In search and rescue, something I’ve done for the past 25+ years, you hope to find the person missing. When you work with search dogs, it’s called making the ‘find’. So I loosely use that term here… we made the find of a great rental. Well, at this point in time, it looks pretty exciting and hopeful. One never truly knows until in the midst of the experience.

This unfurnished rental has been unoccupied for awhile. We’re not sure how long, but from the past and current photos you can get an idea that things have gotten a bit overgrown.

Most likely 5+ years ago

Our First View! A bit scary…

So you look at this and say “how could you even consider it”? It all started with the drive down into the valley. This house sits on a saddle between Atri and Citta Sant’Angelo, among wheat fields, vineyards and olive groves. As our property manager, Luigi, drove us down off the main country road, we were literally stunned by the view.

Looming to our right (the west) were mountains of the Gran Sasso and to our left the Adriatic Sea. We were goners from the get-go.  The house could have been a chicken coop (well not quite, but you get my drift) and we would make do with a bit of fixing up.

As we continued down into the valley, we saw some unusual formations in the hillside. We learned these formations are The Badlands of Atri, in Italian – Calanchi, and protected in this  preserve: Riserva Naturale dei Calanchi di Atri. Definitely on our list to see when we get settled in. So add this to the stunning views, we didn’t have a chance.

Luigi pointed ahead to the saddle and said “see that house surrounded by trees in the field”, as we pass a few small houses close to the road. He’s pointing to a scene out of some movie, I am sure. This can’t be real.  John and I looked at each other and we both knew at that moment this was going to be the house we’d rent. As we arrived, we were met by a jungle effect. Definitely some severe trimming needed. But entering the house and walking about two feet into the entrance, we said “yes”. The interior had been upgraded, great floors, relatively freshly painted walls, good size rooms. Kitchen a bit on the small side, but we found the ‘ham room’ could be turned into a pantry. We’d make do. I immediately shook hands with Luigi as he had a friend interested in the house. No, not some ploy to get us to sign on the dotted line. lol …He would have the jungle cut back, house freshly cleaned, boiler serviced, make sure all in working order, oh add in a washing machine, receive our shipment, go to IKEA for us..The list goes on and on.

After checking out the interior, we went back outside to take in the views, see the ground floor of the house, the outbuildings and walk through our neighbor’s vineyard. The ground floor of the house has a stable where milk cows lived. Also the boiler and some mechanical rooms. We didn’t take a tour of this part yet. The property is just a few acres as the owner sold off the rest to the farmer. It is fenced in with a gate so the dogs have an instant yard for them to patrol.

So John is in chef heaven. Our closest neighbor owns a certified organic farm of grapes, olives and produce :  Azienda Agricola Cirelli, with a cantina just down the road from us.

John checking out the neighbor’s vineyard.

We haven’t even met him yet and he told his friend, Luigi, we could have all the wine, olive oil and produce we’d like. We are feeling very welcomed already.

Luigi and John head back to the house, enjoying the views

Finding this house and our two property managers, Anna & Luigi, have made this transition in our lives a great deal smoother. We know there will be bumps in the road. There always are on Planet Earth. Some will be familiar and some not so. We’re in a strange land but again, a familiar land. Land of my Italian family. Everyone reminds us to keep our eyes wide open, be adaptable and flexible. That won’t stop the tough stuff from happening, but with good friends there for support and guidance, we can make it through and have a blast along the way.