Sunday:
There is always a favorite part of any day, and mine today was the fresh laundry hanging from all the Italian balconies in the alleys we walked through to get to the city of Bari. And funny it is that we normally would not have taken those local streets, but ended up there because we had no clue where we were going. Lucky for us we got to see the local life..and especially lucky on a Sunday when everyone was at home with their children.
And I loved watching the children in front of their tiny homes with their bicycles. Their Dads having beers under the sun, and the Moms and Grandmas hanging out the lemon laundry. It was so simple. So pure and make me think this is how life should be.
Why do we need such huge houses and such fancy cars and big lawns with big play structures in the back? Why do we contain our families in our square yards when we could be cooking pasta with the neighbor and sharing a beer? Why do our children need such constant entertainment when these Italian kids played with a ball or bicycle if they were lucky all day long and remained not only content but joyful?
So we walked and walked and ended up at a true Italian lunchery in the middle of nowhere in an ally and prayed for the best as we ordered off the fully Italian menu. Apparently in Bari there is a certain type of meal and everyone orders it. So we did and it was pretty good although we had no idea what most of it really was.
Forgot to say best part of day was all of us waking up together in the morning late because the boat rocked us like babies and saying hello as we opened our eyes together in the same room side by side. Hubby went to get hot chocolate and coffee and we sat drinking it in bed and balcony. Holding hands with Bear in the middle all day long was a close second .=.
Tour in the afternoon in Poligano Italy on the beautiful white cliffs. Hubby loved the tour guide (if you know what I mean!) Bear and I could have done without her nonstop chatter but were pleased with the places she took us. Gosh I love Italy…it is so breathtaking. Villages, alleys, the sea, caves, beautiful cliffs. We even got our feet wet in the rocky clear seas while Bear played on the cliffs.
Lemone gelato of course again. Bear and I are completely addicted and refuse to try new flavors! Little nap on the bus while she chatted on and on and on. Souvenirs for the kids from a cool store we found that was closed initially but that Bear insisted we go back to.
Back to the boat for a drink on balcony at sunset, a Jacuzzi in the wind and a game of ping pons. On our way to dinner now. Bear wandering around ship alone playing golf .Considering if we should wrap some sheets on our body for toga night for the benefit of Bear….hmmmmm…not sure I can go through with this. Wish I was more like my pub-crawling, hat-wearing buddy!!!
Bear and my Protector played a beautiful game of ping pong and guess who won??????? Hint: not Bear!
Tomorrow onto Corfu and the beautiful beaches of Greece with an early start at 8:00am.
Tonight as I sleep I will dream of simplicity and of if I may consider getting rid of all the useless stuff I have and simply hang out my clean laundry in the second phase of my life. Or wear a lemony fresh sheet to dinner (with a hat).
Arrivederci!
