Summer, this year, seems more inviting than ever. We are (hopefully) coming out of this pandemic and headed towards greener, sunnier, pastures. People are, without a doubt, traveling and we could not be happier for them. It is well deserved for all of us. I have been especially spoiled in travel as I have been back to Italy twice since Thanksgiving. The third trip may have to wait until 2023. But I have to admit, my mind goes back constantly! Whether you are traveling physically, or simply in your thoughts, Summer 2022: Dare to dream, dream in your travels, travel your dreams.
In July of 2018, after finishing up my time at the American Academy in Rome, my travel pal, Christine, came to meet me in Rome. She was on her way to Spain for the summer and I was getting ready to head back to Boston after my 4 months in Rome. We are not necessarily “planners” when it comes to travel, but rather, “see where the wind takes us” kind of gals. After noshing on some Mozzarella di Bufala and mortadella from Roscioli, we decided to figure out where we would go next. We decided on Puglia. Because why not? With a happy belly, and a destination, not necessarily a plan, we were ready for anything.
In all honesty, when I was in Florence a few months before, a bartender suggested his hometown in Puglia, Polignano a Mare. I am a sucker for suggestions from locals. It was solidified after doing a bit of research. Seriously, Google it right now. Better yet, click here. Tell me those views are not mesmerizing. You can’t, can you? Back to the story at hand, ready for anything was exactly how we needed to be as after 15 minutes in our first class seats, our train broke down. Then, the next one got cancelled. Our glamorous exciting train ride to Bari, turned into a very, very, very long experience. But we made it. Barely.
We checked into our budget friendly hotel somewhere around 1:00 am. Luckily it was right across from the train station. Not so luckily, we had to wake the “concierge” up to let us in. Even more so without luck, the air conditioning was broken. It. Was. Sweltering. Even in the middle of the night. There was not a breeze in sight. In what seemed like days, morning finally arrived and we were certainly up and out of that hot box. We walked around Bari, got a bite, and a spritz, obviously, and made our way back to the train station to board for Polignano a Mare. Blood shot eyes, minor heat stroke, and all.
As we approached our final destination, the views of the Adriatic were stunning. The father of the owner of the AirBNB picked us up at the train station and the three of us, in broken English, made our way to our cute little loft that was just outside the center of town. It was perfect, complete with a tiny roof deck. After quickly settling into our new digs, we were off to wander through the beautiful white streets that you can, and want to, get lost in. Charming does not even begin to describe this treasure of a destination.
Polignano a Mare is a seaside town on Italy’s southern Adriatic coast. It boasts a rugged coastline of limestone cliffs which draw cliff divers not only locally, but worldwide. We spent our first day laying as the locals do on Lama Monachile. This tiny spit of beach is flanked by two cliffs from which children and adults from all ages jump into the gorgeous blue waters. Although quite rocky, it was a perfect way to adjust to our new surroundings. The water temperature was pefect, the breeze invited heavenly naps after a long day of travel, and the sounds were intoxifying.
Undoubtedly, the salty air from the Adriatic can stir up quite a hunger. Seafood is obviously a main focus here. Christine and I did not object to this one bit. Our first meal there was a hearty lunch. One of those three hour lunches that did not quit. Il Bastione, is a restaurant located in a very fancy hotel which over looks Lama Monachile. The food was unreal to say the least. Course after course after course of hand picked fish, oysters, pasta, and of course vino. I do believe to this day, it was one of the best meals I have ever had.
Another place we stumbled upon was a cute little bar/restaraunt named Cactus. It had a warm, inviting vibe to it that beckoned us to have a snack and naturally, vino. Its hip yet unpretentious vibe was refreshing. Their tag line: Cactus – Life Art Bio Drink Book pretty much sums them up. Their menu was inventive and focused utilizing fresh ingredients.
Our last morning, we begrudgingly packed up our belongings to continue our adventure. More fun was to be had. However, we felt trapped. Like we couldn’t leave Polignano a Mare. Ok, so we literally were trapped in the staircase between the door to the apartment and the door leading out to the street. The key simply would not work. Never a dull moment with these two. Luckily, the lovely man who picked us up at the train station came back to save us from the heat of the staircase. Full circle. Nevertheless, I believe that was a sign. I need to return. And I will.
While my plans for traveling this summer will be local, my mind can take me back to these places whenever I want. That is the beauty, the gift of travel. Once you have been to a place you can return upon demand. If you are lucky enough to travel, do so with gusto. If your plans are keeping your closer to home, I implore you: Dare to dream, dream in your travels, travel your dreams.
