Gallipoli

Due to our position last night, adjacent to the ferry terminal for ferries to Albania, we thought it best to put our extra security locks on, the doors of the van. But, all was fine. As expected, we were awoken, courtesy of the cockerel. 

We left this morning, before eleven o' clock, planning on visiting the city of Lecce. But when we arrived, there was just too much traffic, and no hope of parking the van. So it was 'arrivederci' Lecce, and with that, Marge promptly took control, and with a hand signal, (no, not that one), launched herself into the Italian traffic. We decided, to cross to the other coast, to the town of Gallipoli, with its castello, (castle), and, old town.

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We managed to find parking for Marge quite easily, in a car park, that was free from one to four in the afternoon, siesta time. Gallipoli, is a smart coastal town, with the clear waters of the sea lapping at its edge, in which brown mullet swim, and traditional fishing boats bob. 

We are now on the heel, of Italy, and from here you can see right around the bay, almost to the end point. We, walked around the narrow streets of the town, photographed the chapel, castello, churches, and fantastic cathedral. Down on the quayside were a row of classic cars. From the banners,we realised a classic car rally was happening here this weekend, and was something to do with the Lecce, automobile club.

We photographed the cars, and sent a photograph of the red ferrari, and a porsche, to our grandson Jack, who loves all things to do with super-cars.

On route here, we saw acres and acres of dead olive trees. This area, Puglia, has been worse affected by a bacteria that infiltrates the olive trees. The bacteria is carried from tree to tree, by a tiny, little bug. We found the sight devastating, but obviously, not as devastating, as the owners, of the trees. That's the one thing about travelling to other countries.  You are naive to think, that everything will look, and be, as it is, in all the books you read about a country, written by people living the dream. No one, ever seems to write about about the reality, which we were seeing in front of our own eyes today. We felt saddened, seeing the landscape so blighted, and knowing, how the situation, must have affected many peoples income, and lifestyles. 

After our visit to Gallipoli, we decided to head back to Brindisi, for another night, as we have decided to turn back, and head north up the east coast. On our way, we were diverted off the dual carriageway, because of an accident involving a jack knifed lorry, carrying scrap aluminium. It was only yesterday, that we commented that we were suprised we saw so few accidents here, considering such terrible driving. This evening, we cannot hear the cockerel, which we know from comments on the internet, has been here for at least two years. Let's hope, it hasn't ended up in somebodies cooking pot. It is Friday night, so perhaps it's found a lady friend for a night out. Talking of lady friends, the roads leading to the major towns and cities in the area, seem to have a good representation. One was sat in her car, alongside the traditional plastic garden chair, this brought a whole new meaning to the 'home office'. It is quiet on the aire to tonight. Next to us are a Dutch couple, who seem very nice. We think, they may be on-route to Greece, as they were keen to walk out this evening, and see the Greek car ferry. Considering, they've travelled from Holland, she seemed to be dressed very pristine. You can normally spot the campervan/motorhome owner, we are normally clean, but a little crumpled. The Dutch lady showed signs of stays on campsites, with washing machines and irons. Where's the fun in that, we came away to escape such chores. Campervan life, releases you from the constraints of normality. Just one thing, could someone arrange for Amazon to deliver a washing machine to us!  

   

Brindisi

In southern Italy this morning, a bright, clear sky, greeted us. As we left the aire, to walk to the town, a jay, flew across in front of us, landing on a nearby wall. Sensing, we wanted to photograph it, it took flight.

As we walked amongst the trulli houses, we realised, that despite being tired from walking around the cave dwellings, at Matera yesterday, we perhaps should have walked out yesterday evening, to look at the houses, as there were many visitors viewing them this morning. So, once again, we had to wait patiently, to try and obtain some reasonable photographs, that were not full of strangers. As we walked amongst the hobbit like buildings, we were amused by the Japanese women, who whenever we see them, always pose for their photographs, like they are expecting to be featured in a glamour magazine.

Most of the houses are gift shops, but in one area, there were quite a few as holiday lets. 

Down near the towns high street, we saw two men repairing the roof on one of the trulli houses, which was interesting, as we could see a cross section of its construction. 

Around midday we left Alberobello.

The market was on in the town, so as Marge squeezed through the parked cars, we stopped to allow an elderly gentleman to pull in front of us. When we can, we always do this, it's one less person to keep an eye on behind you, and it's terribly British! John, thinks that because he was so shocked by our gesture, that he promptly drove into the side of a stationary vehicle, and didn't stop, of course. Good job  we let him out in front of us! As we left the the town, the country roads narrowed, and the Italians were still attracted to Marge's bodywork, cutting every corner, and passing as close as they could. We drove by, fields of cherry trees, and saw a person, stop and buy some over a wall, direct from the man harvesting them. As we travelled south, the landscape flattened out, just to our left were white flat roofed houses, in an Arabic design, with the electric blue of the Adriatic sea showcasing them from behind. To our right, acres and acres of olive trees, some of them quite old, with thick, split, gnarled trunks. 

Tonight, Marge is back down the docks. The aire is in the car park, adjacent to the ferry terminal at Brindisi.

From the van, we can see the car ferry, waiting to set sail for Albania. No, we're no tempted. However, the other car ferry, that leaves from this port, sails to Greece, but we'll save that, for another trip. The temperature when we arrived was 29c. It  doesn't seem possible, that a few days ago, we were witnessing the terrible storms around Pompeii.

Late afternoon, just as the shops, cafes and bars were reopening, we walked into town, stopping to look at various churches, some roman columns, the Adriatic sea and the many buildings, inhabited now only by pigeons.

As we crossed the road, behind our van, we could hear a cockerel crowing from the branches of an overhead tree. A cockerel, at a ferry port, really?

But, on our return to Marge, we saw said cockerel, strutting around the grass below, hopping up onto the bench seats, to show himself of. All very lovely, but please don't start crowing, around four o' clock in the morning!     

Alberobello

Thankfully, no rain last night, so this morning we were able to sit, with Marge's side door open, whilst we ate our breakfast, enjoying the view of the nearby lake. Whilst we ate, quite a few people pulled into the cemetery car park, some with absolutely, beautiful arrangements of flowers. We have noticed in the Italian supermarkets, you cannot buy flowers, like you can in England, so every large town here, has at least one florist. Before leaving today, we gave Marge her usual brush out, still finding evidence of pumice from Mount Vesuvias, which has managed to find its way into every crevice. 

Today we visited the city of Matera. Unusually for us, it was fairly easy to find parking for Marge, in an area especially designated for campervans. It took us about twenty minutes, to walk to the Sassi Caves, which are divided into two districts.

The cave dwellings, have been inhabited since the paleolithic period. Most of the caves now, are either shops, bed and breakfasts, homes, or luxury hotels.

At one of these hotels, we saw one of the many swallows, that darted across in front of us as we walked, fly through the hotels wrought iron gates, and settle on a stone ledge. Rarely, are you able to photograph a swallow, as they are constantly on the go. 

There was an exhibition on, celebrating the work of Salvador Dali, of which, we were able to photograph freely, some of his genuine pieces.

We walked around for three hours, marvelling and photographing all the sights before us. Our legs ached, and we commented, that, if we weren't driving uphill, we were walking, uphill. All the inclines Marge has to toll up, cost us, and today her fuel bill was just under a hundred euros, but it's a small price to pay, to see the delights, we've experienced on our travels. We just wish, we felt a little safer on the roads, each day is a challenge, do you watch out for the potholes, or the car, behind, who wants to overtake, or the car coming towards you? 

Tonight, we are staying on the edge of the town of, Alberobello. It is another world heritage site, with strange like circular buildings called Trulli.

(This is a derelict one John snapped in a field on the way in to town, tomorrow you'll get to see the ones in town which are a lot smarter!) 

They are built from limestone, stacked, without using mortar, and have conical roofs. 

The aire, is set amongst some beautiful olive trees, next to us, are a Dutch couple, and a very annoying small dog! A comment, about adding the dog to the pasta, if it didn't stop barking, seemed to deliver some relief, as you could hear some sharp orders in Dutch, being addressed to it. Tomorrow, we will take a walk into the town, to see the trulli's, before for we move further south. Electrical hook up, is included in our eighteen euro fee tonight, so for the first time in three weeks since leaving home, we can use our hairdryer, after we have showered. So blog followers, tomorrows photographs, will hopefully, show some nicely, bouffanted hair.