Torre a Mare

Last night, after eating a delicious campervan chicken stir fry at 9 o'clock John walked along the beach, to watch a fisherman reel his beach launched longline in. He had been talking to him earlier and arranged to go back and view his catch. Unfortunately nothing for 3 hours work!

The line that could be let out with sail mounted on a raft could be let out for several miles.

We both saw the sunrise this morning, then back to bed for some much needed sleep. The mosquitoes had been biting all night.

This morning, the small fishing boats returned about ten o' clock, selling their catch. Octopus, at ten euros a piece, and they had plenty of local custom for them. Walking on the beach, the warmth from the already heated sand, could be felt through the soles of our shoes, and an abundance of wild flowers and grasses swayed in the breeze. Late morning, we bade farewell to the Austrian couple, and set off, retracing our steps back along the road towards Bari. The roads were fairly quiet, as it was Sunday, but we still managed to encounter a couple of close calls. Marge travels in the slower, inside lane, how difficult is it to overtake in the outside, faster lane? No, we need your lane as well! We can't help agreeing with our Dutch friend from yesterday, who said, 'the Italians should not be allowed near anything, with a steering wheel, or handle bars!'.

Mid afternoon, we arrived at tonight's stop, alongside the sea at Torre a Mare.

The waters edge is literally a few metres away. To the left we can see the cruise port of Bari.

Today in Italy, it is Republic Day, so the town is very busy around the harbour area.

We joined in, by treating ourselves to a gelato, one coffee, one mint, and they were both excellent.

We were shocked and saddened, but not suprised, to see a large amount of rubbish, had been dumped into the sea water of the harbour.

Everywhere we travel here, we encounter rubbish, and just along from our position, an old door and bath have been left by the communal bin. This evening, the roads are busy, with the masses leaving the coast and heading for home.

Cars have been pulling in next to Marge to view the sunset. A couple, around seventy, were next to us in their small car, and we wondered if Marge was blocking their view, so made a point of saying 'buonasera' to them, and they said the same back. When they left, they sound their car horn, and gave us a cheery wave, so all good there, then.

Tomorrow, we will head north up the coast, towards a national park.