All language subtitles for Worlds.Bargain.Dream.Homes.S01E06.1080p.WEB.h264-EDITH_Track03

This view is priceless.

[narrator] Imagine a world
of bargain dream real estate.

Just $41,000.

-[Larry] What?
-This is unheard of
for the States.

Global destinations.

-Bonjour!
-I'm gonna embarrass myself.
[laughs]

Fromagerie.

I love it!
Great way to meet
your neighbors.

-Yeah.
-[woman #1] Yeah.

-[bell tolling]
-This architecture is amazing.

And local expert know-how.

[woman #1] The cost
of this in the States --

[woman #2] I think it would be
double for sure.

The cost of living here
is so much more affordable

than the U.S.

It is definitely a bargain.

Thank you!

You can afford
to live your dream...

Whoo!
[laughs]

I can't believe this
is going to be my new home.

...at a price you never
thought possible.

You did incredible!

This is exactly what we came
all this way for.

["Il Tuoi Baci"
by Cyril Giroux playing]

♪ E mi chiedo val la pena ♪

♪ Di restare qui abbracciati? ♪

♪ Mentre il giorno c'è di più
E la luna, da lassù ♪

♪ Fa da specchio
Ai nostri baci ♪

-Michael,
will you get a picture of me?
-Yeah, of course.

There you go, yeah.
Cute.

Muwah!

[Michael] What do they call
these again?

-[Alena] Trulli.
-[Michael] Trulli, wow.

-[Alena] Wow.
-[Michael] Well, they truly are,

uh, beautiful, I guess, right?
-[Alena laughs]

We've been friends
for over 20 years.

We're like family.

Our mothers are good friends,
and we're both artists.

We went to be in Puglia because
of the blooming art scene,

the contemporary art scene
that a lot of my friends

have been telling me about.

-Look at the sun sigil there,
so beautiful.
-[Michael] Yeah.

For me, the opportunity
to do something unknown

is actually why I'm here.

-Just to be totally clear,
we are completely friends.
-Yeah.

We never slept together.

I think 20 years ago,
we kissed like three times,

and that was it.

Puglia, just
an hour's flight south

from Italy's capital, Rome,

with 500 miles
of stunning coastline,

dramatic architecture,
and incredible light,

this region has been a magnet
for artists for centuries.

Even though there's
a property boom going on

in the sun-soaked heel
of Italy's boot,

you can still find a dream home
for under 150,000 U.S. dollars.

Finding these friends
their shared dream bargain home

requires a man with plenty
of local knowledge.

I'm Sicilian, you know,
but Puglia is part

of south of Italy, so we're not
that culturally far.

Italy offers a lot
of opportunities for Americans

choosing this dream.

It's very easy to stay in Italy,

especially for who
is choosing Italy

as main -- as main resident.

This region currently has
the fastest growing

property market in Italy,

and savvy property hunters
are turning their attention

to the affordable homes
they can find here in Puglia.

OK, guys, why Puglia?
Why now?

I've had this dream
for over a decade,

I mean, the first time I came
to Italy, I felt like home.

But now in my life,
I'm at a space and time

where I can actually
make this happen for myself.

-OK.
-I've been waiting for this

for many years.

My art practice
has been growing,

and some new inspiration
is really gonna, uh,

invigorate it to grow even more.

So guys, please tell me,
what about your expectation,

your budget?
-Our budget is

between 100
and 150,000 U.S. dollars.

Yeah, it'll be a 50-50 split.

[Alena] The property that we're
looking for would be at least

a two-bedroom
and two bathrooms.

I would absolutely love
to see a trulli.

I've never been in them before,
and I'm really hoping

that our budget
is going to stretch

to be able to afford one.

You are giving me
a very flexible budget.

So I think, uh, you know,
this region offers

a lot of different architecture,

so I'm pretty sure
I will find something

you can really fall
in love easily.
-Mm-hmm.

I wanna fall in love.

You will.

Finding traditionally older
properties with more

than one bathroom
can be a challenge here,

so Alena and Michael
are starting their search

at the furthest tip
of the heel,

a region loved by artists
for its light --

the village of Montesardo.

Largely because this region
is less developed

than further north,

house prices are between 30%
to 35% cheaper

than the national average.

And there are plenty of bargain
homes for sale.

I wanted to show you something
because is --

I think it's very important
to see the architectures

you can have -- it's a castle.
-[Michael] Oh.

-[Alena] Stunning!
-[Fabrizio] Look how beautiful
it is.

[Alena] The pink.
It's beautiful.

[Fabrizio] It's pink.
It's full of colors.

[Michael] Look at
this bell and the --

And light and plants.

[Alena] It's an actual castle.

[Fabrizio] Yeah, it is.

OK, guys, this is
the very heart of this town.

And, as I know, there is a new
international population.

So there will be other
Americans and people

from all over the world
already living in the area.

So this -- yeah,
it's gonna be cool.

-Oh.
-And this is the property.

OK, the reason why
I took you here,

just because this property
is amazing.

It's just $138,000.

It's right in the heart
of this old town,
and it's pristine.

-It looks amazing.
-Lucky number seven.

-Yeah, yeah, yeah.
-[Fabrizio] Lucky number seven.

Just a short walk
from the castle,

this 968-square-foot
historic house

was built from the local
limestone, called tufo.

All essentials are within
walking distance,

and it's being sold
fully furnished.

Whoa. Wow.
Whoo.

Look at this.

This old stone, it's like, uh,
we're living in a castle.

-I love it.
-[Alena] It's a mini-castle.

-Yeah -- a mini-castle.
-[Alena laughs]

This basin must be as old as --

[laughs] the stone there.
Look at that.

-Incredible.
-[Alena] I wonder if it works.

Oh my gosh, it works!

-[laughs]
-[Michael] Oh.

[Alena] That's amazing.

We can paint out here
and use that as your base

to wash your paints.
-Yes, the light is actually

perfect for painting.
-[Michael] Yeah -- yeah, yeah.

[Alena]
For real, it's beautiful.

[Michael]
So this is really incredible.

I love it.

-OK.
-[Alena] Cute!

[Michael] Look at these
ceilings, it's incredible.

Known as volta a botte,

these vaulted ceilings are
characteristic of the region.

[Alena] So far,
I think it's so charming.

It actually has
a feeling of home,

which is what I want, you know?
-[Michael] Hmm.

This makes me feel held, like,
it's -- it's like a warm hug,

this room.
-Right.

This hug of a home
was built around 1700

and is set around a courtyard

with a living/dining area,
bathroom, and two bedrooms.

A similar-sized apartment
in New York City

could cost up
to $1,000,000.

So this is a steal.

-Oh my god, it's so cute!
-[Michael] Hmm.

I mean, just having this
stone is amazing.

[whispering] Oh my god.

-[normally] This is
so charming to me.
-[Michael] Yeah.

Oh my goodness.
I love it!

It's actually so darling.

[Michael] OK.

I think this qualifies
as a tiny bathroom.

-[Alena] It's pretty small.
-It's pretty small.

[clicks tongue] Piccolo.
[chuckles]

-Piccolo.
-Yeah.

-What's that mean again?
-Small.

-Uh-oh.
-[Michael] Wait, what is
this staircase

doing in the middle
of the room?
-[Alena] There's a --

There's a wall right there.

I think that's a ceiling,
actually.

[Alena] Does it open?

-[Michael] OK.
-Oh -- oh --

oh --

oh, n -- no.

[upbeat music plays]

-[Michael] OK.
-Oh -- oh --

oh --

oh, n -- no.

[chuckling] The stairs lead to

what would
be your bedroom.
-Oh, great -- yeah.

-No --
-Wait, this is
the second bedroom?

-No -- no bed. [laughs]
-'Cause -- OK.

[Alena]
I mean, I would definitely
get this bedroom, just saying.

-But --
-[Michael] Yeah,
but this isn't

the other bedroom.
We're in the same room.

Oh no! [laughs]

And what about privacy
for this person?

-Oh, you don't get privacy.
-[Alena] Meaning me.

-No, no.
-[Alena] It's actually just
a one-bedroom.

I'll sleep up there
with the dogs.

-That sounds good.
-[chuckles]

-I can just put in
earplugs at night.
-[snorts]

-I don't know,
I don't care.
-No.

OK.

Guys!
What do you think?

[sighing] Yeah.

What did we think?

I mean, we're kind of sharing
a bedroom, basically.

-[laughs]
-Oh, well, you have to be --

you are artists,
you are creative.

So you figure out

how to rearrange these spaces.
-[Alena and Michael laughing]

Yeah, we're familiar
with each other,

but not that familiar.

[claps] OK, let's see
something else then.

-Let's go.
-OK.

[seagulls cawing]

♪♪

OK, guys,
I took you here

because I want you
to experience something.

-It's a typical Puglian dance.
-Oh.

-[tambourine playing]
-Which will involve you

in a very amazing way.
-OK -- OK.

[dancer #1] Yeah!
Oh!

-[dancer #2] Da-da-da.
-[squealing]

[dancers speaking in Italian]

-[laughter]
-[indistinct chatter]

[clapping]

[Alena] Beautiful!
Bella!

Bellissima!
Beautiful!

-[dancer #1] Voila!
-[Alena] It's amazing.

The spirit of the people
in Puglia is so beautiful.

-Bop, bop, bop-bop-bop.
-Bop, bop-bop-bop.

Back on the road,

and we're heading
into central Puglia,

to the Itria Valley,
otherwise known

as Trulli Country.

Dating back
to the 14th century,

these unique dry stone
buildings

would have housed
farming families

and their livestock.

[Fabrizio] Look all around.

Do you see these beautiful
house shapes?

[Alena] Wow.
Little magical temples.

-They're beautiful.
-[Michael] Yeah.

[Michael]
It's very much out of,
like, a little storybook

or something like that.
-So beautiful.

I feel like I'm in a fairy tale.

[Fabrizio]
And finally, here we are.

Oh, my gosh.
Wow.

-[Alena] Wow.
-[Michael] Look at the view

it's gonna have.
Look at this.

-[Alena] Oh, cute.
-[Michael laughs]

It's like a little heaven,
little --

-[laughs]
-[Michael] Yeah.

It's so beautiful.
Oh, my God.

[chuckles] It's really special.

I can really actually see it.
It's so beautiful.

[Michael] Yeah.

And my favorite numbers --
three and six, actually.

-[Michael] Makes a nine.
-[Fabrizio] Oh, wow.
That's a sign.

-No, it actually is true.
-[laughs]

It's so true.

[chuckles]

The price is
162,000 U.S. dollars,

which is not far
from your budget.

Mm, I think this, uh, could be
something very special for us.

Yeah, I'm a bit speechless.
I don't have a lot to say.

Now I want to go see inside.

You know, I think
that we've been --

I know.
We don't have
the key, unfortunately.

-Really?
-[Fabrizio laughing] No.

Built sometime
in the 19th century

with a more recent extension,

this detached hilltop trullo
features a roof with two cones.

[gasps]

[Michael] Wow!

It's actually amazing.
The space, it's so big.

Being in the middle
of the countryside,

all the essentials
are a short drive away.

[Michael chuckles]

-Oh, boy.
-[Alena] Super cute.

[Michael] Oh, my God.

[laughs]

-[Alena] Really cute.
-[Michael] Wow.

[Alena] Oh, yeah,
and there's the -- the cone.

[Michael] Yeah, the trullo
ceiling, yeah.

All these arches, all this, like
a circular architecture,

you know?
It's so different

than the boxes and the squares
we're used to.

It's, uh, the way
it moves the energy.
I love it.

All on one level,
this dream rural farmhouse

includes a living room,

kitchen, two bedrooms,

and one and a half bathrooms.

Interesting,
but it's high ceilings.

-That's nice.
-Yeah.

I mean, you could fit
a king bed in here.

-It's pretty big. [laughs]
-[Michael] No, it's --
no, it's definitely

enough space for a bedroom.
-For Italian?

-[Michael] Yeah, yeah, for sure.
-Like, that's a -- this is
a big bedroom for Italy.

-[Michael] Yeah.
-[Alena] Uh-huh.

-[laughs]
-[Alena blows raspberry]

[Michael] Oh, my God.

What is that?

-That's a bathroom?
-[Alena laughs]

-[Alena] No, no.
-I've never seen --
wait, wait, wait.

I've never seen a bathroom
that you ascend to.

[Alena laughing]
No, Michael, no.

Wait, this is -- when they --
when they say

when they say
the toilet's a throne,

they literally mean it,
it's a throne.
-[Alena laughs]

-I can't, I can't.
-[Michael laughs]

You're, like, literally
sitting above,

you know, I --
maybe I can sit up here

and I can give sermons.

-You just ruined
the bathroom for me.
-[Michael laughs]

-It was already worse
[silent mouthing]
-Hello, darling, hello.

-Wow.
-I can't, no.

Wow, this is wild.

I guess this is
the second bedroom, yeah?

[Alena] It's much smaller.

-[Michael] It is much smaller.
-[Alena laughs]

[Michael] Yeah.

-What are you trying to say?
-What do you think?

What are you trying to say?

This is my bedroom,
you're saying?
Uh-uh.

[Alena] Yeah, how do you feel
about that?

[Michael]
I mean, I've never been
a one to hate on small spaces.

I enjoy cozy spaces.

It's not ideal.

The other room
is definitely more, uh --

but --
-You're being generous
with that.

-I mean, it's a much smaller --
-Perhaps.

-Yeah.
-Yeah, and it's a little --

it's a few steps down.

-[Alena] Here's the bathroom.
-[Michael] Yeah.

-[Alena] Yeah.
-[Michael laughs]

-[Michael] This is a bathroom.
-Yeah, we didn't see it before.

[Michael]
There's a toilet, so I guess
it qualifies as a bathroom.

No, no.
So this is the only bathroom?

-Yeah.
-Oh.

-That's a really small shower.
-[Alena laughs]

[laughs] Look at this.
Come here.

-[Alena] OK.
-Here, look.

-Look.
-[laughing] Oh, my God.

It's really small.
Yeah.

It's really small.
Even for me, that's small.

-Wow.
-Yeah.

-I --
-Oh, [laughs]

OK, guys, tell me.

-What do you think?
-[Alena] I loved it.

I felt like I was
in a, again, like a fairy tale.

The altar, the fireplace --
stunning.

Just taking in, like,
actually how it feels to be

in a trullo, is incredible.

You know, the bathrooms
are quite small.

-Mm-hmm.
-Really cozy.

-A cozy shower.
-[Fabrizio] Mm-hmm.

-Yeah, but --
-[Fabrizio laughs]

-[Alena laughs]
-[Michael] But, you know,
there's so much to love.

Um, and there's also,

you know, some things
to think about, of course.

♪♪

[seagull cawing]

Driven by a surge in tourism

and buyers seeking its unique
blend of affordability

and stunning architecture,

real estate sales in Puglia
are booming.

But dream home hunting
can be thirsty work,

so Fabrizio's planned
a pit stop

at the local Enoteca,
or wine store,

in the town of Lecce.

OK, I want you to know one
of my friends, Fabio.

[speaking in Italian]

[Alena speaking in Italian]

[Fabrizio] And Michael.

[Michael speaking in Italian]

[Fabrizio] We'll, uh,
try something really local.

It's an amaro, which is
a -- a traditional recipe.

-It's made with local herbs.
-[Alena] OK.

[Fabrizio] It's like, uh,
it's powerful.

-[Michael laughing] Oh.
-[Fabrizio laughing] You know,
superpowers.

-[Michael] OK.
-[Alena laughs]

[Fabrizio] Salute.
-[Michael] Salute!

Salute!
[Fabrizio] Cheers.

-Salute.
-[Michael] Salute.

[Michael] Mm.

[Michael] Oof.

-Wow.
-[Fabio] Yeah.

-OK.

-I can do better.
-[Alena] Forte -- strong.

-Wow.
-Oh, it's delicious.

-I love it.
-[Fabrizio] It is.

OK, guys, give me
some feedback.

How was today?

Honestly, I'm more
in love with Puglia

than I thought I would be.

Like, my heart is very open
right now.

I feel so relaxed.
It's stunning here.

-Yeah?
-Yeah, I just feel
this, uh, warmth

that is continuing to expand

and the Amaro has expanded it
even more.
-[Alena laughs]

-[Fabrizio laughing] Yeah.
-Italy is working
its magic,

I think.
-Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Buongiorno to a brand-new day

and what could lead
to a brand-new home
for Alena and Michael.

You know, my only worry
about living in Italy

is actually just being
so relaxed

and just wanting
to siesta all the time.

Maybe a little painting,
a little siesta, a little wine,

like that rhythm.
-[hisses] You know what?

In south of Italy,
we don't know what stress is.

Look at me.
I have no wrinkles,

and I'm 62 years old.
-[Michael laughs]

Their search continues

along the west coast
of Puglia,

around the bougie harbor
town of Santa Caterina...

...a vibrant resort
of whitewashed villas
facing the Ionian Sea.

For Alena and Michael,
a slice of this idyllic life

can be found in the nearby town
of Galatone.

[Fabrizio] OK, guys,
this is a townhouse,

but it's just 10 minutes driving
for the seaside.

I love that we're 10 minutes
from the beach,

but the city --
I like being in the city,

but it's a little loud.

[Michael] I mean,
I -- I'm used to the city,

and I -- I enjoy
the city very much,

but let's see
the apartment, yeah?

OK.
I have very good news for you.

The budget for this property
is 133,000 U.S. dollars.

-[Michael] OK.
-Wow.

Which is actually
into your budget.

This historic 860-square-foot
penthouse apartment

combines New York chic
with Puglian charm.

-[gasps]
-Mm.

Wow, look at the height
of ceiling.

-[Michael] Yeah.
-[Alena] It's perfect.

[Michael] And we have more
natural stone here,

which is really nice.

Uniform floor --
a dining room.

[Michael] Floors -- I know!
[laughs]
A real dining room, OK.

-A real dining room. [gasps]
-[Michael] Yeah.

-Yeah.
-[Alena] Oh my goodness, I like.

[Michael] Yeah, yeah.

-It feels more like
a home, like settled.
-Yeah, I feel --

Yeah, this feels more like
our kind of, uh, space, huh?

The island,
what you were --
[laughs] were looking for

in the first property.
-[Michael] Oh, yeah.

-Yeah, my island, yeah.
-[Alena laughs]

-This is nice, good.
-Oh --

oh wait, actually, I love this.

-This is where you have
your cappuccino in the morning

with a fire.
- [Michael] Fireplace.

-[Alena] Yeah.
-[Michael] That's amazing.

[Alena] Like a little cove,
like alcove of a fireplace.

Built in 1942,
this penthouse apartment

with soaring
volta a botte ceilings

has living and dining areas,

original hand-painted
floor tiles,

two bedrooms, and a bathroom.

The traditional tiles used here
are known as cement pastine

and are common throughout
this region.

-Ooh.
-Oh.

-[Michael] OK.
-[Alena] Ooh.

-[Michael] Yeah?
-So who would be in here?

[Alena laughs]
-Who would be in here, Alena?

-[Alena laughs] I don't know.
-Yeah, yeah.

-[Alena] I have an idea.
-I think you do.

-[Alena laughs]
-[Michael] Yes.

[Alena gasps] Oh, my God.

-I'm in love with the ceilings.
-I know, yeah.

-[Alena]
They're actually beautiful.
-[Michael] Yeah.

-[Alena] Wow.
-[Michael] These floors.

-[Alena] Oh, my God.
-[Michael] These look
like they're original.

-[Alena] Hmm.
-[Michael] These floors.

-[Alena] The floors
are gorgeous.
-[Michael] Yeah.

I have to be honest,
the first room I could see

myself actually
wanting to sleep in.

-Really?
-Yeah.

Yeah, I mean,
you think it's cause

of the ceiling, you know.
-[Alena] Yeah, yeah.

[Alena] Are we -- are we
fighting over this room now?

-Um, debate -- debating.
-[Alena laughs]

-We're not fighting,
we're debating.
-We're debating?

Then I definitely choose
this one.

-[Michael] You choose this one?
-Yeah.

-[Michael] Yeah.
-I'm all in on this one.

OK.
Let's go look at my room, then.

[all laugh]

Well, I think the kid's room
is appropriate for me, no?

[Alena]
It -- yeah, I would say so.

I think this pink pillow
is perfect for you.

-All the stuffed animals.
-[Michael] Oh, yeah.

-You can cuddle them at night.
-OK, let's slow it down.

-Let's slow it down
a little bit.
-[Alena laughs]

[Michael chuckles]
I love the silliness

of me being
in the second bedroom

with the children's toys
and everything, you know.

It's kind of like, I like to see
myself as an ancient child,

anyway, so it actually
speaks to me.

-[Alena] Ah, beautiful.
-[Michael] OK.

[Alena] OK.
Ooh, light.

[Michael] Oh, yeah, that's nice.

[Alena] But at least you
can fit in the shower.

Look, it might be tall enough

for you, actually.
-[Michael laughing] Yeah.

It might actually.
It's a nice shower.

-No tub.
-[Alena] No tub.

-[Michael] No tub.
-[Alena] No tub.

Again, though,
just one bathroom.

-Yeah.
-[fake crying]

[upbeat music plays]

Hey, guys, you found me.

What do you think about
the beautiful penthouse?

It's just incredible.

I love the floors.

I love the ceilings.
We both felt that way.

I love the feeling inside,
the warmth.

The kitchen was
awesome, the island.

And, yeah,
I love the bedroom [laughs]

that I would probably have.
-[all laugh]

So it's given us a lot
of food for thought.

♪♪

So I've been thinking about
everything we've seen this week.

The, uh, historic home
that we saw,

like that one just kind of flew
out of my mind pretty quickly.

Hmm.
I want to talk about the trulli.

The trulli leaves its magical
mark on me.

-So beautiful.
-The bathrooms, not so much.

Trulli and the last one
that we saw

really gave us something
to think about.

Yeah, I think the apartment
is really nice.

I love the ceilings
and the floors.

And it feels big.
It feels spacious.

I love it.

Yeah, it's definitely
a big decision.

I feel like I learned so much.

-I'm way more aware
of what we can buy.
-Yeah.

And now I want to really --

we can digest this
and see, you know?

-Yeah, 100%.
-Yeah.

[chuckles] Cin cin, salute.

-Cin cin, salute.
-Salute.

So we looked
at all these great houses

but couldn't make
a decision together.

[Michael] We loved the trullo,
but we decided

it was just gonna take
too much work.

I think the last one
that we saw is really nice,

but it -- it just wasn't gonna
give us the bathroom or space

that we need to live
side by side.

[Alena] It's still my dream
to live in Italy,

and I found
a temporary place to rent,

and I will continue
my search with Fabrizio.

As soon as I get everything
wrapped up in New York,

I'm going to join Alena
in Italy,

and we're gonna
continue our search.

Ciao, ciao, ciao!