What a busy, busy last day in Lecce. I’m bonding with this city, really getting to know it just as I’m leaving. The crowds have never been as bad as that first afternoon when I arrived here. I’ve discovered the reason was that the night before had been a massive festival here in Lecce and it was a long weekend for the region. I’ve since been enjoying the city without masses of people, in fact it’s been quite cruisy.
So, this am it was coffee as usual (I’ve bonded with my coffee joint too), then I plodded off to find a ‘Tim’ place to recharge my phone. That was quite a trek outside the old city into what was the new, and rather vibrant hub of modern Lecce with all the familiar department stores. I found my ‘Tim’ and recharged for another month even though I’ll be gone in 3 days, but it a bit of a security should anything go array.
Back to the old city to wander some more, bumped straight into my NBFs who walked with me to show me their favourite places for a while, then we went our own ways. I pottered around a bit then went for a quick pasta at the place I went to yesterday for a Cicera e Tria…chickpea pasta that is to die for. After this I bolted home to drop stuff off and use the loo before heading off to meet my NBFs again for a winery and sunset tour.
We were picked up by the lovely Antonio in a car with just the 3 of us this time. We drove for about 30 minutes to ‘Masseria Altemura’, a winery in an area called Torre Mesagne. It is an old, old vineyard that has been a source of employment for the families in the area forever. But it is also huge with a brand new winery and all the updated equipment. Because the new winery isn’t underground they have an elaborate system of cooling and sprays to keep it at 18 deg and moist all the time. We were then taken to a room to taste the wines with anti-pasta cheese, prosciutto etc. I didn’t expect too much of the wines but I have to say I was very impressed with the Altemura 2016 red. I always wish you were with me, all of you, to share the experience and validate (or not) my perceptions, but I loved it.
From there we went to Porto di Cesareo on the coast. This part of the trip was to view the sunset over the water. We had 2 hours there which was a long time. So we wandered along the beachfront, enviously watched the Italians in the water as we sweated in the 30 deg heat at 7pm. We had a gelato and watched the sun trying to set but it really hadn’t set before we were picked up again. It was a lovely area and it seemed that the attraction were the boats that were taking people out to a little island to swim.
Anyway it was a nice afternoon and at the end of it we were dropped back in Lecce, They were dropped off first and they are very rich so gave Antonio a very generous tip, he then had to take me to a point nearer my digs but I think he was so chuffed with the tip that he brought me to the door!!
Goodbye to my NBFs, Faye and Carole, until we meet up again in Melbourne!! (promises, promises ). As an aside, I don’t think it was a marriage made in heaven. Very Liberal Party, private school Melbournians. I can keep up for 3 days but beyond that????
Back in my large apartment I now have to give some thought to packing up. Back to Roma tomorrow. My friend Bev is in Rome and wants to meet up. I told Chris she had to come with me and she was very reluctant until I told her where Bev is staying…apparently it is gorgeous with an amazing roof top bar…Chris is somewhat more interested now!!