Napoli Gate
Currently I am in Lecce, Italy. It is a funky baroque influenced town with a strong student population and a niftly old city. As I wondered around to take in the various sites and old structures, once again I was faced by and large with churches. I know Italians love their churches. And I could say “once you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all” but they are all unique in their own way. And I am always bowled away by the architecture. The funny thing about Italy or Europe in general, is that you start getting spoiled with the age of buildings. What was maybe 150 years old in New Zealand and Australia, and thus amazing, is modern here. Infact, often if the building is not from the 1400s or something, you start to shrug. Which is just terrible. My goodness, even buildings from the 1700s at over 300 years old should leave me speechless. I mean, how many houses in Canada over 30 years old are worth even keeping??
Lecce's most gawdy baroque church built when Catholicism beat out Islam in prominence in Italy.
But I guess since I am not religious, although I do find the architecture beautiful, beyond that point, it is just another church to me. Each of the signs which talk about the construction date of the church and its importance and prominence all start reading the same to me. So I was especially thrilled to come across some Roman ruins in the old city which were pretty cool.
Part of the Roman Ampitheatre
It was nice to see something that didn’t have a religious conotation but was still historical. I also find that when there are too many of one thing, I also start looking at the small details for interesting things. Thus the statue near the castle that acted as a bird bath for the pigeons.
Pigeon fountain
But the baroque influence is really interesting. I quite like the details and the intricacies. Lecce has a cool vibe about it. Now that I am on in a port town the tourist element is different. Less invasive and less obtrusive. My couch surf here is quite lovely. Right in the old town. Two architects. One German and one German/Russian. They are both really interesting and intelligent. Good hosts and good conversation.
... It's often in the details ....
It is nice to do a couch surf again as I have not done one since Malaysia and I sort of got out of the habit of considering it as an accommodation alternative. When you get a good host it really is nice because you have people to do things with, conversation and insight into other cultures and languages. Often, as was the case with B&Bs and some hostels, you are quite isolated and on your own and it is difficult to meet up with people just as you are walking about. It is an odd occurence. So it is nice to have some social time with residents of the area.
Being artistic
So one more day in Lecce and then off to Rome. Sadly I have to take a very early train on the 19th – 5:46 am. And I may not get any sleep at all. But tomorrow is time for a run and a relaxing day as I prepare for my last city before Abruzzo. I keep working on my Italian. It is funny how few Italian know any English at all and have such a hard time making out their own language when not said just so precisely as they do. But I am not deterred. I keep trying.
Hey, she looks like me
Glad you had some company in Italy – how is your Italian?
Italiano is coming along very slowly. Need to live here to get it I should believe