Posso socorso=emergency room

Sunday, September 08, 2013
Peschici, Puglia, Italy
Up all night with throbbing thumb, headed to town's medical center at daybreak. The young, handsome doctor(even in pain one notices these things)diagnosed a bad infection from unknown cause_forgot to mention thumb is a lovely shade of purple. Dr. Buca Daniel then consulted with Dr.Gentile(such an appropriate name meaning gentle) Course of treatment ,one page long,three different medicines,for one week. Of course, stamped twice with official seal(they love their stamps)cost of visit $20, makes you wonder about our American system, and the doctor was apologetic because there was a charge.
..went to the pharmacy,prescription filled in three minutes(at CVS they would have told me to come back later.)
We returned to our masseria and had breakfast-what a selection, homemade cakes, foccacia with different toppings,pastries,fruit,yogurt,delicious local cheeses,topped by the largest cappucino, this meal takes about two hours as I must talk to all the guests and ask the owner several questions,Francesco's replies are always lengthy going in and out of Italian and broken English.

After breakfast drove to Vieste a larger town on the coast. We had a gelato at the port and wandered through the Centro Storico, but it was a maze of steps up and down,plus being the siesta time,we decided to return another day.

At six we headed to Peschici,last night a portly owner named Rita called to us as we walked by,said she was the best cook in town at her restaurant IL Pescatore. She told us her best friends were American but they are from Canada, figure that out . Anyway we decided to see if she had bragging rights. The restaurant has a spectacular view overlooking the water,there was a sliver of a moon, and a multitude of stars. Dinner was just great(continue on if you want to increase your appetite).......first,a very large bruschetta, served on their local delicious bread,topped with the reddest tomatoes and best olive oil(this area produces most of the olive oil and the olive trees are everywhere, some hundreds of years old.) From our place we overlook hundreds of them. Then I had orchiette(their number one pasta) in a tomato sauce with eggplant-fantastic! Charles had spaghetti with Vongole(the tiniest clams),he enjoyed it and then finished mine. Ending with a Scarpetta (heel of the bread) to scoop up the sauce. No room for a secondi piatti (most ITALIANS continue eating) finale for us was espresso and homemade zeppole dusted with sugar.

We then went on our passagiata this is the stroll around town, it seems every resident young and old,with their dogs goes out walking . There is a small medieval section but it is on one level. We found a seat by the gardens and watched this wonderful parade. So strange to be the only Americans but when we got up everyone said,"Buona Notte" making us feel right at home.
Comment-the Italians have bested us with this nightly ritual, a wonderful gathering of all the locals.

 
 We returned to our place and met a terrific couple from Tulsa, (ok, I stand corrected,maybe there are four Americans here.) They are on a whirlwind tour of Italy and Croatia for a month. They gave me hope that there is more time to complete my bucket list abroad,as they are both in their seventies.However,he has an edge,he trains race car drivers which gives him the ability to easily navigate these winding roads and hairpin turns and of course,the ever present round abouts that the Europeans love(my guess is they were put there to confuse foreigners.)
So thankful for another day in this special place .....Buona Notte
 

 


 
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Comments

Nancy and Richard
2013-09-11

We're so disappointed we're only having burgers on the boat tonight after hearing your menu items.

2025-02-15

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