Today was so beautiful. The weather was perfect, no rain, cool breeze, and just great! We started the day out by checking into our hotels, eating breakfast at the hotel, and doing a walking tour of the historical section of Bari.
The tour guide took us to see several churches, through the historic streets where people still live and were starting their days and well it was just nice. There are ladies that still make homemade pasta and we got to see them starting to set up. We went inside both of the churches Bari is really known for, the Cathedral of San Nicola which was very simple on the inside due to the baroque decorations being removed. Though the lower portion still had quite a lot of baroque influence. And the Basilica di San Nicola which was quite stunning. I wandered around taking pictures of both while most of the group sat and listened to the guide. I enjoyed my visit more I bet :) I could still hear her..
After our city tour, we grabbed a bite at a local cafe. I ordered a simple ham and cheese sandwich and we just sat and enjoyed not being on our feet. After lunch, we wandered over to the waterline to meet up with our group. The water was so pretty and blue - the coastlines here are really quite pretty.
Once with our group, we rode a couple of hours to Lecce where we got another walking tour. Our tour guide for this one was German and you could tell - she was no non-sense and did not wait on you no matter what. She walked so fast I missed many pictures, but at the same time she showed us things not on typical tours, so give and take. I liked her explanation of things and the fact she didn't ramble on every second.
She took us into a small 230-person theater that most people don't get to see.
She also took us into a small church off of the courtyard from Palazzo Vescovile and Duomo that most people probably don't get to see either. It was really pretty and they had some unique sculptures that I loved. There was a myth that if you rubbed the belly of the angel it brought you good luck. I struggle with some of the beliefs and myths in the cathedrals; it feels much like idolatry to me. I mean they are gorgeous buildings and the statuary is out of this world, but the idea of Saints and rubbing statues doesn't sit with me. God said put no one before him - that he is the way the truth and the life. So I struggle with and worry about the millions who believe in this manner.
After this, we went to see the Palazzo Vescovile and Duomo church. It was really quite beautiful on the inside and they were decorating for a wedding with flowers which made it smell so nice.
We then meandered on to the Roman Amphitheater that they have excavated and to additional city areas. What was interesting about the amphitheater is that they have resumed using it for shows :) That is so cool to me! It really was quite a nice walk but by the end, I was ready to sit. They took us to a cafe and we tried a cake-type thing and a coffee drink with ice and almond milk. The cake thing was delicious, and the coffee thing was horrific, lol.
We then went back to the bus for the 2-hour drive to our hotel for the next 2 nights.
We walked about 5 miles today and we are all tired + Mama's back is trying to spasm. Y'all pray for healing and for her back to improve. She had a good day today and I want her to enjoy the rest of the trip.
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