We left Tuscany last Saturday morning at 7:00 am; we were all saddened about leaving Montestigliano but were looking forward to exploring Puglia. For most of us, it would be for the first time. When planning the trip, it seemed that Puglia and Tuscany were not that far apart, but Google told us that it would be a near eight hour drive—and in the end with gas, coffee, and snack breaks, the journey lasted more than 10 hours.

Arriving in Ceglie Messapica, the small Puglia town in which our rental was to be found, and as the GPS led us onto increasingly more narrow & ill paved roads, we all began to worry just a little bit about where we might find ourselves or even if we might be lost. Thankfully, Stefano, our host, had written to say he would be waiting for us, and as we passed through the open gate, there he was standing in front of our little Trullo compound.

Trulloinvilla is much smaller than Montestigliano with five “bedrooms” and two baths spread between two apartments, but it incorporates several ”trulli” giving us the Puglia experience we were looking for. None of the bedrooms are extremely commodious, and I, for one, was worried about just two bathrooms, but everyone has gotten into the “camp” spirit. The pool is beautiful, and Steve has been brave enough to swim in it a couple of times despite its not being heated, but all of us have enjoyed lounging poolside and absorbing the warmth of the sun. Then there is always the napping option.

After our long day on the road on Saturday, and as Sunday dawned bright & sunny, we decided to spend the day around the pool. Stefano and his father, a retired chef ,had offered to cook a typical Puglian meal for us that evening. The experience proved delightful. Stefano acted as the majordomo, and we learned a lot about their family, Puglia and the food and culture of southern Italy. It was a delightful experience and a great introduction to Puglia.