Up early again, breakfast, then to the train station to catch the bus south to Gallipoli. The FSE trains do not run on Sunday.
It took exactly one hour, though at two corners the bus had to "dance" around the corner with an oncoming bus and several cars. Like the dosey-do, step up, step back.
We were dropped off right at the top of the main shopping district, the street running straight to the harbour and old walled town.
This main part of Gallipoli sticks out on a peninsula, and the old town area is reached across a stone bridge, so I am thinking it is actually an island.
We cross the bridge, start to look around a little, but we have eight hours here before our return, so we decide to take a break. Two hours, una litro vino, una litro d'aqua, a little writing, reading, plate of ravioli and small caprese salad later, we set out again.
We are noticing that we tend to mark time with food.
What time is it?
Time for a wine break.
Or, time for a gelato and water.
How long did we sit,
Long enough for a pizza and mezzo litro del vino.
And so we sat. Outside, under the umbrella. We drank. We read and enjoyed a thunder and rain storm. As the sun came out again we ate, then read some more. Talking, watching people go by, writing a little...
We walked out into a humid sun, and started moving up the alleys to the tip of the peninsula.
Here is a city map; sure enough, we are on an island.
We ran across the old Cathedral of Saint Agata. Built in 1629, it has huge paintings that cover the walls and ceiling. It is really pretty impressive.
We had about a half hour to explore when the storm suddenly broke, white caps out on the frothing bay, the wind howling, lightning bolts and thunder. Running the half block back to the closest cafè I got soaked, like jumping into a shower fully clothed.
And so we sit inside and watch the rains.
Guess it's time for a cappuccino! Fortunately there was a table open, it is a young modern cafè with good music and laid back vibe, because we are not going anywhere for the time being. The water is running two inches deep out on the cobble stoned street, we are all trapped here together, at least till the water level drops.
Interesting day.
I pull out my book.
Half an hour. An hour.
Rain stops. People start to leave.
Crack of thunder, more rain this time. It's been a while since we have been in a storm like this.
Finally we did get back out, walked all the way to the tip of the island to see the lighthouse, then back into town. All the stores closed down now, the tourists disappeared, some of the cafes closed.
Everybody has given up on the day.
So we walk, back around, out across the bridge, back down the shopping district and through a few of the regular neighborhoods of apartments.
All in all it was a pretty lazy Sunday.
The bus showed up on time, and we were the only passengers again.
There are tourists here, but in the past two days I don't think I have heard another English speaking person.
We walked home from the train station back into old Lecce for our last night here.
We decided to go to a little place along wine tasting row, near Santa Croce. We have had our eye on it, so this is our chance. It’s called Mama Elvira’s What stood out to us is that there is always a crowd there, even when the other places are empty.
So we slid inside, got two seats at a side bar, and had wonderful meat lasagna and the best glass of wine so far this trip.
It is a warm night out, so we walk a little, but head back early. We are both asleep by 23:30.