This summer, Europe has been experiencing days of dangerously hot weather from the Sahara Desert, with July breaking all previous records in parts of Germany, Poland, France, Spain, to name a few. Here in the mountains of Abruzzo, Italy, it’s been hot, but not dangerously so. There was a stretch of a few weeks in June and July, where it didn’t rain and stayed in the 90’s (30+ C). This doesn’t take into account the heat indexes and humidity, as we are only a very short distance from the sea. Now it’s August and the heat persists….

So what have we been doing during this smoldering summer, apart from being a bit grumpy and taking numerous showers? And how do we manage without air conditioning in our home? To keep our house cool, as many others in Italy, we drop our roll-down shutters. We start dropping them on the sunny side of the house, also keeping the windows tightly closed. As the sun moves, so does this process. We then open the shutters and windows on the shady side, allowing a lot of cross ventilation. We’re able to get air movement and by adding a few fans, we are managing to keep the house comfortable.

As far as activities, we try to do anything that requires excursion to happen either early morning or late evening. That could be working around the house, cutting grass, or even taking one of my long treks. Either way, we stay out of the sun midday. Naps after lunch have become a needed and enjoyable break.

Another great option to stay cool is going to the beach. The Adriatic Sea is only 45 minutes from the house and it’s lovely. There is an abundance of clear, clean water, soothing surf and it’s not overly crowded during the week. We chose San Salvo Marina for all of these reasons and for the fact it’s very convenient. Oh, if you want the beach quiet like this below, make sure you get there before August! The month everyone is on vacation in Europe…

And what is Romeo doing to stay cool this summer? If he’s not hanging out with us, in front of a fan on the tile floor, he’s downstairs in ‘his’ cantina. This room was used for storing wine and there actually is some remaining. The walls are thick concrete, making for a cool retreat. It almost feels like it’s air-conditioned. And anytime of the day, he can do a bit of (shallow) swimming in his own private pool. He is the lucky one.

But even with the hot weather, the trails and roads call to me most mornings. My mother’s family was all about getting up before the sun and walking miles. I remember my grandfather, Mom’s dad, would walk early most mornings. Mom continued the tradition. My dad hiked and got me started at an early age. So I am definitely a product of my family. I’m up most days before the sun and head out before the heat becomes overwhelming.

Roccaspinalveti, with its surrounding neighborhoods (fraziones) makes for lovely treks. The roads are quiet, safe and the vistas are breathtaking. Here are a couple of treks I wanted to share with you. Maybe someday you will visit and get a chance to try a few. Until then enjoy them on your computer or phone.

This first trek took me through the frazione San Cristoforo toward Monte Sorbo. I was still a long ways from the mountain top on this trek, but the vistas to and from my turnaround point were expansive. Even though it was early in the morning, I was greeted and invited in for coffee a number of times. I declined regretfully and headed home. (Mileage on this trek is off as I forgot to resume for about a mile. So trek is about 9 miles out and back from our house. )

This next trek took me through a few fraziones to swing into town before I headed back home. A nice surprise was meeting Giuseppe, a shepherd, just on the edge of frazione Fatticce. He has a good size flock, all sheared in June. We chatted a bit about sheep and wool production, and then I continued on my way. As I exited Fatticce and climbed up to the town center, I passed the town cemetery. It was truly a serene and lovely place, and out of respect, I posted just the view from the gated entrance.

Summer here in Rocca is full of lots of fun things to do. Town parties, celebrations, sport activities, excursions, with many centered around food….of course! The calendar really picks up in August. That is the month for most folks to take vacation. The beach has the biggest draw during the hot weather, but that doesn’t stop the towns around here from having something fun for everyone. Here is Rocca’s calendar for this summer. And I am sure that there will be more fun planned for the Fall and Winter months.

And amidst all of this, our holiday rental ‘Casa Serre’ is rocking! We are so truly thankful for the guests we have had to date and those booked for the rest of this month. Locals are referring us to their out-of-town families and friends, and others are just interested in seeing Roccaspinalveti for the first time. What a surprise, as we started the season late with our opening July 1. Most folks have their summers already booked well in advance, so any bookings we get this year, we feel are a gift. And all the 5 star reviews on Airbnb are an added bonus.

Hope you are all enjoying your summer. I know at times, it is difficult to understand this world and we just shake our heads. I believe that is one reason I do this blog. Not only to share our experiences moving here and immersing ourselves, but to share the amazing beauty that can lift your spirits and fill your heart. Best to you all ….ciao for now..