Stumbling in Lecce

The old Lecce is a very beautiful city. The buildings are made of a unique limestone called pietra Luccese and it is predominantly built in  baroque style.

(When I went looking for the laundrette outside the walls Lecce became more average).

There are pretty alley ways wending between the tall buildings. Cool and funky bar’s music rhythmically announces its theme such as the Cuban rum bar and the Irish bar. Hundreds of people stroll through the shopping areas having their passieggiata in the evening cool. There seems to be a lot of English people judging from the accents around me. The shops in this old part of town are very beautiful and expensive, (a simply gorgeous silk dress for 800 euro!), or they are local crafts people selling their ceramics and paintings, hand made bells and paintings.

People drive Maseratis and the police motorbikes are BMWs. There is money in Lecce.

And then, just when you think you are in heaven you stumble upon the Roman amphitheater in the centre of the old town. I had not done my homework and this was not anticipated. What a lovely surprise.

Rustico is the take out food of choice with its filling of hot mozzarella and tomato sauce, yum. And washed down with a Peroni.

On the way back to my rooms I also stumbled upon a religious parade in the streets with crosses and nuns, priests and statues, a brass band and lots and lots of locals. It was a wonderful cultural reminder as to where I was.

And speaking of stumbling, somewhere along via O.Quarta I stumbled on the cobbles and wrenched little delicate bits in my foot and put myself out of action for the whole next day. Where I may have gone to Otranto or Gallipoli, I was forced to read and rest and slather arnica liberally on my foot. I surrendered. Busy will come again.

I was so rested I wrote a poem called ‘Stumbling’ about unrequited love.