5/13 Decided to take a train ride to Gallipoli which is about thirty minutes from here but a one and a half hour train ride. Much easier to sit on the train and enjoy the sights without worrying about finding a place to park and probably getting lost. The ride was good. We were reminded about the bacterium that has killed millions of the olive trees in Italy. Vineyards totally wiped out, so sad. We saw more dead olive trees than we saw live trees of all other species combined. I think this region accounts for some 40% of all olive oil production in Italy. Many of the farmers have cut down their trees and started new trees already so that was a good thing to see.

We also saw scattered across the fields we passed, dry stone huts we subsequently learned were, and maybe still are, used as temporary shelters by peasants. More likely they are used for storage but at one time, were houses or temporary houses while the farmers worked in the fields. The ones we saw may be predecessor designs to the trulli you’ll see when we report on our trip up to Bari and Alberbello. A note: see all the grey in the background. You got it – dead olive trees.

When we arrived in Gallipoli we walked through the town to cross the bridge to the island. Reminded us of being in Florida with all the apartment buildings, restaurants, boats and the water. Lots of tourists around as well. But there was a nice promenade down through the middle of town – Corso Roma.

Gallipoli is an island and as we approached the bridge over to the island, the “protective” Castello di Gallipoli was quite obvious. It is big. The other thing about Gallipoli is that it is the only island city in Italy completely surrounded by a wall.

As we walked around we saw some beautiful churches and the structures were so very different and the buildings were all quite colorful. Definitely had the beach feel and so different from all the other cities we’ve been in. An aspect of difference might be that this was clearly a fishing village. The blue and white boats you’ll see were not hauling tourists around. In fact, we could see their nets piled on some of the sea walls and piers and against the castle.

You know we cannot go near the water without finding a restaurant so we could have some seafood so here we are and here’s our lunch. Quite delicious and yes, I love mussels! My pasta was delicious as was Jim’s sea bass.

By now it was time to go back home. Let’s get to the train station so we don’t miss the train.

When we get there, Jim looks at the board and cannot find our train # nor any train departing at our expected departure time, nor where we were to board. I looked at the tickets which were on his phone and I see something that says autobus! uh oh! Hey Jim, look at this – did you buy a bus ticket for the return to Lecce? He looked at his phone and said oh geez, I guess I did. Now what, where do we get the bus? There was a young couple in the station so we asked them about this and the guy said oh yes, you take the train here and the bus home. So the bus came to the corner across from the train station and we rode it home. With all the twists and turns the driver had to make, we still made it home in an hour! Not bad and it was fun. And in Jim’s defense, we just didn’t know that some of the train companies also have bus companies and if there is a long time between train departures to a destination, a bus may be scheduled. When buying the tickets, he saw a 2:30 departure and assumed it was a train. It was a bus. After all this we decided Saturday was going to be a down and relax day. At least that is the plan!