Vagabonds No More
As you may know, after a long period of traveling and research, we made the decision to make Capo D'Orlando our home. Making that a reality has taken a lot of time, learning, and patience. We've been fortunate to have so many Orlandini be kind and helpful as we worked our way through the process - it takes a village to make a couple of Americans Sicilians! I also feel fortunate for the moral support of my cousin Gerlyn, who happened to be visiting while we were beginning this process, and who has been a great cheerleader and support.
So, over the past months, since October, we've been busy establishing residency, securing a visa for me, obtaining tax IDs and identification cards, and finding our way into the health care system. I won't go into all of the details, but it was full of visits to administrative offices and the Questura (police station) that involved many frustrations, challenges, successes, and positive experiences. My language immersion training has been and remains extensive!
I think I 'buried the lead' here, but we also have been in talks to purchase an apartment. And, I'm happy to report that we recently closed on our new home!
The apartment is on the first floor (second floor to U.S. friends). At a bit over 800 sq. ft., it doesn't qualify as a tiny house, but as a small house. It is slightly bigger than our condo rental in Midtown Atlanta, but the space is distributed differently. The ceilings are very high, which makes it seem very spacious. Since the apartment was previously a tourist rental, it came with all of the furnishings, kitchenware, etc. Friend Corinne gifted us some storage containers and additional pans (thank you!). We only needed to purchase linens and then whatever else we wanted.
There is a living room / dining room that opens to a small, efficient kitchen.
Off of this main room there is a nice balcony, with enough space for a table and chairs and a lounge chair. It also has some outside storage.
There are two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a sizeable storage closet. Both of the bedrooms have ceiling fans - yay! - that's not something we've seen a lot in our travels, and we love having them. The main bedroom has a small balcony, perfect for hanging laundry and stepping out to enjoy some fresh air.
Guest bedroom. I decided to make the second bed a sort of day bed. This way it can be a seating area if there is only one person, but can be used as a bed if there are two. Do you like my Sicilian-themed pillows? I'm always on the lookout, but they have to cost €5 or less.
The bathroom is pretty standard, and it is where the washing machine is located (very common here). Maybe you have followed my European laundry adventures? A new apartment means a new washing machine and trying to find the elusive short cycle. We got it after 3 attempts!
A small outside area, shared with the apartment across the hall, has a washtub and additional space for clothes drying. One of my favorite features of the apartment are the windows - both style and number - that let in good light and breezes.
Most importantly, the apartment came with the perfect neighbor - our friend Grazia! We've been lucky in life to have two fantastic next-door neighbors - here in Capo D'Orlando and back at Weatherstone in the ATL, where we had super neighbor, and friend, Joan.
I do still plan to keep writing the blog because, while we have a home, we plan to travel. (Plus, I have a backlog of travel blogs to share, LOL!) I'll also continue to have write-ups of my genealogy pursuits, for those who are interested. And, as our introduction says ... maybe some other stuff!
I realized that I haven't shared any outtakes recently, so I'll leave some here for your amusement.
How wonderful! A great adventure and lovely home.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteSo glad for the updates and photos. Loved the window video...John could make it on TV! Ha.
ReplyDeleteGood to see the apt. with the filtered light from the windows! Congratulazione!! Well done!
John's new career, lol. Thank you!
DeleteCongratulations! Love your new place
ReplyDeleteThe view is Beautiful!! Best of luck
Thank you!
DeleteCongratulations! Nice place. It's great you have good friends and neighbors. Washing machine controls had me laughing.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Robert! One of my many cultural adventures, lol.
DeleteCongratulations and best wishes for this next installment your adventures.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteCongrats!!! What a fantastic journey to living full-time in Italy! I hope one day you compile your experiences into a book. All of this was absolutely epic from beginning to end. I’m so glad that you both have found your forever home and community! (--Tara)
ReplyDeleteWe certainly took a winding road. Maybe I'll get around to a book? Thank you!
DeleteThe journey has been fun, and the destination even better! Congratulations on finding your best place to land.
ReplyDeleteTrue, thank you!
DeleteI always enjoy reading your blog. Watching your travels has been entertaining. I look forward to seeing how life evolves in Italy. Steve and I still want to visit Sicily on one of our European trips. Congratulations on the new home! Rob P.
ReplyDeleteThanks for following along. We await you in Sicily.
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ReplyDeleteFrom your Mediterranean neighbor (in Tel Aviv), this post is a testament to your persistence, patience, ingenuity, and resilience in managing detours due to the global epidemic and bureaucracy. Your new home is stunning! I recognize the small refrigerator! My top-loading small washer by Electrolux has a Quick Wash setting, which gets the job done in under 30 minutes at a temperature setting of 40. Do you have dust or sand indoors? I do primarily from construction, aka gentrification. Big hugs to you and your darling neighbor.
ReplyDeleteThank you dear friend! I appreciate all of your support and cheerleading along the way, more than I could ever describe. The refrigerator is perfect, and I conquered finding that quick setting on the washing machine. I am happy with the many ways our new life leaves a smaller footprint on Earth. Speaking of earth, yes lots of dust and dust bunnies. I'm swiffering all the time, LOL. And, of course, with life at the beach comes sand and small pebbles. Hugs back at you.
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