Another busy day in Lecce. Coffee first thing…they know me now!! Then I went to do a bit of shopping, just buying little things I like. I’m such a sucker for pottery/ceramics of this area but also mindful that I really can’t carry much. I enjoy the looking, it’s actually the only type of shopping that I do enjoy.
I’ve found this lovely park in Lecce where I can go and sit and regroup in the shade…it does get very hot traipsing around the streets. I was on a mission to find a restaurant that both H & A and the LPG had highly recommended. Of course I found it only to find it closed for some unknown reason and now time has run out so it isn’t to be.
When that was closed I went to another little Trattoria, Alle Due Corti, on the other side of town and had a most delicious lunch of chickpea pasta ( a specialty of the region) and it was totally and utterly delicioso. Its nice to sit in a trattoria having amazing food and a glass or two of vino. I then came home for my little break and then set off again.
I went to the Museo Faggiano which was recommended, but I wasn’t sure if I should tackle a museum or not. Well I’m glad I did because it was really amazing. It is an ordinary little house that they’d started to renovate to open a Trattoria. They then found that it was a stunning archeological site. And fascinating it was. It was an old Templar house and a convent dating from C10. There were secret passages for escape from the Ottoman invasion, deep pits where bodies were desanguinated and then buried. It was spooky as you walked into cave like rooms and over deep holes (covered in perspex). All in all a surprise and absolutely intriguing.
My Italian phone has run out of credit so I ran about town trying to find a ‘Tim’ store…and failed before it was time to meet my new BFFs for our drink and bruschetta. I raced off to meet them and we did indeed have a nice drink. They are now into wanting to know all about me and making the connections. They kept talking about their friend Jo and it turns out it’s Jo Pawson. They also know Sally Church, so we’re now BFFs forever!!!!
They want me to go on a sunset wine tasting tour tomorrow evening and I’ve agreed …why not? except that it costs me 60 Eu!! Its good to have people to do things with I guess. One more day here and then back to Rome.
My friend Bev is in Rome and has contacted me to see if we can catch up. I’ve said I’ll have time for a coffee only! Then its fly home Monday and I must say I can’t wait to see you all again.