Ogling Ostuni - Wheelin' Round the Heel - CycleBlaze

October 20, 2024

Ogling Ostuni

Yes, another day off for the team. We started last night with a stroll thru the old town (where our hotel is) to find a restaurant. Marjory had picked one out which offered gluten-free options, so we went looking. Kind of a weird entrance down some threatening stairs, then through some caves into a wonderful small room with just one other table.

Last night's restaurant entrance.
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A wonderful meal, but I sent back the house Primitivo and asked for an upgrade. They came back with a superb version, and a large glass each. "The squeaky wheel..."

The next day we decided to explore the town a bit after the rain had subsided. Easy to get lost in the rabbit warren of streets, and the tourists had begun to flock.

Marjory leading the way.
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Lots of cute alleys and entrances to residences that looked mysterious.

A residence entrance? Hard to say.
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Ostuni has a population in the winter of 32,000 and in the summer of approx. 200,000. We are on the cusp of the off-season, but there were clearly lots of people still around.

Very busy during the day.
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Although still cloudy, the surrounding countryside was a wonderful sight from such a high viewpoint. You can see the sea in the distance - we are looking east at this point.

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Always fun to check out the real estate windows, and we think this is that estate we saw down below when first entering the town yesterday. It looks like the asking price is about 2.1 million CAD.

For sale!
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Karen PoretThat is “a steal”, compared to what you (could) get for the expanse here in parts of CA!
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2 months ago

Fun to gaze at the route we will take tomorrow, basically down the hill straight towards the ocean, then turn left and travel along the coast to Monopoli.

Top of Ostuni.
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When it was time for a cappuccino break, we went back to the central square and watched people for a while. Funny that just after we sat down, a girl sat down behind us who we had met yesterday at this same spot when we rode into town prior to the cloudburst. She is an Ozzie travelling by herself and we traded some dinner ideas with each other.

Cappuccino and Olive Oil. Can't get any more Italian than that.
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I actually tried some of the famous Ostuni olive oil during lunch, and oi vay, it is really flavourful. Very different - maybe because it is 2,000 yr old? Anyway, it sure beats the Costco Extra Virgin stuff we normally have.

Back to the hotel for a quick break after lunch and thought we would check out the hotel verandah. Fun to see all the laundry out on a windy day. Other peoples' laundry is always fascinating to me!

Verandah.
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I actually agreed to go see a church(!), and was able to see the organ pipes close up. Usually they are up so high you cannot see them at this range. I had never noticed the little side flaps on the pipes before. For a "horn effect" perhaps?

Pipes.
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Walking around the old town edges, every time there is a view there is a cafe or bistro.

Cafe on the ledge.
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Karen PoretThe greenery around the building in the center resembles an upswept horses mane! ( or tail..) take your pick..;)
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2 months ago
Patrick Parnoyou are examining my pics more closely than I!
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2 months ago

I told Marjory that it is easy to landscape when you have no grass to cut!

Ostuni landscaping.
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You can't really get lost. After many twists and turns, you seem to wind up close to where you started, rather an Alice in Wonderland experience.

Getting lost.
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We have opined that the little cars make it easy to pass us on the road without mowing us down, and also allow them to enter these tiny alleyways that look like sidewalks. But this....this is the smallest car we have seen, and Marjory says because of the colour this is the car she would buy when we get that estate we saw for sale. Do you think we could fit our bike rack on the back?

Found her next car, but can she fit?
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Mike AylingShould be easy to park!
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2 months ago
Patrick Parnobetter have a good emergency brake tho!
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2 months ago
Kathleen ClassenWe saw this car too, same colour and it would be so perfect for running around Victoria, until that first pothole. Then you would disappear 😂. Seriously though, most cars have only one person in them for most trips, and this makes so much sense.
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2 months ago
Karen PoretF I A T..Fix It Again Tony..:)
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2 months ago
Patrick Parnowhere do the groceries go?
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2 months ago

Much to the chagrin of the Puglia Cycle emergency response line on a Sunday, we decided to change the last couple of days of our itinerary. Instead of going to Polignano a Mare right away, we decided to stay in Monopoli for a couple of days. Monopoli is right on the way, is much bigger than Polignano, so we will stay there for two days, then bike to Polignano and stay in Polignano for two days. Got that? Pulia Cycle made it happen. On a Sunday. Great service!

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Scott AndersonPolignano a Mare? Get ready. Volaré, oh-oh / Cantaré, oh-oh-oh-oh.
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2 months ago
Patrick Parnoalready got me humming...
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2 months ago