Second half of Italy

More shopping in Alberobello. Great shopping!!! I’m now on board with this. Got shoes myself – some high-heeled sneakers, great pants and 2 tops. The coolness of the climate made me think that what I was buying will work in Munich. The sneakers are great. They look better than my other walking shoes (mountainy shoes from REI) and they’re great to walk in.

We wandered among the old houses in Alberobello, with their conical, stacked stone roofs. We don’t know why they built them like this, but the houses were very cool inside. It hints that the summers are usually much hotter than we were experiencing.



Renu, Judi, Anna, outside a church.



I’m in the garden of a house we toured.



We had a great lunch in town, fantastic pasta that they made fresh, of course.

Then we drove to Osituna, another town in the interior region. We could see the sea from there, but it wasn’t close. And it was too cold and windy to enjoy the beach anyhow.

Judi and Renu enjoy the view



We were going to Casa Mia for dinner, someone from last night had made us a reservation. But it turned out that we had to drive there, and we didn’t want to do that so we ate at another place in town. This was our worst meal by far. They didn’t get the concept ‘vegetarian’, served Renu a plate of pasta with plain tomato sauce and some meat. Ooops. Then she got a dish of pasta with the bruschetta topping mixed in, and it was cold. Very disappointing dinner. After, we went back through the old town Mojito, the bar that we celebrating its opening. We found out it had been in town for a couple years, then moved to this location. Too much Mojito, I should have learned that lesson in Barca, but I apparently had to do it again.

Sunday we planned to go to the beach – beach? Shit weather – cold and sprinkling. We headed to the seaside town of Polignani a mare to find hotel. It was on the way back to the airport, to reduce our drive the next day. We tried Hotel de Grotte, no dice.

The sea at the edge of Polignano a mare



We drove carefully up the tiny streets, stopped at some people and asked them. It turned out that one had an apt they rent out, but it was booked. In talking with Victoria, she pointed us to Ca Blu, a B&B. Renu & I went there, winding through old town to find it. We had secured 2 rooms with Renu’s passport, went back to the car. Turned out while we were gone, someone’s brother called to say he was not coming that day. the apartment on Via Anemone had opened up. We took it because it was close to the car – not 500 meters to drag the luggage.

I read in a book recently, a character opined that the soundtrack of 20th century Europe was the sound of tanks in city streets. I believe the soundtrack of 21st century Europe is suitcases being rolled over cobblestones.

We settled in to this apartment. Very pretty, vaulted stone ceilings. It was cold, though. Judi found the remote to turn on the ceiling heaters. We headed into town for lunch, and ended up back at at Ca Blu – fantastic. We had great pastas, unusual. Renu & I had pesto with Gamberini, Anna had pasta with an orange-based Gamberini sauce and Judi had gnocci with mussels. The place was packed, there was a big family gathering in the next room. It was fun watching the food streaming out of the kitchen headed that way. We went for gelato after, a place that had been recommended in the online guide sites. It was amazing. The weather was so cold that we stood inside the place to eat it, but it still tasted great. We then drove to the grotto, a local cave tour attraction, but the next tour was in an hour and it was cold and raining by now so we bagged it.

Aged olive trees, with huge trunks in the countryside here.



We got back to town and were foiled – could not cross the main street to get to the apartment. It looked like they were blocking the streets for a festival.

We didn’t see this turned on, but it looked pretty.



So we parked in a gas station, and walked towards a Bar for coffee. Saw the restaurant for dinner on the way. In the bar, there was a group having Special Coffees – to die for. Baileys, espresso, lemon rind, cream. The folks said that they drove 50 K for the coffee, and it was a regional specialty. We plan to experiment to make them in Munich.

You can get to the hotel either way – but we laughed to see this sign.



Nap – needed by now. We piled all the blankets we could find on us and slept for a bit. When we got up, Anna popped up the street to ask for more blankets. They showed up soon, and more came while we were out to dinner. And, Alberto, one of the owners or friends or caretakers, came & turned on the water heater.

That night we had dinner at Chichibio. The antipasti spread was amazing. The best we’d had all trip.
Antipasta feast!



For our main meals we had lobster and fish, with one tiramisu for dessert. 2 bottles of the local white wine was a great compliment. While we were eating, it was pouring down rain. All the locals we talked with said it was such unusual weather. After we ended up in Jazz place. Lots of kids, and for something new, 4 girls tried to pick us up. What a riot! 2 am back to apt. Early up next day, to get to the airport.