I went out on the beach early this morning. But before I went out a man came to my door going on and on in Italian pointing to his car that was parked a few feet away. So I put my shoes on, told him I don't speak Italian and followed him to his car. He opened his hatchback. I knew what he had because he kept saying "paeche" FISH. He was trying to sell me some fish he just caught. I told him I had no way to clean and cook it. He didn't understand and went on his way. It amazes me how they still go on in Italian even after you've made it clear that you don't understand.
I know I needed some sunscreen so asked the lady at the little beach stand if she had any. She spoke English and directed me to a man who I think might have been her father. He waved me to follow him. We walked all the way to Giuseppe's store and he bought some for me. If he could have said it was in Giuseppe's I could have gone there myself. But he was happy to do it and I paid him later. Then Filomina stopped by and left me 4 bottles of sunscreen. I think I'm all set. After about 2 hours I think I was cooked enough and went in and made a salad for lunch. While eating I could hear a familiar noise just a few feet away. I had heard it before but when I got up to look what it was.....
well I don't think I will order Octopus here any more. I think after he fishes for them, he has to beat the crap out of it to kill it. It made me ill to think this is how they treat the octopus. What an awful way to end your life.
I decided to go for a ride to Locorotondo. I then found myself on the road to Taranto, the other side of the heel on the Ionian Sea.
Locorotondo was very beautiful with many Truilli's, the stone and concrete conical houses built this way for the heat.
Taranto was disgusting as I knew it would be. A truly industrial city being the 3rd worst polluted city in the world. I smelled it as soon as I came over the hill and saw it spread out before me almost like in a science fiction movie. Thousands of people were affected by the steel plant polluting the air and water. Many premature and still born babies were born as well as all the breathing diseases like tuberculosis and emphysema resulted by this pollution. I took the first exit off the highway that brought me there to get me out and back towards Bari.
On my way back I drove through Martina Franca, Cisternino and Ostuni.
Tomorrow I will meet up with Gianni and Graziella in Carovigno. I'm bringing an assortment of cookies as is the tradition.
No comments:
Post a Comment