I have fallen for Puglia. Big time. Perhaps because most people don’t even know where it is, perhaps because of its lushness, perhaps its food, perhaps its people. I want to go back – soon, this summer, tomorrow.
Puglia, FYI, is the heel of Italy. It’s not easy to get to but harder to leave. Puglia is also the garden of Italy with olives as its key product. The people of Puglia say their region has three seas: the Adriatic Sea, the Ionian Sea and the olive sea. I like that and they’re not wrong.
There are sixty million olive trees in Puglia, one for every Italian, and I think I saw at least a million of them. Some are a thousand years old! I love olives. I love olive oil. I love Puglia.
We were there because Mr Carmichael did a very good job at his job in 2013 and this was his reward. I got to tag along. I’m a good tagger-alonger, always up for an opportunity to accompany almost anybody.
Dropped in the most exquisite Borgo Egnazian accommodation we were fed, watered, wined and entertained for five days. I got to make pasta and more importantly got to eat it too.
I am now on a diet. Well, I will be on Monday once I’ve cooked and eaten all the pasta I brought home. I discovered that not all Chardonnay is ghastly. Pulian Chardonnay is fantastico. I made sure I drank lots of it and took photos of the labels for restocking purposes.
Obviously I tried the rose and the reds as well. It would have been churlish not to.
I had this with the rose.
And this just before a wobbly bike ride back to the hotel and a well deserved nap.
I visited Ostuni (a fortified white town with a Baroque cathedral) where I seem to have taken 37 photos of doors.
Somebody stop me!
In Ostuni, I devoured my second gelato in two days (arrrgh). The café had a bordelloish quality to its decoration, which I appreciated (almost as much as the ice cream).
And then we moved here for our last night. British Airways doesn’t think anyone wants to fly to/from Puglia on a Sunday and for that I thank them.
Here, Teo opened the restaurant at lunch time just for us (even though it wasn’t May yet) and we slept under blankets crocheted by an 85 year old woman with extreamly nimble fingers.
The Masseria Ceravolo is a gem and a heartfelt recommendation for when you are no longer on the company buck.
I love Puglia and shall return sooner rather than later. Grazie mille, Puglia.
being mrscarmichael 
You make lotus eating an art form, Mrs C. Lovely.
I believe I have never had such a compliment. Thank you, Tish.
Love your blog and want to buy one of those blankets…how?
yes lets do it together and get cheaper postage – I was rushed out pre purchase.
That pasta dish photo literally made my mouth water, the deliciousness of it! And the doors of Ostuni obviously merit all the attention you gave them and then some. It’s a tough life, Mrs. C. but somebody’s got to do it, and you are obviously the somebody for the job.
🙂
I agree. That plate of food was the best I had all week – and that’s saying something.
I really need to revisit once i’ve lost a stone (or more).
Looks divine! x
t’was. I have a full slide show presentation (to include the remaining 34 Ostuni doors) prepared for your delectation.
Beautiful. Gorgeous. Fabulous. When you go back, I WILL stow away in your luggage.
Oh please do – sooner rather than later.
If Mr C is going to earn treats like this, he is definitely worth keeping. It’s all lovely – the doors, the pasta, the accommodation. I want to go!
Throughly recommend and yes, I need to keep the pressure on for next year.
This is true. Mr C has a standard to uphold now.
You can NEVER have enough photos of doors Mrs C. And I am a veteran tagger-alonger too, though next week it is only to London 😦
I think I may prefer Puglia xx
Nothing wrong with London, I say.
I am all gypsy and will tag-along any where Mrs c, especially places I have never even heard of. Puglia? sounds like a very small dog with a pushed in nose, maybe getting too close to some of those gorgeous doors…
oh so much more than that! More on dogs soon (as Lyle destroys my home).
Oh-Oh…
What a beautiful, beautiful series ! The Octopus photo had my mouth watering. It was a marvelous macro and I could almost smell it! Wonderful!
so yummy – I’m trying to get back there asap.
You’re certainly trulli, madly smitten Mrs C! I did enjoy my trip to Puglia last year, but Basilicata (next door on the heel) did it for me even more…. But I’ll happily tag along to Puglia once more:)
Just trying to convince Mr C (or forget about him entirely).
😀 😀
Ooh, now I can cross Italy off the list of “Wouldn’t it be lovely to go to…” Vicariously travelling the world through your posts, The networks are missing out not having you as their travel correspondent. 🙂
I agree, Michelle.
What an absolutely divine place! No wonder you want to live there (I do as well!) 😀
Just did a Puglian recipe for lunch yesterday – so yum. I need to see so much more of Italy.
Wow! mouthwatering food and very toothsome prose. Plus, I loved the doors. See, I’m a real fan. 🙂
All this loving! Actually baked a pasta dish from the recipe book I was given there yesterday – so so yum I have to say.
A. That’s a $&@! load of olive trees, and
B. Janus is the roman god of transitions, endings and time and therefore doors, make of that what you will…
I’m making of that what I will Matthew!@£$%