Great 7:00AM, 40 minute cab ride to BUD airport. Lots of country-side sights and industrial areas we haven’t seen yet. Driver was interested in showing us several hold-overs from the ‘56 revolution. Buildings just now being repaired. Looking at what’s left, looks more like a war than an uprising; it obviously was.
The impression of the airport is almost
modern with lots of older equipment and a few really old planes. Our plane is an Airbus which we like but the plane next
to is is a 747 stretch that must be fifty years old. I see a four propeller engine DC something that must be 80 or so.
High point of the airport time; met young business owner from Ukraine. Excellent English and to hear personal accounts of the war was sobering. He shared a cell phone video of two Iranian suicide drones being shot down near his business. His family is not in the war zones but thinks no areas are completely safe. Pray for Ukraine.
If you read my blog about Captain Flood, Wizz Air, ace pilot, you know I was concerned about the eventuality that he would be our pilot. The stewards didn’t have any idea who he was; I gave them his Twitter account address. Would like to know what think after reading.
Bari flight will take about an hour. We’ll get a car in the airport and begin our tour through Puglia.
We landed in Bari about 11:45AM and secured our rental. Had preordered a Fiat but a good looking Eurocar agent talked me into a Alfa Romeo. What the heck, everybody deserves an Italian ride in Puglia. However, it took me and two Italian guys to figure out the GPS.
We stopped in Polliagano a Mare on the
way to Monopoli and today is a Holliday. The place is postcard beautiful on the Adriatic and really busy with Holiday visitors.
We drove in what I would call NYC traffic in Monopoli to get into he old town and find a free street parking place. Got parked and followed Google map for about 25 minute walk to get to our apartment in the old city. Tired but took off to get the lay of the land and found one of the restaurants recommended by our host. Had an hour before it opened so found a quaint pub overlooking the water and enjoyed a local Rose’.
Dinner was, as almost always is in Italy, very good. We ate street side and the small lane we were on was full of Italian Halloween trick or treaters.
They looked for treats in the restaurants and shops, and got them. We’ll continue our travels and tales tomorrow. Jim
More pics
