Before we move on to news of France and Les Chevres ici, here's a fond look back to delightful italian memories, that should not be forgotten.  To commemorate their pale-colored deliciousness and in honor of Easter, here's a literary treat for you all. I call it:

Ode to Pistachio ice Cream

The gelato of Pistacchio

Makes such a lovely snackio.

A pale green mountain whipped up high

'Pon a slender cone, does grace the eye.

And Oh! that creamy jade is bless'd

With such delightful nuttiness!

It soothes the soul and stills the mind

A better ice cream, you'll not find!

Close Encounters

Our road trip through southern Italy wasn't all just sunshine and almond blossoms.  Our rout took us along the pirate-plagued adriatic coast, where towers kept watch from every projecting spur, whitewashed towns perched on rocky peaks,

and labyrinthine streets confused foreigners (us)(especially us trying to park the fiat).

There were castles with walls five feet thick.

 Gruesome reminders of one fateful attack when turkish pirates massacred 800 townspeople. 

They decided to put them in the church walls- a nice textural element to set off the brass candlesticks.

Ok. Ok. We didn’t encounter any actual pirates.  But, we did meet . . . 

 the fearsome . . .

 the gigantic . . .

 the awe-inspiring . . .

Senor Lemonster.  Who was, no kidding, about the size of my head.

 There was also a snarly lion:

And some gnarly, scary scampi

Who made a delightful accompaniment to polenta.

So you can see it wasn't all fun and games.  Anyone heading this way best take necessary precautions.  

The Gargano and Salento

Vieste, on the farthest point of the Gargano peninsula

Costal scenery around Vieste

                         The traditional stone dwellings, "Trulli",  of the town of Alberobello

Otranto

 Aneas purportedly landed here in the Porto Badisco.  Personally, I would have put Rome here.

Lunch in Otranto- Marinated anchovies with fennel and chicory salad, Frittura mista di pesce of calamari, octopus and small fishes

The cathedrals of Lecce (the self-proclaimed "Florence of the Baroque") are quite an eyeful.  Because Lecce is so far south and isolated, they developed their own, unique, version of Baroque. It's like some wayward artist introduced the main principles then abandoned them to marble mayhem, where they egged each other on " Swirly columns with crowns!  ooh and snarling dragons . . . I got it, a church devoted to the Holy Broccoli" Honestly I have no idea what's going on in the picture on the right. 

Their gelato, however, is quite lovely.

Assisi, Ascoli Piceno, San Vito Chietino, Gargano Peninsula

Assisi

Ascoli Piceno 

San Vito Chietino

The Gargano