Toby and Allan in Rome and Puglia 2021

Wednesday October 27 was another beautiful day- lots of sun and a high of 19C.  We even had to put on suntan lotion during the early afternoon.  Claudia, our host, came over with a detailed map of the old city and also helped us make arrangements with Dora, who lives across the street, to cook us an orecchiette dinner on Friday night (our last night in Bari).  Claudia is definitely our best host of the trip. She is in her late 30s and her English is very good.  It helps that she lives nearby and knows everyone in the 'hood.  Any question we ask her, she answers within a few minutes. Claudia had told us that there would be a vegetable guy at our corner in the mornings.  Lo and behold, he was there. The corner veg and fruit guy-- a minute away from the apartment Orecchiette morning purchase Dora's apartment across our narrow street--- the whole world watches Alonso says the old city reminds him of My Brilliant Friend--- some of it has a 1950s feel, though not...

Tuesday October 26 was a travel day.  Mix of sun and cloud with a high of 20C.  We had to check out of our Airbnb in Lecce at 10:00 a.m. as the host was expecting new guests.  Our train was at 11:47 a.m.   We had arranged for the cabbie that had taken us in from the train station to pick us up in front of the Caffè Alvino in Piazza Sant'Oronzo. At the caffè with the treats-- it was full of people having their morning coffee and pastries Our train was already in the station.  It was not very crowded and once we left the station, we were given a bag with water, a mask and sanitizer wipes.  There was a note inside apologising for not yet being able to provide food service.   Our health and safety pack We got to Bari on time at 1:07 p.m. and then had another transportation adventure.  The cabbie took us a bit of of a wild goose chase to a street with the same name as ours but definitely not in Bari Vecchia (old Bari), where I knew we were staying. ...