Monday, June 29, 2009

Trip













It rained a lot. How trivial, yet essential. Lecce was beautiful. It is in the very South where very few tourists found their way. We were the only tourists, suitcases and strange look, who got off the train. We just happened to enter the city during the siesta time, streets deserted and sun beating down, and we felt like we discovered this town. Paving with no sidewalks, narrow but elegant streets, low palaces, two floors at the most, large windows, balconies and flat roofs with terraces. Many churches. More than one would expect in an Italian town. (Lecce, 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th 8th and 10th picture)
In Lecce and then even more in Bari, it was surprising for me how locals don't take much account of the touristic potential of the old towns. Which is good for me. I can experience it like people did in the 19th century. Only later I found out that the old town of Bari is even today considered somewhat dangerous and better to be left behind after dark. Well, too late. We went in. It does feel like a ghetto, quite stinky, pigeons, rough kids, young guys on motorbikes, people peeping out of windows wandering who the hell... Honestly, there is one part of the old town that has been turned into a kind of a tourist place with cafés but we did stroll, unconscious, in the other one. (Bari: 4th, 6th and last pictures) All the remaining pictures are from Gargano where we wanted to rest peacefully on the beach while the little guy would play tenderly on the shore with his bucket trying to pour water from the sea over on the beach. It did happened eventually. The beach, not his fruitless attempt.

8 comments:

Francesca said...

Your photos and words capture the potential, the beauty, the history and the many problems with that part of Italy. Hope you enjoyed your trip (must have been a long train ride!). Looks like Dominik had a good time!

Bohemian girl said...

We flew to Bari from Prague. We took train to Lecce and back and it was fine. I am not a fan of Eurostar though, pre-signed places, kid has to be on a lap then, not much space anyway. If you meant the graffiti as one of the problems of the south, it wasn't so bad for me. (We were wandering about their messages) In Prague,I wanted to take a picture of doors in my neighborhood and they WERE ALL SPRAYED. Interesting that I had not noticed that before. So common it is in my part of the town.

Fine Little Day said...

Pity with the rain, but it looks beatuiful anyway. Sounds like a sweet trip.

Kasia said...

Sounds like you had a good time. I enjoy your photos and words; would love to visit the south of Italy one day.

Kaylovesvintage said...

now I want to go to Italy

raining sheep said...

does look so wonderful. It looks old, something rare for someone living in Canada, a country that is barely over a hundred years old. Dominik looks thrilled with the beach..I would be too.

yasnnna said...

I like your pictures, so I would like to nominate your blog for The One Lovely Blog Award. Have a nice day, Yasnnna

et lille oejeblik - a little moment said...

amazing photos! looks like a fantastic place. and like you had a great time :)