I began to talk with people about what I saw on House Hunters,,,given the fact they were speaking of houses for $10,000 I was very select with who I spoke with....I knew that folks would think I was crazy and no such place could exist. Honestly, I had the same feeling...my partner and I had been travelling to Italy yearly..we had been paying up to $2000.00 for one weeks stay to get a house in a town...this couldn't be possible...or could it? I was met with disbelief from many as well as many thinking , as I was starting to, that it couldn't be possible. I started to research more...I kept in contact with Patsy and barraged her with questions.....then I told friends about finding Guardia and Patsy...but they just looked at me....head tilted slightly...eyes rolling...(you can picture the look right!!??) They asked how did I know it was real?....well...I spoke to Patsy..."Oh...and WHO is Patsy?" ...well she is the woman that bought a house..."And where does Patsy Live?"....Texas..I would reply, very matter of factly..."And you have spoken to her?"...well of course I have!..."In person? was always the next question...well no...we've spoken on the phone and online! Then again...the tilt of the head...the rolling of the eyes....I retreated to my own little world of Guradia love!
I knew it existed...I knew I would see it....like most, I was battered down by people and had to remain strong that it was there! Over and over I saw it...the tilted head...the rolling eyes...so I did it...I broke down...and simply booked the flights...I was going to wait months..maybe even a year..but then one day it seemed time and I booked us both to go SURPRISE!!
We flew from Halifax, (Nova Scotia) to Philly, Philly to Rome..I felt like every one was looking out their windows as our plane flew over their homes...all looking at me...their heads slightly tilted and all of them with rolling eyes....I didn't care...I was on my way! After a pretty fab flight....we landed in Rome....Carry on luggage only ...next pick up the car...THAT WAS AN EXPERIENCE!! It was blistering hot...the A/C was blasting out in the airport...and all the windows were open.."The Italian Way?"...LOL VERY LITTLE English spoken but as it was pre-booked I moved forward and smiled a lot....NO eye rolling!!
The drive was slick..the whole time I am talking about what a great thing we are doing...all the while Derrick sits in the passenger seat..head...you got it...slightly tilted...
We had set the GPS...we had driven up the hill and there...in front of us was the B&B...I had spoken with Pasquale SO MANY times (Through emails)...he assured me that the room would be ready,,,they (The Orso Family) were excited to meet us...there it was...it was real...in my heart of hearts it had existed...my little Italian dream..Guardia Sanframondi was waiting for me....(For us) now the B&B, the "Tana D'Orso...I was home...(Check out the B&B at: http://www.bborso.com/)
I knew that once we walked through those doors we would meet the new family that we have now grown to love and cherish...we knew our view of Italy would never be the same...That a day does not go by that I do not think of Pasquale and his beautiful family, His father Luigi and his momma, Anna...Has it all been perfect?....no...but life isn't easy...if it is...you're playing the game wrong. There would be obstacles...challenges...but believe me...the rewards FAR OUTWEIGH anything you think you are going though..and of course...most of it is just "The Italian Way" NOTE: as I say this I have slightly tilted my head and "I" am rolling y eyes! LOL
Follow along as we begin a whirlwind week of exploring houses...finding houses...losing houses...getting wet...getting covered in dust and dirt that hasn't been disturbed in decades....for now...we fell asleep with a view of "The Lovers" two intertwined umbrella pines that stand together guarding Guardia Sanframondi.
