Decide on a day local today and wandered around Lecce old and new. Lots of fabulous architecture and details
Peter Bargh
Sights & SoundsArchive for the ‘Travel’ Category
Train to the seaside town Otranto. Was ok, nothing to write a postcard home about. That said the sun was out and I just relaxed by the harbour – after I’d sampled a couple of local pies, including local delicacy rustico.
I decided to walk back from here to Zolino station. I took the SP48 to Martano…a long, straight road lined with olive fields. When I eventually arrived in Martano I couldn’t see the directions out to Zolino. So I asked a local restaurateur. He insisted on taking me and I’m glad he did – it was further than I thought. I asked if I could pay him…and he said in Italian “from the heart”. Nice man.
Train from Bari to Lecce staying in Oniro Via Nicola Cataldi 2, Lecce. Apartment was a short walk from old town. It was spacious and breakfast was a ticket to get a coffee and a piece of cake/bread/croissant etc from a cafe round the corner. The room next to me had a shagging couple and she was very loud and seemed to be enjoying things.
Lecce is similar to Bari in that the old town is walled. Lecce had some good restaurants, and I had a good running area around the streets for my 5k build up. I started to use the vending machines here to get coffees. Decent and just 50 cents.
Train to Ostuni today. The station is in about a mile or so out of the city in an industrial region (wekll a couple of factories in a field). The walk up inst that pleasant just a main road and when you get to the city it’s not as white as Santorini and not as impressive as Matera, but still worth a visit. I wandered out of the city to get a better viewpoint than the one coming up from the station.
Went to Alberobello today on train. I like the houses (called trullos) but it was very commercial. I then walked to Locorotondo. The walk was lovely – not hilly, but passing those teepee shaped houses amongst olive groves was visually pleasing.
Took the train from Bari to Polignano A Mare – a cold and grey day, but interesting cliff top town made up for it.
Went to Valletta harbour for lunch at the Royal Malta Yacht Club restaurant I had steak, then over to Blue Grotto before going back to airport to catch flight FR9875 to Bari.
I was staying in II Trespolo Degli Angeli, via Piazzetta 62 Marinai, 15. I arrived at about 10:30…and made my way to the old town. My internet wasnt working and I’d lost directions. It was a nightmare. I phoned the guy and he could speak very little English and was trying to get me to a particular square and statue. Eventually sorted, and to a very small room but perfect for what I needed. Superb modern shower with radio built in. TV, sink toilet. Breakfast out into street and round cornere into main building. Tight space but great choice of food and cool coffee machine.
Walk on beach and round to Sliema.
Last day on Gozo, so left apartment and went over to look at Ġgantija – a megalithic temple complex, before heading down to Mgarr, pizza on triq ix xatt in the only open restaurant, and then ferry back to Malta.
Jogging in the morning then drive over to Mgarr to see rental property – great size and just up from Harbour, but not sure about being in Mgarr. Super meal on hill at Restaurant Xerri Il Bukkett, Mgarr Heights – rabbit in garlic…yummy and a great view!
