This medieval town stole my heart. Yes, it took a hair-raising journey to get there. Yet, in a matter of two days, I was in love.

I was in love with being waken up by the melodious sound of the sheep jingling by our window in the morning, the galloping horses grazing in a scenery that can only come from a set in a movie, the mountains that move in lines that dance, and the mystical play of light and the ever-rolling-and-ever-dispersing clouds...

Shepherd-and-His-Sheep-Castelluccio-di-Norcia-Umbria-Italy-Copyright-Jean-Huang-Photography

On the morning of our departure, when I put away my camera one final time and turned around, tears rolled down my cheeks. I thought I was sad from the good-bye. My heart longed to come back to be close to this paradise again, soon.

Two weeks ago, when the earthquake struck central Italy, I was in a country with restricted access to news in the world. When I finally got back to free land, my heart trembled at what had happened - The town was reduced to rubble (in face, the ground is now as much as two feet lower), the already difficult road was shaken to be almost impossible to drive on, and the Apennine Mountain surrounding the Grand Plane (Piano Grande) showing crack line running across it.

Castelluccio di Norcia, may you rise above the shambles and be rebuilt with more charm in your heart. May your people stay strong and, hello, horses and sheep of this beautiful land, may you stay safe and resilient in the sub-zero temperatures. I wish to see you all again soon, in the town that appears to be perched above the cloud!