The Lifeline of Capestrano: Discovering the Ofenium Spring
Nestled in the heart of Italy’s Abruzzo region, the quaint town of Capestrano thrives on a resource more precious than any other: its drinking water. Drawn from the pristine Ofenium Spring, this vital lifeline shapes not just the health but also the very spirit of the community. In this blog post, we dive into the […]
The Bread Oven Saga Part 2: 15% Knowledge, 85% Hold My Beer
From Boat Ramps to Bread Ovens: A Percentile Philosophy A couple of years ago, our life revolved around boating adventures. I was the navigator, the trailer-back-upper, and, apparently, the family’s resident magician when it came to backing the boat down ramps without making it look like an amateur YouTube blooper. Dana, ever the cheerleader, once […]
Mission Impossible: Activating Utilities in Our Newly Bought Italian Fixer-Upper
Dialing Disaster: The Italian Phone Fiasco First up in our Italian escapade is acquiring a phone number, which, as it turns out, is as crucial as an espresso machine in an Italian household. You might think snagging a SIM card is no biggie, right? Wrong again! An Italian phone number is essential for setting up […]
Why We Named Our House “Casatransumanza”: An Ode to Our Nomadic Hearts
Ah, naming a house—now there’s a tradition that sounds as quaint as it is practical, especially if you live in a small Italian village where the only “GPS” needed is a friendly conversation with the local nonna. In such places, houses aren’t just buildings; they’re characters in the ongoing soap opera of village life, known […]
The Tale of the Tirino River and Capo d’Acqua: Embracing Italy’s Pristine Wilderness
In the heart of Abruzzo, Italy, lies a river so pure, so breathtakingly clear, that it holds the title of Europe’s most pristine waterway. The Tirino River is no ordinary river—it’s a place where time stands still, where nature flourishes in its purest form, and where families and friends come together each summer to picnic […]
The Heart of Our Town: Life in the Piazza
In Italy, every town has its main piazza – a central square where the essence of life unfolds daily. It’s where locals gather, stories are swapped, and routines are created. Our piazza might not be the grandest among the neighboring towns, but it’s full of life. With three restaurants, two bars, and a beloved gelateria, […]
Kitchen Remodel: Part Ground Zero
Spoiler Alert: My Romantic Vision of an Italian Kitchen Was a Lie If you’ve ever romanticized about Italian kitchens, Picture this: a massive island with double ovens, shiny stainless-steel appliances, and open shelves filled with olive oil bottles and fresh herbs. I mean, Italians love food, right? So naturally, they must have enormous kitchens with […]
Our Epic Gazebo Saga: From Online Debacle to Tree Rescue
When we bought the house in Abruzzo, it wasn’t just the charm of the old stone walls or the caves and cellars beneath it that sold us—it was the view. From the rooftop terrace, we get an unbeatable panorama: endless vineyards rolling across the countryside, rugged mountains that change colors with the seasons, ancient coliseums […]
Thinking Ahead: The Adventure of Relocating Our Kitchen (and the Bread Oven Saga) Part 1
When we first started discussing the relocation of our kitchen, the vision was clear, at least in some ways. We knew what we wanted: a functional, beautiful space that could meet all our cooking needs and, more importantly, a space that would accommodate something very special—a bread oven. Dana’s love for making bread is more […]
Harvesting Tradition in Abruzzo: My Journey into Italy’s Olive Oil Culture
Every autumn, as the golden warmth of summer fades into the cool embrace of fall, we feel the pull to return to Abruzzo, Italy. This rugged, beautiful region has become a part of our lives, not just because we have a home here, but because it hosts one of the most deeply rooted and beautiful […]