Wednesday 30 October 2024

A day to read and relax for some today. Lady P headed off on the train to Cisternino, a very hilly white city/town halfway to where we went yesterday. At around 12.00 noon, Flashy went for a stroll in the sunshine, looking for a place to contemplate the surrounds. 

His favourite bar was shut. 90% of all restaurants were shut.  Lots of shops were shut. However, noticing the young African lass setting tables at Vino, Fritti e Cucina, he ventured in to sit down as the only patron at 12.30 pm. Ordering a glass of vino rosso, he sat back and watched as the place gradually fill up. Build it and they will come. Smart to be the only one open. The wine came in a bucket. 

A glass here is 350 mls! Pasta was average. The Apuliga food is peasant based, as is a lot of southern Italy and based around bread rather than pasta, with orecchiette being the traditional shape and strong tomato sauce the ubiquitous addition. Like parts of Spain, their drinks are generous here and there is no shortage of cocktails and beers.

Another observation of Ceglie, is that the service staff are very friendly and courteous, so too the locals who we pass in the street. Sophie arrives back late tonight and we decide to stay up  to at least 9.00 pm! That’s four hours after it gets dark.

So, off we go to our bar in the piazza and enjoy a couple of Negronis. Big ones too, with nuts, olives and little biscuits on the side.

It’s been a good cat sit with the cats doing their cat thing and we don’t see all that much of them until they want food but they are very good natured. Ceglie is a lovely town and we have enjoyed the relaxed off-season vibe. Flashy is dreaming of flat places with no stairs.