That's why we love to stay in accommodations with a kitchen - be that a hostel, an Airbnb, or hotel-apartment. If it all seemed like a folly, then she was willing to take the risk. She moved to a house that she had only spent a week in the year before. She knew no one and yet she had surety in her resolve. She wanted to feel fully present in feeling unsafe and comfortable with the not knowing.

Finding Myself in Puglia: A Journey of Self-Discovery Under Finding Myself in Puglia: A Journey of Self-Discovery Under

I heard this name Puglia for the first time.I didn’t even know that such place exists in Italy.This guide proved to a piece of gem for me as it help me to choose my next travel destination. It wasn't until we began searching elsewhere in the region, in tiny towns we'd never heard of - tiny towns many Italians had never heard of -that we discovered exactly how far our money could go. This unspoilt stretch of coastline runs from the very south of Puglia, in Leuca, and up and beyond Gallipoli. I’ll admit, when we finally parked up (parking not always being the easiest in Puglia) I was a bit dubious about Locorotondo, as the modern part of the town isn’t anything special. Take the short walk up the hill through to the old town, and you’ll be transported to a magical maze of white streets, decorated with hanging flower baskets and outside restaurant tables. This means long siestas,shops opening early in the morning and late afternoon (but not in between) and a true sense that however much of a rush you may be in, it really makes very little difference to those that live here.We had no intention of stopping here during my first road trip in Puglia last November, but I was in desperate need of a toilet break. On the return to the city, we stopped at the Laghetto Cave di Bauxite, where bright red soil, which reminded me of the red-centre in Australia, surrounded the human-made lake, now home to turtles and where birds come to drink. Once a quarry, but then abandoned, it’s new purposes as a nature park is far more appealing. If you love hiking and nature on your holidays, then be sure to include Gargano on your Puglia plans. You can hike or cycle through the remains of the historic Umbra Forest, or hit up the Tremiti Islandsin the marine reserve to admire the caves. It looks a spectacular slice of nature, and I’m looking forward to returning to Puglia and finally making it here. An old watermill as seen from above Olga makes traditional Puglia pasta inside a watermill Pasta making in an old windmill (and all the food!) Factor in all the grammatical and punctuation errors and typos (including the one in the first sentence of the first chapter... facepalm) and you've got yourself one self-indulgent "book" that was obviously never edited. I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't make it past a 1st or 2nd draft. This vast national park, over 120,000 hectares, is another place I simply haven’t had time yet to visit on my three trips to Puglia.

Things To Do in Puglia: Places to Visit, Attractions 20 Best Things To Do in Puglia: Places to Visit, Attractions

The Trulli part of the town is surrounded by a more modern, contemporary setting of typical shops and restaurants. In the historic centre, you can see a split between the more touristed side, where little shops and restaurants live in most the Trulli, and across where they are more residential. The town used to be completely walled off, and the large squares, little restaurants and spotless setting make this an ideal lunch stop if nothing else. While here be sure to sample Capocollo, one of the best cured meats in Italy. In fact, most of Puglia’s most celebrated cured offerings come from Martina Franca. City centre cooling down in Otranto Otranto If you’re in the planning stages of your Puglia holiday, then you should know that the southern region of Italy - it’s the ‘heel of the boot’ if you look at the map - is perfect for a week, or even better if done in two. Less than 50km from Lecce lies the town of Casarano. Founded in the 1st century BC, Casarano comprises a maze of atmospheric streets and lanes lined by baroque palaces, with their hidden courtyards, and ancient churches that house beautiful religious artwork. The Church of Santa Maria della Croce, one of Puglia’s oldest, houses amazing mosaics and frescoes. Nardò Olga and Massimo guided us through how to cut and roll the pasta to make the ear shapes most known in the region, and while I’ll undoubtedly win no awards for my contributions to pasta making, the delicious lunch they served us afterwards was thankfully not made by me!Embracing the natural beauty of this inland valley is the name of the game here; whether through hiking, or taking a bike with Puglia cycling tours. Book Title: Finding Myself in Puglia: a Journey of Self-Discovery under the Warm Southern Italian Sun

Laine B. Brown (Author of Finding Myself in Puglia) - Goodreads

What I didn't like: the personality of the author which is reflected in the prose, the constant whining and complaining, the fear of everything and the constant negative notes because the Italians don't share that culture of fear, the inability to adapt to a different culture and way of doing things and perhaps above all the incredible percentage of the book which is dedicated to Laine B Brown and not to Puglia, to the experience of being an expat, to the excitement of a new adventure, to the poetics of Italy. Instead, we have to learn about her past emotional dramas, her pets and much more. No, Laine B Brown is not that interesting so I get excited by reading about these personal aspects. As a visitor, this dazzling region of Italy could keep you entertained for weeks, if not months, with a seemingly never-ending list of things to do in Puglia. Laine got across how being on your own and enjoying your own company is the bottom line of finding yourself and being content with that is more than acceptable, although having a ‘Basil’ around (her pet dog) makes life easier and more pleasurable.In addition to its 16th century castle and defensive walls, the seafront also features a lovely sandy beach, perfect for a dip after a wander around the town. One restaurant I can recommend for lunch or dinner is il Guazetto in the old town. If you plan to stay in this area, consider Masseria Torrepietra, with its beautiful rooms and outdoor pool. Search for hotels in Monopoli. The charming fishing harbour in Monopoli Amazing blog. Very well explained. The pictures look scintillating, especially that of the white city. Thanks for sharing. Take your inner self on a journey. Spot the references to challenges in your own life. Highly recommended.' The capital of the province of Lecce, the city of Lecce is often called the ‘Florence of the South’ due to the abundance of Baroque architecture in its historic centre. In my book, Lecce is the most beautiful city in Puglia and an absolute must-visit! The Duomo boasts the tallest tower in Puglia. The amphitheatre

in Puglia | CN Traveller The best places to visit in Puglia | CN Traveller

Like any transformation, it feels like leaving behind my old self and yet my new self and new life has yet to form fully; I don't have a map for this, just my instincts” These are usually called ‘ lidos’ and it means that those of us that make do with a oversized sarong and artfully crafted piles of sand have no choice but to bed down together along narrow slithers of sand that provide 'public access to the sea'. Yeah we know this sounds ridiculous; we were in Italy after all. However, during our first visit, having previously only spent time in Rome, Venice and Milan, we weren't prepared for just how Italian Puglia would feel. Day 2-6: Central Puglia (4 nights) which includes the Itria Valley and the Adriatic coast. Suggested base: Alberobello or Martina Franca. A short drive southwest of Lecce lies Nardò, an absolutely charming town. It was an important town in the Byzantine Empire until the 15th century. These days, it’s a quiet place but with a wealth of stunning Baroque architecture! Piazza Salandra in NardoNot long after booking our flights, we began the arduous task of weighing up various accommodation options - unfortunately, that search began in Polignano a Mare. Very nicely written..and much more refreshing than other expat books..I tend to keep reading them voraciously, looking for a different expression, experience.