Mezzogiorno

The many faces of Italy. We are in the South, the Deep South of Italy, the Mezzogiorno. This is where grandmothers hold sway, people discuss things loudly, and time crawls by. It’s intoxicating. You can spend the whole day doing almost nothing very comfortably. Nothing is expected of you, and relaxing is encouraged.

We have both commented that when we got here last night, after 20 hours of travel and lost luggage, we were underwhelmed by the town and disappointed with our room selection. But this morning, our room, which is in a separate building a block away from the main (10 room) hotel seemed really private and comforting. The neighborhood felt welcoming, the town quaint and interesting. It’s different here, even different from Sicily.

It is not a tourist spot, it’s the real Italy with clothes drying, dogs barking and cats everywhere. When I selected a hotel I picked a place where Italians go, and I got it. The breakfast, however, is tourist worthy.

We are heading out to buy bathing suits and sun screen and some underwear. If the bags don’t come, reconnaissance will have been done. And now a nap before lunch.