Etri, a comfortable life in the countryside

Itrie is the most ordinary and ordinary town in Italy. It is located in the Latina Province of Lazio Region, on the shore of the Gulf of Gaeta, overlooking the bay. The population of this small town is only about 10,000, and there is only one Chinese family resident there.

I met this town because of my work last year. I received a client who immigrated to Italy from Shanghai. They bought a manor on the top of Itri. And I, as a local companion, went to help with some house matters and the family's identity issues.

It was the transition between spring and summer. I set out from Milan and went to Rome Airport to wait for the client. After picking up the client (Mr. Zhang), I drove with them to their manor. It was already past 9 pm when we arrived. After a quick bite to eat, we washed up and went to bed.

The morning in the countryside is particularly beautiful. What woke me up was the singing birds in the olive trees outside the window. When I opened the curtains, I was exposed to the unique bright sunshine in the morning. When I opened the windows, I was exposed to the earthy fragrance that smelled of dew and grass. All of these should be the reasons why I like the quiet rural life, and this is also my goal in the future.

After doing personal hygiene, the housekeeper in the manor was making breakfast. I said hello to Mr. Zhang and his wife, and then went out to walk around the manor. I arrived here last night when it was completely dark, and I could only vaguely see the area in front of the villa, but not the whole thing. Now facing the warm morning light and the morning fog that has not completely dispersed, everything here looks like a dream.

The entire manor is built against the mountain. Entering from the gate is the vestibule, which is planted with some flowers, fruits and trees, and there are benches and stone tables for people to rest. Next is the villa built against the mountain. Although There is only one floor, but the design is exquisite and the conception is wonderful, which is more interesting than those two- and three-story villas. Walk around the villa and walk up the hillside, passing through a wall cut out of woody plants, you will arrive at the villa courtyard, where It is a place for rest and entertainment. In the center of the courtyard is a medium-sized curved swimming pool with parasols and flat beds on the edge. Just one look at it makes you imagine playing here in the summer afternoon; at the edge of the courtyard is the villa. On the roof, you can walk up to the roof with a few steps. At this time, you will be surprised to find that there is a small garden hidden next to the house. The wisteria climbing along the eaves covers most of the garden. I came at the wrong time. In a few months, this place should be a sea of ??purple. Continuing up the hillside from the courtyard, there is an entire olive grove. The original owner planted olive trees at will without following the rules. One tree every three steps and one tree every five steps, which makes it more interesting. The entire manor is surrounded by tall trees on the periphery, and each floor has fences trimmed with woody plants. Although it does not have the winding paths of a Chinese courtyard, it still has the elegance of a European courtyard.

After breakfast, we drove to the town down the mountain to deal with things. We arrived too early and many shops were not open yet, so we walked around the city first and found that although the town is small, there are still many places worth seeing. The most conspicuous thing in the city is probably the magnificent medieval castle of Itri. Mr. Zhang and I finally climbed up and discovered that the interior of the castle was not open to the public due to maintenance, so we could only walk around on the outer walls. This is the commanding heights of the city, with a wide view. You can clearly see the ships in Gaeta Harbor in the distance. When you are in this ancient castle, looking at the mottled marks on its body, and thinking about the wars and wind and rain it has experienced, you can't help but sigh.

After coming down from the castle, we passed a small square where there is a statue of Padre Pio. I don’t know much about the specific deeds of this priest, but it is still a good photo spot.

Continue to wander around the town. The residents in the town are really curious about Asian faces. Someone will always come to say hello and ask. When they learned that Mr. Zhang’s family would settle here in the future, they Will give them a warm hug and welcome them to live here. The simple folk customs completely calmed down Mr. Zhang’s family, who were still worried about making the decision to immigrate.

After a short tour, I accompanied Mr. Zhang to handle some things, and then returned to the manor after doing some shopping. In the afternoon, I also made an appointment with the designer to discuss the renovation of the manor and villa.

In the past few days, I helped with the house network and surveillance, the purchase of some electronic equipment, the application for residence documents for the family, and the children's enrollment procedures. After dealing with these, my trip to Yitri is over. After packing up, bidding farewell to Mr. Zhang and his family, I return to my busy daily life.

Over the past few days, I have truly experienced the retirement life in Italy, and it has also made me more clear about my future goals. I will work hard when I am young, and when I am old, I will find a place in the mountains and forests to live in. A farmhouse, with simple meals every day, and the company of flowers and birds, just thinking about it makes me feel happy~