It’s finally here!










 Today is the day! Polingnano a Mare in Puglia, Italy here we come. We’re all packed! I just have to get my hair and nails done today. The UBER is coming at 1:00 for our 5:30 flight out of JFK. Oh wait! I have no voice! It kind of feels as though I swallowed razor blades. I have already tapped into my just in case z-pack. Steve went for a DD run. He slipped on black ice. He turned his ankle. We iced it and  bought an ankle brace. Things happen in 3s? Murphy’s Law? Lufthans la take me away. 

Our flights were excellent. Salvatore checked our bags at JFK straight through to Bari. Our layover was in Munich. We arrived in Bari at 11:30 right on time. Our driver Gianvanni picked us up with plenty of room for our luggage. 

I called Enza our host and she said she was ready for us. My biggest fear was that this Air B& B was a scam. I have booked on it before, but never for so long. Our Palazzo Penelope was real! Another worry that I had was that I was that  Steve would have to duck in some parts of the house. No problem, the ceilings are very high. 

Our 1st days’s lunch was at Pescaria. It’s open all day into the night. The salmon and tuna sandwiches were so fresh and the bread was awesome! We had a delicious dinner right in the neighborhood at La  Laconda Porta Pica. The staff was so nice and helpful as we struggled to communicate with our broken Italian. We tried to stay awake until 10:00. Then off to bed! Awaiting tomorrow’s adventure.

  



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

England, Scotland, and Wales June 10-25-26

Image
  Day 1–2: From NewYork/Connecticut to Edinburgh June 10–11, 2026 Our long-awaited Scotland adventure began on June 10 as Steve and I met up with Jeff and Susie and headed to JFK Airport for our overnight flight to Edinburgh. Despite encountering some traffic along the way, we arrived with plenty of time before our 9:15 p.m. departure. The trip started on a relaxing note in the Delta Sky Club, where we enjoyed refreshments and unwound before boarding. Soon we were settled into our seats and ready for the journey across the Atlantic. The flight was smooth and comfortable, making the overnight trip pass quickly. . When we arrived in Edinburgh, customs was crowded but well organized, and the line moved steadily. Once we cleared customs, our Tauck driver was waiting to greet us. Our welcome to Scotland included pouring rain and temperatures in the 50s—quite a change from home! The drive into the city offered our first glimpse of Edinburgh’s beautiful stone buildings and historic c...
Read more

June 12, 2026

Image
 June 12, 2026 – Stirling Castle and a Scottish Welcome Good morning, Edinburgh! Steve and Jeff went out exploring early this morning while Susie and I stayed back to get ready for the day. During their walk, they visited St. Mary’s Cathedral. Construction took five years and was completed in 1885 at a cost of £110,000, which would be roughly equivalent to several million dollars today. One interesting fact we learned is that no building in Edinburgh is permitted to be taller than the Castle, helping preserve the city’s historic skyline. At 12:45, we met the other 20 travelers on our Tauck tour in the hotel lobby. The group seems wonderful, with most people around our age, along with a few who are younger and a few who are older. Our first excursion was to Stirling Castle, one of Scotland’s most important historic sites. It was a little over a hour’s ride from Edinburgh to Stirling Castle, which sits atop a volcanic crag formed by an ancient dormant volcano, giving it commanding vi...
Read more

June 13, 2026

Image
  Saturday, June 13, 2026 – Edinburgh, Scotland We had a leisurely breakfast at 7:00 a.m. because it was wheels up at 8:00 for a full day of sightseeing of Edinburgh. Our first stop was a private tour of Palace of Holyroodhouse. The palace is magnificent and steeped in centuries of history. It serves as the official Scottish residence of King Charles III. Since the King is not currently in residence, we were fortunate to be allowed to tour his home. He is expected to arrive later this month for Royal Week. No photographs were permitted inside the palace. Tauk gave us a souvenir tour book so I have included some pictures.  The dining room was set for fourteen guests with beautiful green china designed to complement the wall color. We walked through the actual sitting room where members of the Royal Family receive guests before dinner. The room was enormous—approximately 50 by 30 feet—and the baby grand piano looked tiny in the corner. We also visited the Great Gallery, wh...
Read more