Apart from the stringent COVID cleaning regulations, which most days left me exhausted, there was the lack of privacy. It did make the longer days a challenge, but such a great experience! Abruzzo is also cheaper than more populous areas of the country. I had so missed them all. Good for me as well as for those dining near us, especially at some of the nicer restaurants. After a long, precarious, rocky descent, we reached our final destination of the cammino: Abbazia Di San Liberatore in Serramonacesca. 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. I also have an app on my phone (View Ranger) for addition location backup. Though we are worn out physically and possibly a bit mentally and emotionally as well, we approach the finale with lifted spirits. Crispiano Taranto, 24.5km/15.2m. Our destination this afternoon was a bit further than expected as we had booked a B&B in the town of Roccamorice. Whether its having Italian radio or TV on in the background, listening to YouTube and TedTalks, comprehension will improve. So why, apart from missing my 4 great dogs, would this be important enough to write about? But whether or not you do, take it slowly, build your network of close friends both in your native language and locals, and enjoy this walk that you have begun in this amazing country. Now that chapter is finished and we have turned the page, as sad as it may seem to be at this very moment. Moving not an easy process as many of you have experienced. We both have fully embraced our lives here. I almost backed out of trying to reach out to them. The last few days, we were able to buy lunches at our accommodations. Huge complements to everyone involved with this cammino, working diligently to make this an outstanding experience! 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. During this scorching, record-breaking, hot, dry summer, we simmered under our ceiling fans day and night. What was the Search and Rescue that gave substance to my life for so many years? The sad outcome of the phone call was that a meeting was not immediately arranged. But I would need some help to do this. The plan came together this past winter, always being the optimist that COVID restrictions would be lifted. Then there were the minor damages, breakage, staining, and theft. We previously had visited Sulmona a few years back, but never took the time required to truly appreciate this city. I was in the midst of training my third dog, Orso, a monster-sized Labrador. The people of Abruzzo are just wonderfully friendly people. With the isolation from both the earlier COVID restrictions and just surviving this latest heat wave (of three months), I had plenty of time to reflect. And what is this about navigation? Both days had perfect weather, far-reaching views to the Majella and Adriatic, and stirring remains of civilizations and inhabitants long gone. , Until next time, thank you always for stopping here at my blog to catch up on our adventureshope you are having a great summer! Work in progress and completion John primed the old tile in order to prepare for the new tile to adhere. The majorities of these were never brought to our attention and only found after the guests checked out. Our cats, Pierre and Sofie, will have few levels to run up and down as well as a new cat enclosure for the terrace. Now what should we do with the apartment below us? After graduating from college and getting her TEFL certification, she moved abroad to teach English and learn Italian. I am thankful that I was able to serve the community of Virginia and very thankful for the gift of my four great dogs. Expat Forum For People Moving Overseas And Living Abroad A forum community dedicated to expatriates and enthusiasts. Its close to our house, just a few hours to the start town of Sulmona, right here in our region of Abruzzo. John Wiankowski. 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. It is peaceful and true to history and Italian culture. We even buried a statue of St. Joseph in our front yard ;-). The leaves were just changing and the temperatures were cool with the rain. I had been actively looking for a volunteer group to join, to give back to the community where I was living in central Virginia. To be able to experience all these many hermitages within a 6 day span has truly been mind boggling. But know this about John and I; we have a higher compass that we trust. All of this ties me closer to my family. There are definitely parts that I would love to revisit and slow down the pace. We are functioning again. 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. You could not tell that I am Italian by heritage with such a name, except possibly for the Rosalie. It began with the woods and dogs, both which I were very comfortable with. And Fall is of course harvest time here, whether its tomatoes, peppers, corn, olives, grapes. Just know that there is much not said in this post but experienced. The lower apartment, we successfully rented out short term through Airbnb and Booking.com. 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. And I am certain we will also return to hike some of the mountain trails. Im experimenting with summer weight wool tops, which do not retain odor as other fabrics. You can snag a home there for between 35,000 to 90,000. As original tile had been placed into concrete, there was no easy way to remove it. Sure I stumble a lot but with more and more practice it will start to improve. She currently American Expat Living in Italy - Interview with Sophie I lost two toenails as I didnt continue to check my boot lacings throughout the days with steep descents. Until then have a blessed Christmas and Holiday Season! Technically, we did a walk in the Parco Nazionale della Majella. 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. How I miss those times, as we all grew older, moved further apart, and our grandfathers and grandmothers passed away. 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. A journey; a bit daunting, a little scary but full of exciting possibilities.Family heritage and just an outright love of Italy and all that encompasses has led us to this exciting beginning. Mom wasnt big on us having pets, so once I got married, all bets were off. The setting is impressive, set against a rock cliff, this extensive hermitage is a work of art in itself. The decision was made. This would be one of my favorite days as the views are long and wide and very green this time of year. Do I enlist an Italian friend to come with me to interpret or just take the chance on my own? But it still was another amazing hike to remember. A day for another well-known and stunningly beautiful hermitage Eremo San Spirito A Maiella. Between the jungle, wildlife, and ever-changing Corozal Bay, I never tire of taking my surroundings in. How amazing is that! The outcome that everyone personally involved were handled fairly and the end result was satisfying ownership of the two cantinas beneath our kitchen and part of the actual structure were legally attached to our purchase. We knew that we wanted to be closer to my cousins in San Salvo, so we checked out some towns closer to the sea. I didnt do a lot of mountain hiking until I was an adult, but the hook had been set. 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. As you know, if you follow my blog, living here in Abruzzo is a treasured time in our lives. Roccaspinalveti now has a couple more rentals and B&Bs and we are happy to see this trend in our town. In the Abruzzo region rates vary between $200 a month in a smaller town to around $350 a month in more upscale cities like Penne and Sulmona, though the cost of living remains low. 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. 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. But we so love our house (about 250-300 years old) with a very modern interior. 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. The sound of the running water tempted us to enter, but we left the water behind for our first challenge of the cammino Piscia Giumenta: a 100 foot long ledge equipped with a steel rope. The winter is now upon us and we are working on a few more upgrade projects in our home. John was able to get not only the tile off the lot, but the proper primer, adhesive and grout to insure a successful installation. 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. 2.2K members Join group About this group Expats living in Abruzzo & Molise is an international social network And Giacomo has to be one of the nicest men we are blessed to call friend. 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. The inhabitants go to great lengths to reach out to you as you settle in, inviting you to a lunch or coffee. Our go-to source for tile at a reasonable price delivered was Edilizia Del Gesso srl in nearby Gissi, a great family-run builders supply company. I did notice that the hosts were glad to see tourists returning after a long and painful year of Covid. Wed greet our guests across the courtyard, but we all maintained our distance. When I was young, I would camp out in the backyard. We saw it in the mountains of Virginia, where we both lived for a number of years. Little did I envision how much more it would mean to me and what it would require of me! The bathroom consists of two rooms joined by a very narrow opening. Socks that Ive found work best for my feet are Smartwool and Darn Sock. My last, dear Romeo, was the best of my best. The views are always captivating and beautiful, the food amazing, the people of the villages friendly and helpful, and every day we are so thankful to be here. With only 10 shy of 1000-strong inhabitants, Schiavi di Abruzzo is just the tonic for a quiet, pleasant retirement location. Bursting with history and character, the town is known for its finely crafted, uniquely decorated stone houses and for some beautiful panoramic views. The three-storey property available here is an excellent getaway. As children, we were not allowed to learn or speak Italian. We became accustomed to living a new life as we looked for a house to buy in Abruzzo. We Americans might think of this more of a canyon or gorge! My search dogs, now all gone from this earth, but not from our hearts. We had guests who came to relax and hardly leave the property. 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. I think if we had done this fulltime while we were younger, it may not have been so taxing. I am sure that we will discover more once we are there full-time. It all started with a trip to the medieval village of Scanno in the mountains of Abruzzo. Here are a few pictures of the apartment and view. We were hooked. We've compiled a list of the 12 best places to live in Italy based upon expats' recommendations. I felt I had to substantiate my claim as a De Felice. But at our age retirementwe just didnt need the hassle. Phew challenge accomplished and we continued on. A note about lunches, every day we packed Il pranzo al sacco, whether a pizza, panino or some other bar type food. I think other workouts are needed to make you stronger and flexible, for sure. 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. Times and technology have given us the freedom to go light and Im loving it. And truth be told, much of my tribe are animal or outdoor lovers, active and love to hike or walk. It is undeniable that the figure of the poor hermit Pietro da Morrone who, at the end of 1200 became Pope with the name of Celestino V, belongs, with all his human and religious life, to the identity heritage of the Abruzzo people. During this past winter, I set my bike on a training platform and cycled in our dining room. We had space to accommodate 6 guests, but changed the setup to only allow up to 4 guests the following season. Not always easy, though. We arrived at our first days destination in the blazing afternoon sun, happy with our days accomplishment. And we are so very glad we stopped along the trail for our taster lunches on Tappa 1 & 3: Trulli all controro & Larco Antico. We found Giacomos house. I shifted gears, got certified with a police dog association and became a Special K9 Officer (strictly volunteer) for the Nelson County Sheriffs Office. Light fixtures still need to be installed, artwork to be hung, kitchen, master bath, etc. This group then became my family for the next 26 years, with a brief absence with my third dog, Orso. Our third day tested us our endurance, strength, and for me, a bit of courage needed. Topic posted by jyn. Yes, Tim Allen (The Tool Man) is one of his heroes. Weather a bit hotter than expected, so were getting earlier starts to our day. Definitely a tough day, but invigorating and satisfying. We did have some lovely guests from Belgium in October, just before we closed for the season. Why would a distant cousin, such as I, be important to them? I have to proudly say that we did this rental well. Also, our immediate backyard was basically off limits to us as it was part of the package for our guests. Our accommodations range from B&Bs, hotels and an agriturismo, and I used various sites and apps to make reservations. We will keep you posted as things progress with our next exciting adventure. Another great dinner planned for this evening to refuel and enjoy the local cuisine, Alberobello Locorotondo, 19.9 km/ 10.5 mi. Leaving Roccaspinalveti isnt an easy decision, but the pull of family and the sea are calling us. divided into 6 stagesIt is entirely covered on foot on the Official Path Network of the Park, following the paths that, in all probability, Pietro used to move from one hermitage to another, from one valley to anotherThe departure takes place at the Badia Celestiniana in Sulmona and after touching Pacentro, Roccacaramanico, Caramanico Terme, Roccamorice and Lettomanoppello it ends at the Abbey of S. Liberatore a Maiella in the municipality of SerramonacescaFor travelers who undertake the Way, the Charta Peregrini (or Pilgrims Credential) is available which can be stamped in the Park Information Centers along the route and which, once completed, entitles you to receive the Celestine Cross, the Testimonium which certifies the entire journey of the stages. We stopped at the pass for our lunch and sat back to enjoy the majesty of the mountains. They include Liguria, Puglia, Rome, In small towns you can find rentals from $300 and up. The length is good for us, just 90 km, so Romeo and Miss Kitty do not have to stay in the kennel too long. He emigrated from Italy in 1910 on a ship leaving the port of Naples, arriving at Ellis Island, New York. So it is said that hiking longer hikes and more often doesnt actually get you in shape for hiking. As we are very avid promoters of this area, we then decided to offer the apartment on Airbnb & Booking.com. Take a break in their friendly restaurant and coffee shop. Monday morning we picked up our pets at the kennel and headed home for a long week of rest and naps . Once again, Oscar, our host, gave us a wonderful recommendation for dinner. And it has always stuck in my mind. His love and devotion reached deep into our hearts and souls, making the journey from here over the Rainbow Bridge a difficult but precious one during his last few weeks. It was a night training. Very exciting news. We talked about the family, compared pictures, saw strong family resemblances between our ancestors and enjoyed coffee and sweets. 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. On a personal note, we are loving this cammino. The movers will arrive at the end of this month to take our larger pieces of furnitureOh.. and if youre wondering, we are taking the statue of St. Joseph to our new house. 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. Its been a tough decision but one we knew would eventually come, just not so soon. 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. House is now freshly painted, flowers are happily blooming with all the recent rain and we are out hiking again. It is called La Valle DellOrfento. We will have some great stories to share! Doesnt mean I understand all the words as they speedily talk along, but I understand the gist of what is being said. There are also the friendships made from people youve seen throughout your travels in the SAR community. What I truly want to share with you is how proud I am of us three and what utterly amazing experiences we had every single day. 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! It will be an amazing day when we can all get back to having fun with our neighbors, friends and family! Sicily If youre seeking island life in your golden years, Sicily is a great choice. The blog will be that story of my journey personally along with my husband, John, as we make the move and navigate our life in Italy. Without a professional guide, I took on the responsibility to put this all together. Expat Story #3. John had a few projects, one being a retaining wall between us and our neighbors field. Four great dogs my friends, my confidants, my fuzzy children.. unforgettable. the list is long. Here he is greeting us upon our return from one of our hikes. An enormous Italian breakfast awaits us, but we are ready to get started. It was amazing. Ive had dogs all my adult life. And during this search for my family, John received his Italian citizenship by being married to me (Jure Matrimonii). We did spend an October day hiking with the group Majexperience, as always a great time. Is Italy good for expats? WebItaly is beloved by expats, global nomads and retirees. He is fearless on long ladders, both when he built our home in Virginia as well as painting here. What a blessing! John had been a professional chef for many years, and I worked in customer service and hospitality at a whisky distillery. 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. But let me back up a bit prior to this new lockdown. 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, When I finally reached him by phone, he was very hesitant for me to meet his grandfather Michele De Felice, my third cousin who is in his late 80s. This stone house belonged to his grandmother and he took ownership 10+ years ago. We were in our municipality and felt like we were on another adventure, locating trails that all the local hunters already know about. 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