The first mark in the passport
A trip abroad has always seemed impossible to me. Me and Abroad - nooo )))
And then I got on maternity leave… out of boredom, I enrolled in Italian language courses. Well, because my mother-in-law works in Italy and often sends different things, but it’s interesting what this is made of, except for the fact that “Made in Italy”. Well, the idea came to me to learn Italian. I studied the language for a whole year, twice even our teacher brought us a live Italian to the lessons. It was interesting, and even more interesting was that I understood almost everything he was talking about. But to say... like that dog with smart eyes))) And then at the end of the course, our teacher Oksana suddenly suggested from the bullshit: "Let's all go to Italy as a group. " Apparently, at that moment my eyes lit up...
I spat on the fact that I didn’t even have a passport, that I had a small child, that I was temporarily unemployed, well, because I was on maternity leave... I set myself the goal of saving money for Italy. And what do you think - I did it))))
Oksana took over the organization of everything. She bought tickets, booked a bed and breakfast for us, planned a route, what to see, where to go. And that was hypercool for me. Firstly, my free translator, secondly, a person who knows exactly how it is done, and my first trip abroad...
So… Tickets on hand, a backpack on our backs (we flew on a low-cost airline without luggage) and a lot of emotions in our souls. We check in at the airport. A lot of fear, what if something is wrong? Gone. Hooray!
First plane flight!! ! Whoa!! ! I sit near the window and stare at it all the way so as not to miss a single cloud. Was I afraid? NO! I have seen clouds from an airplane so many times in pictures and photos, and dreamed for so long that someday I myself would see them like this, and here it is!! ! After landing and checking in, I still couldn't realize that I was in Italy. Bari! We took a taxi and drove to our temporary home. We are 5 girls for different tastes))) Blonde, dark, red-haired, older, younger, rounder, thinner))) The Italians turned around and looked at us, and we walked in a slender step. And they are like in that movie "Girls" "Fall, fall and lay down in piles")))))
We spent one night in Bari. The hostel was very unique. As if embedded in a wall. There are no sharp corners, everything is semicircular. The walls are thick. Two rooms and a kitchenette. Very clean and decent. There is a painting all over the wall. The ceiling is also semi-circular. In general, I was impressed))) We walked along the Italian streets, visited the cathedral, visited the sea, but there was no beach there. Along the coast there were some huge stone cubes and a port with ships. Surprised that there is very little greenery. And those trees that were, and then in pots. All stone and grey-beige. Naturally, we tried pizza and ice cream))))
Bari is known for the fact that there are the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, his basilica. Well, of course we went there, it's interesting to see. Sea people. The icon of Nicholas behind bars, a very sad sight. And for some reason it did not cause any special tremulous feelings. Well, I bought images of Nikolai for my relatives as a gift and that's it.
On the second day we went to Barleta, where we planned to spend the remaining 7 days. This is a small town on the Adriatic Sea. Since we went at the end of September, no one swam in the sea, despite the fact that the water temperature was about 24 degrees and the air temperature was 25. And naturally, we all climbed into the water together. The water is very clean, and various shells were lying on the shore. It is strange how tourists and locals have not yet collected them))) Although after us there is little left))) The beach is sandy and long. I love such beaches, when you can walk on the water endlessly, the sea caresses your legs, and the sand retains traces only for a moment, until the next wave))
Our hostel was a two-level house with a balcony and a two-story and double bed on the upper level and a single bed on the lower level. There was also a fireplace, a hall and a kitchen. And the bonus was two great!! ! Weeeee!! ! Well, why not ride? In Italy on a bike!!!
I take a bike, the castle to him and went. Very soon I realize that the wheels are not inflated. Oops!! ! And here begins a feverish recollection of how in Italian there will be a “pump” and “pump the wheel”? I drove up to one couple who were sitting on a bench and with a great one. In a flash, she showed that the tire was flat and that a pump was needed. I tried to say what I needed in Italian-English-Russian. They understood, but they did not have a pump. I went further... Seafood was unloaded from the car to the store, I approached them, the same nonsense. Another guy was sitting on a bench with a great one. She showed uncomplicated movements. He smiled and pointed me to a gas station. Eureka!! ! Well, for sure, someone definitely has a pump there. I sat on my poor fellow on flat tires and rocked to the gas station. And then a pleasant surprise awaited me: there was a tire shop next to the gas station. I drove there so happy and with the words “Bon Giorno, pumpa wheel, pronto” - cheerfully showed everyone that I needed to pump up the wheel. The guys immediately realized))) They asked where I was from, do I like it in Italy? To my question "Quanto Costa? " like “How much from me”, they said no))) Well, I kissed the kid on the cheek in joy and drove off to further explore the area of our town.
Probably passed the whole city on the way. And at the end, in the outskirts, I found a supermarket type store with everything in a row. I went in, bought myself a couple of things, the prices are really cheap. But since our Oksana promised us a market, she decided not to walk much in the store. I came back happy as an elephant))) Well, of course, on the way five times they shouted “Ke Bella” to me, well, it's nice)))
On the second day, the girls and I went to Matera. This is where the city in the rocks. It was very interesting there. Each transition from one street to another is a new street with its own name. People still live there. Poor postmen who deliver mail. Finding the right street in that labyrinth is not so easy. The apartments are located right inside the rock, like carved. Wondering how to live there? Again a lot of stone and little greenery))
On the third day we went to Alberobello. Oh, it was something. Such fabulous snow-white houses with round roofs are trulli. They said that once they introduced an unbearable property tax and people came up with the idea of building such round houses that you can easily fill up and build a new one. So they did not pay tax and could live for some time. Some of these houses are still inhabited, while others have been turned into restaurants and shops. But the general picture of this village of trulli resembles a fairy tale. This is a must see! All snow-white, very unusual. On some roofs, some signs were applied, along the streets there were flower pots, which simply buoyed with beauty against a white background.
By the way, we rode along the route on trains. Here, too, I felt a big difference between our countries. Everything is clean, nowhere is a cigarette butt, not a piece of paper. While they were waiting for the train, I was impatient... I rushed to look... back and forth and there was a policeman. He sees that something is wrong with me. Approaches, asks: "How can I help? ". Well, she told him that it was urgently needed, otherwise it would be too late)))) He took me by the hand, almost sat me down)))) It's funny and nice)))) The toilet is free on the platform. Everything is clean, it smells nice, paper... And in general, everywhere where it was, toilets are not more expensive than one euro and there is absolutely no smell anywhere. Then we arrived home, went to the toilet in Khmelnitsky at the station and immediately realized that we were at home))
We spent another day at the market and just relaxing in our city. The market was full of touts. Yell at the top of their lungs. Oksana said that this is only in the south of Italy, there is no such thing in the north. But it's fun and uplifting. The prices are lower than ours, but the quality is better. The same China, but made for Italy. I collected a bunch of gifts for my children, my husband and myself. I managed to cram everything into my magical backpack. I am always amazed at how dimensionless it is))) And the size is only strictly hand luggage.
Every day I went swimming in the sea. I love the sea! The locals looked at us like we were exotic animals. They are all in jackets and warm sweaters already. And we are in shorts and T-shirts))) The Italians made an impression))) Every evening they walk. On Sunday they have football. This means that the whole street gathers at the bars where there is a big telly, takes a beer and yells. They smile and hug a lot. It seems that they are all relatives. True, they hugged us too))) Many elderly people walk holding hands. It's very strange to look at it. Such a granny will definitely not be able to jump into our train))
We also went to Trani, where there is also a port, but despite this, the water is like in the Maldives. Sooo clean and kind of azure. Too bad we didn't get to swim there. Next time I go, I'll rent an apartment in Trani. By the way, in Trani there is an old cathedral on the seashore. And below the relics of Nicholas the Pilgrim. A very powerful background comes from them. Such an indescribable feeling of peace, tranquility. There are benches there, you can sit down, think about the essence of being... To be honest, I thought that the basilica of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker would make a strong impression on me, but in Trani, the basilica of this St. Nicholas is somehow more real. It seems that a substitution has taken place and the real relics of Nicholas are stored here, where there are no masses of pilgrims, where Nicholas was not put behind bars.
We flew back through Poland. We flew to Katowice, and from there by bus to Vinnitsa. We spent the night in Katowice, walked a little around the city and left.
To summarize, my first trip made an incredible impression, just a storm of emotions and a huge burst of energy. After returning, I kind of fell into some kind of depression for a while. I know that this often happens to those who plunge into a new reality for the first time. For some reason it became very embarrassing for us. After all, we are such hard workers, smart, kind, why can't we do things for people, do good things so that people feel good?
Here is an elementary example. Woke up at night due to noise. I look out the window, patching up the road. In the morning people go to work and already there is no hole on the pavement. It's the same, just the color is different. I will keep silent for our roads...
It was the feast of St. Mary, they carried a statue of Mary, decorated with flowers, pots of flowers were placed along the streets. The whole city came out to the procession, they sang songs, rejoiced at life. Naturally, the youth walked, dirtied everything that was possible: bottles, cigarette butts, packs of chips, etc. At 5 in the morning a car passed, cleaned everything and everything shines with cleanliness, as if nothing had happened. The flower pots were taken back. We are very far from them. Development and education. And this is very sad. Why if in Khmelnitsky they charge 5 UAH for a toilet, then there is a terrible stench and there is no paper? Is it really hard to do it differently? Why, if beautiful flowers are planted in the center of the city, then they are sure to be stolen at night? The mentality is completely different.
