20240911 – Bari: I had a good night’s sleep all the way to the 8AM alarm. Met group downstairs for breakfast. Six of us left the hotel at 10 and followed nice Google Map direction toward and to Basilica of St. Nicholas, where we spent quite a bit of time. Lots of tour groups we think from cruise ship in harbor. Simple church, ornate ceiling, interesting tomb area where priests in white robes and capes were chanting a service.
For the next couple of hours we wandered through Bari Vecchia, the old part of the city. Alan had gotten rudimentary directions to find the street where the nonas hand roll fresh pasta. Went up and around the Norman Castle to find the little street where the women were. Was obvious by the number of tourists milling around. Bought some pasta, dried. Watched various of the women who made the pasta all with tourists with cameras clicking away. Bored looks, fast hands doing the rolling.
Continued through the old part of the city until about 12:30. Headed toward the waterfront and found a nice restaurant along the way. Found Mastrocicco Mordi la Puglia where I had an octopus sandwich (slices not tentacles). And to a gelato place nearby before walking down to the waterfront where we spent some time taking images of the small fishing boats, some of which were really in bad repair. Nice views of the city looking down the shore.
About 3:00, Alan, Pam, Bruce stopped for aperitif while Anthony and I returned to the hotel. Alice had gone back earlier to rest. Went up to look at the view from the rooftop garden. Back to my room for lots of water, downloading images, computer stuff.
At 6, met the group at hotel’s bar for a quick drink and meeting those I had not met before. Left hotel at 7 and followed dear old Google Maps to our restaurant Restaurante Opera Bari, where we had a very nice supper and wine. Headed back to hotel about 10 and am finishing this and downloading images before shower, shave, bed. Need to be ready to go tomorrow with all our stuff in the lobby by 9:00.
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