20240912 – Trani, Gravina, Matera: Got up at 7:00, breakfast at 7:30, bags in lobby at 9:00 and away we go in the van. Drove to the coastal city of Trani and got there about 10:30. Spent a few hours walking along the big curved harbour, seeing some the catch of the morning on small tables from individual fishermen, looking at the fleet of really well-used (decrepit) small boats. Then through the municipal garden and up on a ramp for a view over the harbour. Went back along the harbour and found nice place for lunch and then gelato. Continued our walk through some narrow streets. Met up with all the group at 1:30 to walk back to the van.
Onto Gravina, with its Roman bridge. Lots of walking from van way down to the bridge. Then up for a vantage point for images, then down to the bridge and across it. Up again on the other side to get vantage point. Took lots of images. Then up to where the van was parked. Alan and I rested a couple of times on the final hill climb to the van.
Headed to Matera, a city on a huge ravine. Lots of stone for carving spaces into and using for building. Van had to park a good Distance from hotel. We took a smaller van to hotel. Tight squeeze with our stuff on our laps.
Arrived at the Cenobio Hotel & Spa. It’s built into and on the stone. Left our gear on the street and walked up several flights of stone steps to the reception area. My guess it is the equivalent of at least four or five flights of stairs. (Health app on iPhone says 12 flights of stairs from morning until after supper.) My room (#6) is up another set of stairs. Hotel staff lugged our suitcases and camera bags up to our rooms.
Some of the group went on a hike at 6:00 into the ravine and out of it. I stayed at the hotel and downloaded images. Frankly, I was too tired to go. At 7:45, our guide Lucia, met the four of us who had not gone on the hike and we walked all the way down to the street and then downhill a bit to the restaurant, Osteria Al Casale, for a lovely set dinner. Many courses. All good.
Then back uphill to the hotel. Up those many flights to our rooms. So, day was marked on my phone as 12 flights of stairs, over four miles. Time for shower, shave, bed. Will meet at 7:30 tomorrow for breakfast.
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