Coast to coast!

Monday morning I took my rental car and started the adventure driving across Italy! It cost a little more to drive across rather then taking a train, but I really wanted to "see" Italy. To stop in old towns and explore. I wish I had left more time, like maybe spending the night part way, but the whole drive from coast to coast was less then 3 hours! I didn't get out of Mola till about 10 am, because if you remember, I was on the 3rd floor, with ceilings about 12 feet high. So going up and down the stairs with stuff, was no small feat. But I found a parking space about 3 blocks away, which was way better than the normal mile away. So by the time I got the car loaded and the airbnb cleaned up, it was 10 am before I left.

I completely loved my visit here in Mola. I was here just long enough to get to know people, connect with a church, begin feeling the way of life. Just long enough to make myself dream of living here 1-2 months a year. Maybe I could start bringing people with me, grandchildren that could learn the language while young. I could see myself actually learning Italian even at my age!

So I packed my little car and started my adventure.

My first stop was a town called Turi. Not too far from Mola. Just another typical old town in Italy. I walked around and ate an absolute amazing pastry. It was a very soft bun full of a soft yellow custard. Only slightly sweet. Melt in your mouth goodness!

They do have nice freeways here in Italy, but I’m picking little tiny towns so that I can actually see the countryside, and that means skipping the highways. While driving the sights were incredible. As you’re driving through this countryside you see very old buildings, lots of olive trees, and vineyards. Lots and lots of vineyard!!!!

Can you see the grapes hanging in the picture! They are so full!

On the olive trees you can tell which are young trees an old trees by the size of the trunk some of these trees look like they’re about 1000 years old which literally they can be since olive trees will live to be a 1000. There were also orchards of peach and pomegranate trees.

The next town I went to was called Alberobello. Unlike most of Italy that is full of multi-family homes, these homes are single family homes with cone shaped roofs made of flat rocks. They are all whitewashed, very little, and gives the town a charm. They have all sorts of shops, and it looks like the family live in the back. One shop I went into at lunch time, the family was in a side room with a dining room table filling the whole room, eating their pasta with red sauce.

I visited the church here. All white inside too!

In the shops they sold beautiful handmade items. Weaved fabric, blankets and tea towels.