Our ride to Alberobello took us through Putignano, the wedding dress capital of Italy, and Noci.
We left by 9 am and navigated to the edge of Conversano to find that road works had blocked our course. This is quite tricky as we have no big road map of all the towns. Justin got out his I phone to gps us back on the route.Julie and I explored a possible path and we quickly became separated.
We followed our noses along the country lanes confident we would all meet up again at Putignano, which we did.
When Julie and I arrived at the tourist office a wedding for Kekko and Katy was just about to get underway in the adjacent church. Heaps of elegantly dressed people gathered, including two in stylish kiwi cycle gear gate crashing the party. A flash VW combi van delivered the belladonna bride with cute page boys and flower girls.
We popped away for a coffee and caught up with Kay and Justin who had just arrived, then back to see the end of the wedding. All the guests had gathered outside waiting for the newly wed couple. When they appeared they were each given a white dove to release and then cages were opened and about 60 other white doves flew up and away directly in front of the couple. Pretty cool! I wonder if we could do that at Emily and Dean's wedding?
As the guests were leaving we passed another wedding car delivering a bride to the same church. Julie and I then headed off to look at some wedding dress shops but sadly they were closed.
Tricky finding our way out of Putignano but Justin's I phone came to the rescue and we were on our way to Noci. The hot cycling was saved by a lovely breeze. Couldn't find a nice lunch stop in Noci with the siesta on so had ice creams, coke and orange cake from a small cafe in the shade of the church grounds. The third bridal car drove past.
The 11 km ride to Alberobello was lovely with rural vistas of well kept farms and orchards. Arrived in serious trullie country 4.30 pm to a lovely welcome from our hosts Mimmo and Anna Maria. After showers it was off to our welcome wine tasting. Lots of laughs with Anna Maria and tasty wines with traditional nibbles.
Our traditional trullie accommodation is very cute and gnomish. Very photogenic. There is a bit of ducking but they are neat and comfortable.
Alberobello is celebrating its patron saint San Antonio so headed to the church park for the service and parade. This was followed by another superb meal of the locale cuisine of lamb and veal.
To celebrate San Antonio there was also a big concert in the piazza starting at 9.30 pm. Thousands there. Julie and I busted a few of our dance moves amidst the crowd and several pre school bambinas joined us. Great buzz around with families out enjoying the evening.
No comments:
Post a Comment