Day off

This holiday malarkey fairly takes it out of you …. Today is our free day - nothing arranged - and although several folk have gone off to Bari for the day and others to Alberobello ( which we visited on a previous trip) we’ve settled for a leisurely breakfast, a wander round the old city of Altamura, and chocolate cake and tea in a cafe attached to a monastery, as you do. Then we sat in the sun in the quiet early afternoon sun, on the stone ledge where all the old men sit in the morning - and both fell asleep. Now we’re in the hotel and the maître d has just plied us with espresso and biscuits because he thinks we look as if we need it …

Before this general collapse, we did visit two churches, the former Greek church and the Cathedral. The above grim little tableau of the expulsion from the Garden of Eden is one of many round the doorway of the Greek Chiesa di San Nicola, near the hotel. I love the tormented expression on the faces of Adam and Eve, their physical discomfiture, the stern Angel with the fiery sword. And these animals below their feet, all chucked out to be at their service.., Gosh.

Later I’ll add a more cheerful pic of the town, but I need to figure out how on the phone.