Puglia

24.-27. Juli 2011

Our Train is leaving from Rome Termini in the night. Shortly after we made ourselves comfortable we are dozing off. I wake up feeling quite dizzy, looking around and I realize our googles are missing. It takes a little time until I realize that Aren’s daypack is gone as well. The door to the compartment is open and it is obvious that someone must have sneaked in and snatching the stuff that was lying around loose. The pocket camera, MP3 player and - worst of all – Aren’s passport was inside there. It is like a bad dream, totally surreal. Stuff like this happens only to other people, doesn’t it?

We reach Lecce early morning the next day, still a little in shock. Luckily my cousin and her husband are picking us up from the station and translating for us as we report to the police. We are a little worried if we will have problems when travelling to Greece and returning to Germany. But after smelling the delicious food my cousin’s mother in law prepared for us, everything brightened up. She is a special lady with distinct features and a jolly personality and she really makes me smile. It is wonderful to be with the family.

In the afternoon we meet Vincenzo, who is hosting us the next three days. He is one of those people that you meet and you feel at home immediately and with that kind of hospitality that just comes naturally. He cooks great Pasta with a delicious home-made tomato sauce, shows us the old part of Lecce and introducing us to some culinary specialties of the area, like Pitta Rustica and the delicious local wine of Salento that is very enjoyable when chilled, and takes us to Porto Selvaggio, a natural beach with crystal pure water.

One of the highlights for me for sure is my breakfast at Hotel Aloisi just opposite Vincenzo’s house, with Cornetto, a specialty of Salento and a Cappuccino artistically decorated and served flambé with a friendly “Welcome to Lecce”.

The next day we spend with the family again, visiting Porto Cesareo, where Aren tries his luck fishing. On the way back we stopped at a vinyard in Leverano, which looks like a petrol station: You just go there with your canisters and fill them with a tube, and a digital display shows you the litres and the price. Why don't we have that in Germany! In the evening we joined a huge grill party with all friends from my cousin's huband and tons of meat, wine and karaoke. For some reason Italians really seem to love karaoke…

Because of the rich Baroque architectural monuments found in the city, Lecce is commonly nicknamed "The Florence of the South". The city also has a long traditional affinity with Greek culture going back to its foundation. The buildings are very special, all made from the famous "Lecce stone". It is the city's main export, because it is a kind of limestone, very soft and malleable, thus suitable for sculptures. 

I love the little shops and markets here where you get fresh sunripened fruits and tomatoes, wild oregano and many other delicious things. Hardly people speak english but you easily get a smile and people's hospitality and helpfulness are a language for itself.