lunch without getting soaked. 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. As I write to you today, I am sitting in the summer kitchen of our soon-to-be new home in the medieval village of Tufillo. I am sure all handlers feel the same about their dogs and rightly so. And with these size packs and the expected terrain, its always a smart idea to have hiking sticks. How I miss those times, as we all grew older, moved further apart, and our grandfathers and grandmothers passed away. Before We actually loved our original kitchen tile, but it was way too soft to stand up to heavy traffic. I was clueless. Is Italy good for expats? Lunch plus our granola & powerbars, electrolyte gels kept us going until we reached a local bar at the end of each day. Build that tribe! There we headed back up to this amazing structure in the cliffside. 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. Just too amazing for words.We arrived at Hotel Mammarosa for a relaxing evening and more great food. Having hope for better times keeps us going when were living through lockdowns. And Giacomo. The air cooled, we gave a sigh of relief and caught our breath. Im sure some of you have done that. I am thankful that I was able to serve the community of Virginia and very thankful for the gift of my four great dogs. The Parco Nazionale della Majella office is situated inside the Abbey, where we received our first stamps, pin and patch, etc. So what else have we been doing besides hiking? Not worth it was it because it was never large enough but certainly annoying enough. We have arrived at our last stage excited, tired but ready to see what todays trails were like and to reach Taranto on the Ionian Sea. 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. Monday morning we picked up our pets at the kennel and headed home for a long week of rest and naps . The views are stunning, the wind turbines enormous, and a beautiful valley to complete the loop. It is open Monday to Friday from 10am to 8pm, and weekends from 10am to 9pm. Floor tiles would be a continuation of the hall project. But let me back up a bit prior to this new lockdown. interesting to read this link mostly it seems to be accurate but i guess it depends as you say on the number of people in the property and the season. Is Italy good for expats? They include Liguria, Puglia, Rome, Le Marche, Abruzzo, Sicily and more. Family can unintentionally instill a drive inside us. I missed all the amazing stories Grandpa Carlo had to share, and now it is too late, sadly to say. She currently American Expat Living in Italy - Interview with Sophie We discussed our ideas for the new look and he is was full steam ahead. One final hike to share with you today and I thank you for your indulgence. Just a very interesting and satisfying day to end our 6-day cammino. Jump to Latest Follow 1 - 5 of 5 Posts. But truly the strongest and incomparable bond I had was with each of my amazing dogs. As children, we were not allowed to learn or speak Italian. Most of our bookings were from the US, UK and Italy, with a few other countries mixed in. 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. We finished up the days walk in the historic center of Locorotondo. A number of ultralight hikers do a spreadsheet with everything broken down in grams to lbs and I just love spreadsheets! All the food we ate during this week of cammino was excellent. We did have our rental apartment, Casa Serre, to take care of as we actually had guests this summer and fall. Without a professional guide, I took on the responsibility to put this all together. The last few days, we were able to buy lunches at our accommodations. 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. Rents in a provincial city will range from about $400 to $700 for a furnished apartment. But not only having to say goodbye to our dear boy, but also a final goodbye to a way of life for close to 30 years. Also, we can happily say we can now meet again with my entire family of cousins, living 40 minutes from us. 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 The decision was made. My fathers family Brooklyn early 1900s. After exploring and John taking a well deserved ice cream break, we got back on the trail. Apart from the stringent COVID cleaning regulations, which most days left me exhausted, there was the lack of privacy. And we did! Even after six years of living in this beautiful country, John says, I still Well at least most of the time. They include Liguria, Puglia, Rome, We were able to buy the perfect tub online from Manomano as well as the duel-head shower system. But first let me back up a bit and give you some history of my family. But know this about John and I; we have a higher compass that we trust. So to reconnect and add joy to my life, Im building a tribe of English and Italian speaking friends. John and I decided to stroll past my cousin Micheles house in the historic district of San Salvo. We plan to head back to this area to discover more. The weather, rural setting, friendly folks, and the mountains reminded us of our home in Virginia, but of course, we were in Italy. But first the signs took us through the State Agricultural Technical Institute and its large complex, which included historic gardens and the Masseria (farmhouse) Ferragnano. Interestingly, an astounding 80% of the people who live here own their home. Living In Italy As An Expat The Ultimate Relocation Guide. He was extremely helpful, giving me leads on other houses for sale by owners and answering all my questions. Were in love with our house, with all its twist and turns from one level to the next, and as we slowly complete the interior and add our own touches, it is being transformed into our cherished home. Boots (Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid GORE-TEX) are now well broken in and they are a dream. It will be an amazing day when we can all get back to having fun with our neighbors, friends and family! That is how we found Giacomos house. 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. But hiking with Alex and Maria was a relaxing time; time for those conversations and observations that come naturally with friends. Best Places to Live in Italy Italy is beloved by expats, global nomads and retirees. Tufillo is a lovely small village inhabited by such big hearted people with a characteristic historic center dating back to the 13th century. But dont get me wrong! 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. And I am certain we will also return to hike some of the mountain trails. The trail undulated through lovely forests, across footbridges, always taking us towards the top of the valley. After a steep climb, we entered the lovely meadows you see in the photo above. 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. Weve compiled a list of the 12 best places to live in Italy based upon expats recommendations. Both John and I have lived most of our adult lives out in the countryside and certainly, whether in the US or here in Abruzzo, weve lived the past 20 years with few or no neighbors. I think if we had done this fulltime while we were younger, it may not have been so taxing. When the trail left the woods for a moment, we saw large dairy farms and some more trulli. Were using the lower-level kitchenette as our working kitchen as John assembles the cabinets for the main kitchen and we await gas hookup. The stretch, sited several meters above the ground and about 40 cm wide ( 16 inches), is not protected, therefore, the entrance is only recommended to people who are adequately equipped and trained. We made a point to stop at a refreshing fountain in the hamlet of San Vittorino, as again, the weather we would find this week, warmer than normal. the list is long. And always, kudos to my husband for his talents. Both of us have OC tendencies so offering a sparkling clean accommodation with numerous amenities was just something we fell into naturally. Moving not an easy process as many of you have experienced. Alternative might be to spend 89 days there every rolling 180 days. We did get all our stamps required, but our certificate would be mailed to us. I can remember fondly all the daylong meals the entire family would have, whether in New Jersey, where I was born and raised, or in Brooklyn, NY. We were required to train with the group 50% per month and training was every Saturday night or Sunday day. We quickly exited the lovely city of Locorotondo to the countryside into a wooded trail. 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 So truly our world, even right now, isnt that small, but rather large and grand. An enormous Italian breakfast awaits us, but we are ready to get started. As I had added an additional 3 miles on to yesterday to get to the B&B Roccamorice, we get a lift to the start of the trail. The forests were mystical with fog and I hoped that we would see a wolf or fox. In the meantime, I located the home where my grandfather Carlo and his brothers and sisters grew up in, located in the historic district of San Salvo. My husband comes with many talents and home renovation is definitely high on that list. Let me take you back to the early 90s. 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). 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. Its close to our house, just a few hours to the start town of Sulmona, right here in our region of Abruzzo. Roccaspinalveti now has a couple more rentals and B&Bs and we are happy to see this trend in our town. In regards to backpacks, we are all going with ultralight ones. 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. LookI got my view . Family names became tied to these individual locations and their descendants are still prominent in certain towns. It began with the woods and dogs, both which I were very comfortable with. At some point during that period, a friend of mine asked me if I had ever heard of searching for lost people with dogs. Movement is allowed around our municipality for necessities and health reasons, exercise being one of those reasons. 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. Sure I stumble a lot but with more and more practice it will start to improve. Last year, John and I did a week cammino (Cammino dei Briganti, 100 km), also here in Abruzzo, with an outstanding guide, Ercole Wild. Deep ravines, canyons, tumbling waters, alpine meadows, precarious ledges were all a part of our week. Our accommodations range from B&Bs, hotels and an agriturismo, and I used various sites and apps to make reservations. As you know, if you follow my blog, living here in Abruzzo is a treasured time in our lives. Along the way, not very far from San Spirito, a man was working with his 6 horses and mules to bring firewood out of the forest. This motto will be my mantra when I hit the tougher sections, slow myself down, take smaller strides and just enjoy being out in the mountains with John and Alex. Sicily If youre seeking island life in your golden years, Sicily is a great choice. I used all the information that Alberto collected along withFamilysearch.org,Ancestry.co,Ancestry.it, andantenati.san.beniculturali.itfor my research. Another reason we liked this particular cammino, apart from the obvious, is that every evening we would finish in a small village or town where we can book accommodations at a B&B or agriturismo. Dad must have seen something of himself in me so when I was a preteen, he took me on my first hike up a mountain. We will be ready to reopen in April, hoping that 2021 will be a safer and healthier year. Plus living expense. Today the landscape changed from yesterdays field crops to more pastureland and dairy farms but still plenty of groves of olives and almonds and of course, the architecturally unique trulli. Our third day tested us our endurance, strength, and for me, a bit of courage needed. My categories are Pack (and bag/tent if I was carrying those), Clothes Worn, Clothes Packed, Consumables (Water & Food), Misc, Toiletries, Electronics, Personal ID/cards/cash. A tribe is a group of people, or a community with similar values or interests, a group with a common ancestor, or a common leader. We do it for many reasons and I have to say that we are a bit tired and overwhelmed, but so very happy. This is so very different from years ago, when backpackers would go out with huge packs containing way too much heavy gear. The leaves were just changing and the temperatures were cool with the rain. But you will find that a tribe of like speakers (in our case, English) may be necessary for you to develop a social group in your area. A few trails listed as easy would have been treacherous if it had rained. To think of the number of sheep that passed through this area years ago, is extraordinary. I went to a local training held by Dogs East SAR group in northern Virginia. WebThis program aims to incentivise both foreign and Italian pensioners to take up residency in the south of Italy, and in Calabria, Sicily and Sardinia, in particular, by offering them a 10-year tax holiday on their retirement income for spending a minimum of 6 months per year in their Italian home. What a great week. We really must return someday soon.. Our first day started out with clear skies and a bit warmer than we expected for the first of June. Celestino V and Abruzzo. 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. I felt out of my league immediately. As October marched on and the numbers of positive cases escalated, we decided it was a safer bet to hike just with each other.
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