Heading? SouthEast
Estimated travel time? 3.5 hours
Destination? Martina Franca
You see for some time I've been meaning to pay a visit to someone I met last summer shortly after she arrived to Italy. With the weather finally warming up and the strong desire to flee Napoli on my anniversary date I told Jess to get ready for me.
The drive was absolutely beautiful! After crossing through the mountains via so many tunnels the green rolling hills scattered with vineyards, orchards, and farmland was a welcomed sight. With the windows down, Dixie Chicks blasting, and Ravi going speeds over 70mph since arrival, it felt like I was on my way down I-5 to some central valley town. The air was filled with the sweet scents that only sunny spring day can produce. Well, then again maybe it was just the lack of trash burning, car exhaust and cigarette smoke...
After following the most straight road ever I ended up at her adorable trulli house (more on these in the next post) on the outskirts of town. Talk about a 180 from where I live: neighbors present just a ways off, fresh cut hail bales, sparrows darting through the air, cars following (most of) the traffic laws. Absolutely beautiful!
Saturday morning we headed over to Ostuni, The White City, for the Saturday market. This market was probably even larger than the Caserta market but with the same types of vendors: produce, shoes, fabric, kitchen stuff, fish, meat, cheese, plants, clothes. Once we walked 80% of it we headed over to the old portion of town where the buildings were painted, you guessed it, bianco! With the dark storm clouds forming in the sky the city was radiant and looked so clean. Here we walked the cobble stone hill up to the church and picked a few random allies where the restaurant owners were already recovered from the night before and readying tables for opening at 2pm for lunch.
After our hill side adventure we headed down to the main square for cafe since although our stomachs were requesting lunch we knew nowhere would yet be opened. As we sat on the piazza a wedding let out so we felt the need to critique the outfits of the guests while we waited to see the bride's selection. There were so many short dresses and stiletto heels in attendance that I couldn't help but wondering if some of these girls had worn the same outfit to the club the night before. That thought was quickly replaced when we witnessed a pelting, yes pelting, of rice. Note to self: if ever invited to Italian wedding stand in back of crowd while waiting couple to exit church. Eventually you will get your pictures and won't be stung by rice being hurled at your head. Just when we thought that was enough entertainment, the Fiat 550 we walked by earlier pulled up into the piazza for the couple to drive away in. Now these are tiny cars. Although the bride didn't have a princess gown on, it still was lots of fabric to get in the car! Unfortunately even after finishing our coffees, playing the "can you please bring the check" game with the waitress, the bride still hadn't walked her glitter covered self to the car. We actually were never sure who she married either...At any rate, we had another destination to get to -Alberobello!
No comments:
Post a Comment