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Eric Gray
เข้าร่วมเมื่อ 11 ก.ค. 2013
March 2024 Update on Our House in Loreto Aprutino, Italy
It's Spring in Italy and lots of work is happening at our house! Hope you enjoy our latest update. :) #retireinitaly #loretoaprutino #houserenovation #abruzzo
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Finally Some Progress on the House!
มุมมอง 2.3K10 หลายเดือนก่อน
After several months of little activity on the house, several projects were finished this week. We just need to keep the progress going for the next 4 months. #loretoaprutino #abruzzo #lifeinitaly #italy #retireinitaly
The Dust Makes a Return Visit to Our House
มุมมอง 1Kปีที่แล้ว
Our things arrived from the US and jack hammering makes a return visit, meaning there's dust everywhere. We're pretty sure this will never end! #abruzzo #loretoaprutino #retireinitaly #expatlife
One year in Italy - Do we regret retiring here?
มุมมอง 20Kปีที่แล้ว
We have now been in Italy one year, and there have been many ups and downs, and positives and negatives. Do we regret it? What does the next year hold? #abruzzo #retireinitaly #loretoaprutino #italia #retirement #expatlife
Update on our life in Italy and the progress of our house in Loreto Aprutino
มุมมอง 3.1Kปีที่แล้ว
We have our first completed room in the house (living room) and the kitchen will be completed once we have our oven. We really need progress on our bathrooms since we have guests coming soon! #retiringabroad #abruzzo #loretoaprutino #lifeinitaly #retireinitaly
Retiring in Italy - We have a kitchen!
มุมมอง 965ปีที่แล้ว
We finally have a kitchen! The poor guys who built it had to work through our heatwave. We have more tile work being done by our trusty and talented tile guy, Donato, who is also working in the heat. We are blessed to have Fabio managing the project since he understands these historic houses. Our belongings are also on their way from the US. After more than a year will we even remember our own ...
06062023 Update on our house in Loreto Aprutino
มุมมอง 726ปีที่แล้ว
A lot of work has been done on the house. Somedays feel like progress, others feel like we will never live in a finished house. As the Italians say, "Piano, piano." #LoretoAprutino #abruzzo #retireinitaly
Will we ever move in? - May 13, 2023 Update
มุมมอง 968ปีที่แล้ว
May 1st came and went without us being able to move in. Luckily, there is a local B&B that is always willing to let us stay inexpensively. What's happened since? How is the renovation going? Here's our latest update as of May 13, 2023. Thanks for being on this adventure with us!
04/18/2023 Update
มุมมอง 653ปีที่แล้ว
Just a quick update on the progress of our house renovation. In less than 2 weeks, we will officially be living in our house. (And no, it won't be nearly finished - as you will see - but we are promised a working bathroom, a room to sleep and live in, and electric plugs!) Thanks for watching and sharing this journey with us. :)
Sandblasting in process and another surprise uncovered in our house in Loreto Aprutino!
มุมมอง 1.2Kปีที่แล้ว
This week, sandblasting and cleaning of the ceilings has started and another surprise has been uncovered under the plaster and dirt. #loretoaprutino #italia #retireinitaly
Uncovering a surprise in the wall. Will we really be able to move in on May 1st?
มุมมอง 1.2Kปีที่แล้ว
A lot of electrical work has been completed and the progress feels good. During the electrical work, a nice little surprise was uncovered, and we had a beautiful snowfall with huge flakes! We've told our contractor we're moving in on May 1st, no matter the progress. How far along do you think we'll be when we move in?
Update on the progress of our house in Loreto Aprutino Italy
มุมมอง 1.1Kปีที่แล้ว
Our house in Loreto Aprutino in Abruzzo is slowly moving forward. Plumbing is progressing, but a new problem has arisen.
Italy's Best Kept Secret - Abruzzo
มุมมอง 4.4K2 ปีที่แล้ว
We moved to Loreto Aprutino, in Abruzzo, 2 months ago. Most of our friends and family had never heard of Abruzzo, and it's definitely not on the typical tourist circuit. Hopefully this video will show everyone why we have fallen in love with this part of Italy.
Loreto Aprutino House Update - Moving To Italy
มุมมอง 2.5K2 ปีที่แล้ว
We have now been in Italy for 5 weeks and we've been incredibly busy! We thought we'd give an update on our house and our current living situation.
We made it to Italy! Adventures in moving abroad.
มุมมอง 9902 ปีที่แล้ว
We arrived in Italy on August 25th. Our bird, Rosey, made it fine as did ALL of our luggage. Living here doesn't feel real yet!
June, 2022 Update On Our Loreto Aprutino house.
มุมมอง 5K2 ปีที่แล้ว
June, 2022 Update On Our Loreto Aprutino house.
Our Attic Sun Room - Loreto Aprutino, Abruzzo
มุมมอง 2.8K2 ปีที่แล้ว
Our Attic Sun Room - Loreto Aprutino, Abruzzo
April 2022 Update On Our House in Loreto Aprutino
มุมมอง 3.5K2 ปีที่แล้ว
April 2022 Update On Our House in Loreto Aprutino
I am thinking about going back to Palermo where my grandfather came from ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Hi!! How is the house going? How is life? Waiting for an update since we may be neighbors in a couple of years 😊
Your house is beautiful!! Lovely couple! We might be neighbors in a couple of years, I hope!
I just found your videos, so maybe it's mentioned elsewhere, but I would love to know more about the shipping process. How much did you move, and how much did it cost? Who does it, and how does it get from the US, to Sicily, to your house, etc.?
Nice house, thank You!!!!
Thank You!!!!! Soooo much!!!!
The language okay it may be a problem but paying for the groceries is that difficult to the point that it's a problem for you? Really? Your possession took along time to arrive and you blame Italy. Oh yes, it's all in Italian!!! You forgot that's Italy and in Italy the language is Italian. Yes it's hard and you should have known before you made the move. At your age to be honest you should have remained in the USA and chosen a small Town instead.
Looking forward to your next video soon 😉
So sorry to hear about Rosie. Your house is gorgeous. I hope you enjoy it for a very long time. Would love to know more about your experiences with a small town, the ins and outs of healthcare, driver's license, etc.
Thank you. Rosey was our baby. Small town life has been good. We've been accepted by the locals and they treat us like we're one of them. In the summer there are quite a few foreigners with vacation homes, but we like the winter when it's us and the Italians 😀. We've had to learn a lot about the healthcare system because of a health issue that has arisen. Once we got past the initial administrative stuff, our care has been excellent. For certain things, the waits are long, but the nurses and doctors are excellent. In public hospitals many don't speak English, so having Italian friends advocating for you is important. The drivers license is work! There is no trick to get around it. If you are going to be a resident you have one year to get it and you have to plan on some extreme studying and driving school. Hope that helps!
@ericgray6625 sending you both all my love and lots of positive energy, I've been watching your lovely videos for a while now, and I look forward to watching the next one, or to just reading about you overcoming whatever it is you're going through and back on working on your beautiful house. ❤🐞🐞🍀🍀🍀
First time viewing, but WHERE in Italy are you? Certainly one cannot "generalize". Italy is so different from even one provence to the next. I have lived in Italy (Trentino Alto-Adige), which I know is quite different to let's say southern Italy. It helps to be aware of many things and one cannot just say Italy is "like this".
We're in Abruzzo.
God bless you. Grannie Cyndy from South Australia here. Love the idea of your retirement in Italy. I love France too but Italians are lovely family oriented people aren't they. I will never leave the sunny shores of Australia but I love to connect with the ancient places through books, dvd's and TH-cam. New subscriber.
@@cyndyfabian7555 thank you! And yes, Italians are wonderful!
Thank you for your overview of moving to Italy. It sounds lovely.
Glad I listened- I won’t be moving therr
I found you guys a few days ago and binged on all the videos, I am SO sorry about Rosey, their passing leaves such a huge ache. I was just in Penne for a few weeks, but am curious about checking out Loreto in the fall. I'll find you on FB and connect over there, would love to chat over coffee or some vino. Thank you for sharing your story and your journey!
@@SuperSgottlieb thank you! Look us up!
@@ericgray6625 friend request sent :)
In italia le date le scriviamo giorno/mese/anno
Grazie
I hope you are both keeping well and not suffering too much in the summer heat. Looking forward to your next video. Xx
@@carmelroselli8220 thank you! It has been terribly hot!
Please keep it a Secret !! ( i guess it's too late.... )
No idea how I found this video but now I am more than touched ! I am now 60 years old and was born in Castel Di Sangro (province of L'Aquila, Abruzzo). My beloved parents emigrated to Germany when I was only 4 years old and my older brother still lives there. I live and work in Germany and will retire in three years . Then I will return to my roots and hope that you will run into me and invite you for dinner ! Glad you feel at home , you are more than welcome ! Italy is a more beautiful place with people like you !!! Salute !!!
@@purplemaniac1532 thank you so much! Italy is beautiful, but the people are the best part!
Looks great! how many square feet?
Wishing a wonderful journey
You are living on a Super Volcano. No thanks for me.
We just found your channel and love it. Could you share a breakdown of the cost of living in Abruzzo? How much is a trip to the market/grocery? Electricity, gas, internet, stuff like that. We plan to move to Italy when we retire in about 4 years. Thanks for sharing your journey.
Hello and thank you!! This is great. I also have the desire to move to Italy in retirement. I am currently 57 and hope to at least spend part time there in the next 8 years. My biggest concern is not having friends and being far from my children. Thoughts?
@johnhayes1916 hi! As for kids, it's tough. One of ours lives in the US, the other in Europe. They're probably never going to live near each other so it gave us some freedom. We're more likely to have grandchildren here in Europe, so that helped. If both lived in the same town, we might not have moved. As for friends, you definitely have to find a way into your community. The Italians are very open and welcoming, but getting involved and learning the language are key. Also, there are plenty of others with vacation homes, etc. that you'll meet. Good luck with your decision!
Wow stunning!
You are very nice People and I am very happy that you came in Italy
Thank you!
Did you do a video on the steps to bring a pet to Italy? Was it complicated?
We didn't do a video but it is a bit complicated. The timing of completing all the steps is critical. Dogs are easiest because there are more USDA certified dog vets. Our bird was difficult because of the limited number of avian vets.
Just curious what restaurants and cafes do you have in town? Or how far do you have to go?
We have 3 places within walking distance: A bar with burgers, pasta, etc., a homemade pasta place to eat lunch or take home, and New Evo, a great place with a beautiful, big outdoor seating area for summer. Within 20 minutes there are any number of restaurants, agriturismo, etc.
Just found your channel. I'm hoping to retire to Italy and will go through all your videos to educate myself. Thank you
Best wishes!
I’m sorry to hear about Rosey 😢
Thank you! 😥
Wow! It’s so beautiful…and y’all have great taste!
Thank you! Now if it would just be a finished house!
Your guests from America “will die” without air conditioning 😆 Hilarious but probably true! Been binge watching your videos and enjoying all the progress! Also Abbruzzo is becoming more and more appealing - thank you for sharing your adventures!
A lot of our family is in Texas, and live in AC 24 hours a day. The stillness in the summer would kill them! One of the best things about Abruzzo is that it's not over-touristed like so much of Italy. We don't have the big, impressive sites, but we have the kindest people and tranquility.
Good for you for taking the leap - hubby and I are mid-50s and seriously considering Italy. What region are you in and what type of church do you attending? Blessings from Texas!
Hi! We live in Abruzzo. We lived in Texas for most of our lives. There are a limited number of protestant churches here, most of them independent. I would say our church here is most similar to a baptist church in the US.
That’s good to know as we would want to find a church like that and we weren’t sure if we would! Thank you for that quick response!
It would probably be helpful to progress your Italian understanding and speech by taking an online course with an organisation such as Babel. Ask around if there are any courses at library as well where you could meet people and speak Italian. I hope this helps
I'm 52 years old and slowly preparing for my retirement in Italy. I was finally able to get an appointment to obtain Italian nationality later this year (November). I'm also practicing my Italian every day and making progress. At this stage, I can communicate and get my message across. It's not perfect, but I'm getting there little by little. I've been going to Italy for about 3-4 weeks a year for the past 7 years now. In my opinion, the best way to learn a language is at home (Internet). Unless you're an extremely sociable person, how much conversation can you really have at the restaurant, grocery store and post office? Even here in Canada, I can shop all day and not talk to anyone. I'm glad to see that you don't regret your decision! Things will get better and better as they fall into place. I still don't know what region to choose, perhaps Le Marche just above you guys!
You're getting well prepared! Our decision to move was fairly quick so I studied for 1 year before moving here. I agree that the small, simple things don't really advance the language. We did edx courses, available in the US, which are university level courses. This has really helped us with conversations with neighbors and friends. Our understanding is pretty decent, but talking is still rough. We've got bad American self consciousness!
@@ericgray6625 No worries, I’m sure folks appreciate every efforts. I see it as a really long term goal. Beyond the language I’m trying to intake as much culture as possible …. Italian cinema, tv series, music, etc. A new language opens up a complete new universe.
I'm 53 and hoping to retire to Italy by 60. i live here in NYC area and has become a toilet !
Welcome to the most beautiful Country in the World. Enjoy your life and what Italy has to offer.
Grazie mille! The people are what make it special!
❤
In which region/City are you in Italy?
We're in Abruzzo.
Thanks for the update. Your home is looking great. Sorry to hear of Rosey’s passing.
Thank you!
I keep checking your channel. Love what you’re doing. Please upload something soon!😊 Will miss sweet little Rosey.❤❤ sorry for your loss.
Thank you! We'll post soon about our decision to move to Italy. No progress on the house and I've been under the weather.
visiting Italy for a holiday is a nice time but moving there is going into a bureaucratic hell.. Getting a resident visa is a real problem going to government offices, being checked on by police, having to come up with yours and your parents birth certificates, writing exams in Italian, wanting documents after documents taking months to process anything , losing things you sent them.. Not being able to drive a car over 55watts for the 1st year because they don't accept your driving records outside of Italy, Not being able to buy a car until you get your residency.. Not speaking Italian fluently is very isolating, all the rules on doing any renovations with the city council not allowing anything to be renovated without expensive architects and engineers and even historians approving everything... all while worrying about being victimized as theviery is the national sport..
It's definitely not an easy process, but probably not much different than what any immigrant goes through, but yes, you have to be prepared for your first year basically being a full-time job.
the little hill towns with Medieval influence are the best, Beautiful video
Thank you!
OMG !!! Rosie is precious !!
Ohhh, your beautiful bird. Sweet girl. Sorry for your loss.
Thank you. 😮💨
Hello, New Subscriber !! did you have to get Italian citizenship in order to be permitted to purchase a home in Italy and be the homeowner ?
Hi Roseanne! No, we're not eligible to be citizens. Anyone can buy a property. The harder part is getting a visa that will allow you to live here full time. Of course, if it's just a vacation home you don't need a visa.
@@ericgray6625 Thank you so much for this information.
So awesome !
Congratulations on your journey. I think after a full year abroad and going through the fours seasons, you'll have a better understanding of what lies ahead. Many more layers of the community are discovers with time. Americans especially have a difficult time moving to any European country. I've seen many never fully unpack their belongs and bail out within 6 after months. So much for the fairytale they expected to live. Definitely more difficult the older you are. I moved from the USA to Eastern Europe in 1992 and it was quit the challenge, but the personal growth and transformation was worth staying for a longer length of time. You may not like my next comment, but millions of Italian immigrants made it to the USA by sea in the last two centuries and did well. Despite not knowing the culture or language and having little to no money. The two of you are following your heart and dreams while having the time of your life. Which I think is absolutely wonderful. It's your unique and personal journey. Welcome the hardships, many wonderful things will present themself. Enjoy and I wish you the best of luck!
Thank you for the kind words! We've had our challenges, but we're still glad we did it. We haven't been back to the US in almost 2 years, so we'll see how we handle it when we go back for a visit later this year!
Love the music box. Sad about Rosey ... always rough to lose our pets.
Thank you so much. Losing Rosey has left a big hole in our hearts.
Love the floors, ceiling and space.
Thank you!
You guys are too cute. The algorithm bumped you to my home page and I loved your video. Thanks for the share.
Thank you! We wanted a way to share this craziness with our friends and family back home, but we've now made lots of new friends through our channel!
brilliant
Thanks!
Hi, Eric, Nice to meet you & the Mrs. Couple of questions if ok. Can I exchange my drivers license from US to an Italian license ( like the way it’s done between states )? And, does your church there preach the gospel in English? Thanks, Sal & Liz
Hi! The license is one of the hardest parts of the move. There is no way around it...you have to take the written and driving test, and you have to do it within a year of arriving. I studied so hard and Sandra still hasn't done it. Our church is all in Italian. We use Google translate during the service but it has helped our Italian a lot! We do at least have a few people that speak English there, so usually they speak Italian to us and we speak English to them!