Today we packed our bags and left Monopoli – it’s been a great week. While we had intended our week in Monopoli to be spent chilling out and not doing much, we actually did a lot and were quite busy. We had an early start, leaving the apartment at about 7am so we could haul our ever-heavier packs to the station to catch the 7:45am express to Bari, where we would then connect with a fast train to Rome. ...
Today is our last day in Monopoli. We leave tomorrow very early to catch a train to Bari, and then another from Bari up to Rome. The weather is fantastic today—the sun is out, the wind has dropped, and the sea looks lovely. The kids and I took a walk down the coast to check out Cala Diavolo (Devil Cove), named because of the two coves next to each other that resemble the shape of devil horns on the coastline. ...
Today was about more exploring and trying new things. We had a lovely, slow morning—I think we all needed it—and we headed out just before 10 a.m. Walking past the big cathedral, we were just in time to see more of the local festa, with the procession of three more statues through the street, followed by a marching band and many locals. Once the procession had passed, we ventured into the cathedral for a look. It was massive—lots of white and brown marble, frescoes, paintings, and relics. ...
Today we drive! We hired a car from a local rental company (GoRent) and drove to Matera for a day trip. Driving in Italy is exciting! The cities and towns are the hard part. Once you’re on the Autostrada, it’s plain sailing. The traffic signs are confusing. When it seems to say 50 km/h and you do this, others feel like they are passing you at warp speed. 🤌 Not keen on getting a speeding fine, I follow what the speed signs and the car GPS tell me—until it feels dangerous, and then I speed up to “local traffic speed” for a bit to avoid accidents. ...
Today we took a bus from Monopoli to Alberobello—home of the beautiful UNESCO Trulli stone houses. After about an hour on the bus, driving through the Puglian countryside, we arrived in Alberobello. Now to find the Trulli. Up this street, down that—we wound our way from the bus stop, which is on the outskirts of town, toward the centre. It’s here we found the amazing Trulli. Memories came flooding back from our previous visit in 2015, when we stayed in town in Trulli for a few days. ...
Today was all about chilling out, unwinding, and recharging. It was a wonderfully warm day in Monopoli—perfect for exploring a little and then hitting the beach. We grabbed lunch at the other café at the end of our street—this one focused mainly on fried calamari and octopus paninis (what could be better?). We ordered some calamari, fries, a few octopus paninis, and some drinks. An amazing lunch. By the afternoon, a breeze had come up. Rain is expected tomorrow. We still wanted some beach time, however, and didn’t let the breeze stop us—although it did change the previously mirror-like sea into a bit more of a choppy affair. ...
After a quick overnight stay in Bari, we packed up our bags and walked to the train station. Bari Centrale was about a 2 km walk, giving us a brief look at other areas of the city as we made our way through the streets. It was a quick 45-minute train ride to Monopoli. The train left Bari and followed the coastline, providing some lovely views of both the water and the almost endless fields of vines and olive trees—something the region is known for. ...
Today we pack our bags and head back to Italy 🇮🇹. Croatia 🇭🇷 has been absolutely amazing—we’ve loved it and wish we had more time here. But all good things come to an end, and we must move on. We have a day sailing out of Dubrovnik, which will get us in at around 7 p.m. this evening to Bari, where we will check into our next Airbnb apartment. The day sailing will be an interesting change—more like a cruise. The ship seems to be very well appointed, with lots of options for the kids to keep themselves entertained and amused. ...
Today we had a slower morning with no real rush to be anywhere. We headed out mid-morning for a coffee and then to the cable car on the back side of Dubrovnik’s old town. The cable car was going to be a challenge—some of us are not fond of heights. We elected to get one adult and one child return ticket, but for the other adult and child we opted for one-way tickets, allowing a walk-back option if the cable car was too much. ...
Today was a big day out in Dubrovnik old town. We headed out early to get ahead of the crowds—and this paid off. Compared to last night in the old town, this morning it was quiet and peaceful. We grabbed a coffee and then walked the walls. We climbed the steep and seemingly endless stairs to get up onto the walls. Once up there, the view was amazing, providing vistas of the old town, the rugged coastline, and the surrounding areas. ...