20240917 – Lecce, Ostuni, Il Frantolio, Monopoli: I am writing this the next morning since I was falling asleep at the keyboard last night. Up at 7:00, breakfast, bags out of room, met in lobby 9:15 for walk to bus. Long day ending in Monopoli at 6:00.
During the day we passed by groves of Centennial Olive Trees, reputed to be 1,000 years old. Gnarled with huge trunks. Beautiful. Some oil is made just from these trees from olives at the top where they get more Sun.
Went to Ostuni for walk on and in between the old city walls. It was raining. Group had its various gear protected as best they could. I just used my small camera and had big stuff zipped up in camera bag. This is a “white city” with its building whitewashed at least yearly. So, we persevered trudging through the rain while taking images.
By the time we got back to the main square, we scurried to find tables under big umbrellas for lunch. And, while, eating, the rain intensified. But, when we were done, the Sun came out! Could actually take some images without getting drenched.
Went to olive oil factory, Il Frantolio. Lucia and the head of the factory took us through the process of turning olives into olive oil. Organic olive oil from 7,000 trees, olives hand-picked. There is a maximum of 12 hours to get pressed before olives start to ferment. Lowest acidity best. There are two ways to extract the oil. One is modern version of the old crushing wheels, then paste put on round sheets, stacked, and pressed. Finally, centrifuge used to extract olive stones and to separate the oil from water. Second type of production more modern. Stainless steel machines. Some oil left with the stones. Some not. And there is flavored oil. Flavored olive oil fruit crushed with olives.
We went into a tasting room and six oils were described and we tasted them in order to see the difference. Went into their store where there was not only a huge variety of oils, but also cosmetics. And beer made from the olive tree leaves.
Then it was a drive to Monopoli. Walked up to main square for our hotel, Palazzo Indelli. I am in room 115 with view of the back of the cathedral from my window. About 7:00, some of us walked around the city with Kathy. Saw colored round sheets hanging over the street…recycled from how they press olive oil. Met rest of group back at hotel and walked to a restaurant for pizza dinner. Back to the square and gelato. Up to my room where I fell asleep over the computer. Showered, shaved, washed clothes, and it was midnight!
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