Puglia, Italy 31st May to 7th June 2008

Ibs and spent a week, with friends, in the Puglia region of Italy. We stayed in a converted Trulli, which are ancient olive and grain stores. They litter the landscape and give the region enormous distinctivness. Our place had a fantastic pool and loads of space. Each night we took it in turns to cook and got lots of use out of the clay oven and bbq grill.

The 1st couple of days we spent by the pool and a further 3 at the beach on the Adriatic side of the coast. A couple of other days were a wash out with thunder storms.

We visited local towns, Matina Franca, Ceglie Messapica and Locorontondo. Nice enough places but nothing compared to the glories of Neapolitan coast or northern regions of Italy. Puglia is very agricultural, covered in ancient olive groves and vineyards but is very much a backwater, lacking historical or cultural significance. Still it's good value for money as Italy goes and would be a great place to take a family.

Here are a few fairly random snaps.

Our Trulli

A neighbouring Trulli that hasn't been converted and white washedOn the roof of the Truli

Ibs, on the roof, showing off her bulging little tummy
I love Fiat 500s and there were loads everywhere. My friend Karen will like these too and I thought of here whenever I admired a passing 500.


Food!

These weired looking KKK dolls were in a shop window

A baroque plaster freeze in Martina Franca

Such an Italian, visual, cliche