21st June, 2005
Over a delightful dinner at the Marina restaurant we decided we would hire a car and follow the itinery in the Marina brochure to discover the interesting area around Brindisi which has been a major port since Roman times and is famed to be the end of the Apian Way and embarkation for the Holy Land. After the Suez Canal opened it was an important for the British ships linking London to Bombay.
Our trip took us from Brindisi to San Vito De Normanni. The coast road went through Torre Guaceto, a nature reserve and protected marina area run bz the World Wildlife Foundation and the old village of Serranovat and Carovigno (see photos). It was after noon and everything was closed for siesta time and we could not find a restaurant or cafe open. After taking some photos we were about to just drive off when a local noticed us wandering around and offered to take us to his friends restaurant by the sea which turned out to be right on the waters edge with a cool breeze blowing in and about 10 minutes drive away.
After a nice lunch of local fish, no wine as we were driving not sailing, it was up to the old mountain town of Ostuni with its 14th century buildings (see photos) on narrow winding cobbled roads. Every nook and crannz has a shop selling local produce, wines, cheeses and beautiful local embroided table clothes and clothes.
The narrow winding roads through the Itria Valley we found the area where the Trulli houses (see photos). They are usually white washed and some have religious or astrological szmbols painted on the walls or roofs.
We swung past the 10th centurz town of lSan Vito dei Normanni on the waz to join the motorway and back to Brindisi for an alfresco drinks and dinner at Bettys Bar on the waterfront broadwalk where all the local talent meet.
It was decided over dinner that we would leave for Croatia as soon as the wind changed and when we got back to the boat we spread out the charts and plotted our course (see photos).
