One week around the boot's heel - some pics

[MapisM]

Due to some health troubles of my mother in law, this winter myself and swmbo couldn't arrange our usual long trip in some warmer places, therefore we are by now in desperate need of decent weather, after a long (albeit admittedly not very cold) N Italy winter.
So, we jumped on the opportunity to spend one week with a couple of friends in Puglia, the heel of Italy, where we had not been for ages. And it turned out a VERY interesting trip.

In fact, I can definitely confirm that this recent FT article is spot on, and if anyone has a million quid laying around in some savings account, it might be wiser to buy a "masseria" instead.
Not to mention food and wine, which are just spectacular - but be warned, some "Primitivo di Manduria" reds can be as strong as 16°. Better avoid hitting the road, after a proper Pugliese dinner!

Anyway, here are some pics of several places - in no particular order, just to give an idea of the environment.
With a few odd boats thrown in for good measure, obviously!

...to be continued...

 

[MapisM]

Oh, and could I miss the opportunity to visit a boat yard? Course not!
Here's what they still build down there, together with a small plug, just in case anyone's curious to see how the hull of an AZ55 looks like...

 

[dustywings]

Wonderful photos, looks like summer! I have to ask what is the sign with the stick man climbing the wall to look at the stick girl?!!

 

[Cheery]

Caution: peeping toms!

 

[pks1702]

Super images - summer is just around the corner........

Thanks for posting,

 

[Dipper]

Beautiful photos. Thanks for that.

 

[vas]

Alberobello, beautiful place, was there in 07 iirc and was really amazed with the whole area.
what's the name of this seemingly deserted semi-troglodyte city P?

+1000 on what you say!

great memories, if I have time I'll try and source some of my pics from that time

cheers

V.

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

Super Mapis. South Italy is all beautiful, it is a pity that the criminal side of it always makes the headlines.

 

[Pinnacle]

Great pics, P. Not taken on a phone I'm sure!

 

[Greg2]

Superb pics, many thanks for sharing

 

[scubaman]

Beautiful pictures, P! For some reason I especially liked the one with the red fiat. Beautiful looking place too, plenty of reasons to take out your camera and shoot.

 

[MapisM]

Thanks folks for your appreciation, it's nice when some pics can convey at least a bit of the beauty one comes across while travelling!

Now, following the order of your questions:

@dustywings: the tile with a stick man climbing the wall to look at the lady was possibly the most funny way to mark a public toilet that I've ever seen!

@Vas: you could as well remove the "semi" from your "semi-troglodyte" definition of that city, since it was initially established in the Paleolithic era (!)...
It's the ancient part of Matera, known as "Sassi di Matera".
Actually, that's the only spot in the above pics which is in Basilicata rather than Puglia, but very close anyway.
More about the place in this Unesco webpage, for those interested.
An absolute must for anyone visiting the area, and I would definitely suggest to hire a guide, because by just walking around the place (which you can do FoC) you would miss most of its fascinating background.

@PYB: yeah, it's a shame, but as they say, only bad news sells... :ambivalence:

@Pinnacle: yup, all pics were taken with a Sony a6000.
Great camera for its size/portability/cost - and obviously, the pics posted are all in low resolution and compressed: the originals are much better.

@scubaman: funny you should mention the red Fiat 500, K. That's one of my preferred pics, too.
I guess it's because the car matched perfectly the atmosphere of the place (Grottaglie, well known for hand made ceramics), where we had the impression to travel backwards in time 40 years ago, if not more!

 

[Hardmy]

MapisM! Was very nice to recognize very familiar places. I really love Apulia.

So, tell us your impression about "my" yard in Monopoli. Did you met the UVA brothers?

 

[KevB]

Excellent photo's

 

[BartW]

nice places and very nice pics P,
most of your pics are good for a postcard,
apparently you (or is it <script id="gpt-impl-0.2664517520272963" src="http://partner.googleadservices.com/gpt/pubads_impl_84.js"></script>S ?) have an eye for capturing the play of images, collors and light !
really well done.

 

[SAMYL]

Wonderful. I've never been there but am going at the end of May for a week.

Puglian wines are my favourite and recommended to me by a friend from Sardinia years ago so I will looking out for your 60% recommendation!!

 

[scubaman]

@scubaman: funny you should mention the red Fiat 500, K. That's one of my preferred pics, too.
I guess it's because the car matched perfectly the atmosphere of the place (Grottaglie, well known for hand made ceramics), where we had the impression to travel backwards in time 40 years ago, if not more!

Imho, all that plus the composition and framing just works really well. I could see that as a poster.

The others are very good as well. Your camera seems to cope well with low light situations (for instance the other fiat pic).

 

[rafiki_]

MM, as a young engineer at Jaguar, I spent the best part of 2 months every summer at Nardo near Porto Cesario. It was our high temp test base. Used to get frustrated as hell with the pace of the locals. Everything was "domani", and we were working to a tight testing schedule. If challenged, it often became "doppo domani" as you could well imagine. Every couple of weeks a pair of dark suits arrived at the hotel, with a large briefcase, that looked a lot heavier when they left &#55358;&#56596;. However, I grew to love the area, and your pics certainly do it justice.

 

[MapisM]

So, tell us your impression about "my" yard in Monopoli. Did you met the UVA brothers?

I only met Nico, which I guess you know.
I was impressed overall, also because I didn't expect to find such an organised and well equipped structure in that area.
The only thing I'd rather not try is the entrance in the travel lift basin in a windy day...

 

[MapisM]

apparently you (or is it <script id="gpt-impl-0.2664517520272963" src="http://partner.googleadservices.com/gpt/pubads_impl_84.js"></script>S ?) have an eye for capturing the play of images, collors and light !

Not sure of what you meant to say between "you" and "have an eye for...", but thanks for the appreciation anyway!