Masseria Pictures

Cats sleeping on horse carriage

Front of Masseria

Cats

Masseria

Old Servants Quarters with Lookout Tower

Masseria Sign

Servants Quarters

Inside Cave where they produced olive oil in the 9th century

This is fireplace

This is an old olive oil press (wheel) to smash and squeeze the oil

These are wells in the floor to store the olive oil so it is kept at the right temperature

Sleeping quarters in cave for servants

Old Olive Tree

Another old olive tree

And Another Old Olive Tree

St. Stefano Castle at Beach

Caper Bush growing from rocks at the beach.

(I never knew where capers came from....)

A lot of cactus bushes in this area of Italy.

Figs

A view of Monopoli from the Beach

Secluded Beach

Poppies Everywhere near Beach

View of Castle on the Beach Road... sandy beach to the right

Wild Oregano -- smelled really nice.

I'm Back......

Hi.  Sorry for the little break there....I am down in the lobby so I can have Internet....

The last couple of days we taught in the morning and took little side trips with one of the teachers.
She drove us to a couple of the beaches in Monopoli.  The beaches are small compared to our
beaches on the east coast, but very nice.  Usually sandy beach in the middle area with rocks 
surrounding.  Sometimes a castle at the beach and lots of flowers and cacti...

Speaking of singular and plural....I learned today that when you order a panini (sandwich), we Americans
say I will have 1 panini....which is incorrect.....Panini is plural.  So, if you order 1 panini sandwich in the
future, you will know to say, "I would like une (1) panino or two (2) panini, and so on.....sorry, just
a little aside there.

The next day (yesterday), we took a ride to the outskirts of town to see a masseria, which is an old...
really old....farm that usually produced olive oil in the past....I want to say that the teacher said that these
are places from the 9th century, but I'm not quite sure I heard her right.  Anyway, these have now been
bought and restored and turned into restaurants or B&Bs.   

Above are some pictures of the beaches and the masserias that we visited.

Interruption in Blog -- Sorry....

Sorry for no Posts recently....we lost our Internet at the hotel and the only place we can get it is in
the Lobby.  

We are heading out for a concert this evening, but when I get back I will try to come down and post
some pictures.  I have taken some nice photos in the last two days...

Talk to you soon.......

More Photos.....

Beautiful Flowers in Front of House/Flat

Old Church

Doors to the Classico School where we teach.  It is an Old Nunnery

Porto

Beach...take a good look, Men in Speedos are still in style here!

Caffe Napoli....our meeting place a lot of days

Beautiful Flowers

Sorry this is sideways...neat walkway/street

This was in an archway in a little street/walkway

                                                     Students and Teacher in Courtyard of School

Beach

Monday, May 27, 2013 -- Happy Memorial Day!!!

Hi -- Happy Memorial Day to everyone back home!

Last night (Sunday evening) Kellie and I went down to the Piazza (the town square, one of them) and the place was booming!  People really live the old way of life and very simple.  All the people start coming out at around 7-8 in the evening on Sunday to the square....kids, parents, teenagers, grandparents, babies, dogs....all to socialize and eat.  It is a really nice atmosphere.  It reminds me kind of like in a small town

when there is a church festival or something in the town that draws everyone out and you see everyone you know in once place and all you do is talk to one person after the next.....that is what it is like here in the evening on Sundays....now, I don't know if they do it any other nights or not,  but Sunday seems to be the big day.

I think I mentioned before that Everything.....and I mean Everything.....closes between about 1 p.m and doesn't open back up until maybe 6 or 7-ish, and this happens every day.  School is over by 1:00 and people go home to cook lunch and prepare for dinner later, which is never before 8 p.m.    They cook, they relax and visit with their family during this time.   All the shops and restaurants are closed, too, so everyone is home during this time period.   Kids play outside in the church yard....sometimes until late.   One week night we went for a walk late at night around 11ish and the kids were still playing in the church yard.  

No rigid time schedules here at all....usually whenever the shop owner gets there, the store opens...no problems and no worries.

Today, Monday, they are having their election for Mayor of the town...it is today and tomorrow....one of the teachers is running for mayor, so if he wins we heard there is going to be a big party!!  Two out of the three schools were closed.  The school we went to the kids were upset that they didn't get off because there school is not used for voting, so the teachers let them take us all around the town all morning.  

Above are some pictures from today...I hope you enjoy them!

Photos in Ostuni