Otranto is closer to Greece than Rome

It is furthest southeast corner of Italy on the boot in Salento province of the Apulia Region, bathing in the clear blue Adriatic Sea.

Restaurants line the piazza and lungomare

Otranto is a first class Mediterranean treasure.

I spent a lot of my time playing in the sand. Being winter, the beaches were deserted.

Yes, that's Riccardo and the gang from Martinucci.

There was no way I could be sad when I entered. They all greeted me with a smile.

Rum soaked Baba with an espresso my staple.

Lesly knew as soon as I sat down what I needed.

Blue eyed Angelo and the lovely Sandy at Punto Spesa the small grocery store I frequented everyday.

The altar crypt in the Otranto Cathedral

The 800 Martyrs of Otranto slaughtered for remaining true to their faith

Classic Otello my barber. Best Haircuts and straight edge razor shaves ever.

I didn't speak Italian he knew very little English but I so enjoyed my time in his chair

The local train from Otranto to Lecce

The train Anaïs hated. The old train took me to Lecce a major depot and from Lecce I could travel all over Italy

The famous Nonna Tetti Ristorante in Lecce.

Might be the best food I ate in all my travels to Italy.

The capo la donna

That's Ledi the woman I helped cross the street in Lecce and eventually spent 3 hours together.

The majestic sunrise over Lecce from the roof top lounge of Suite Hotel Santa Chiara

The waves crashing the rocks that surround the crescent shores of Otranto

Open Boats on the shore

A month after I named the young Italian girl Valentina Vergola I went to a boat landing where there was a boat named Valentina and another Virgola. I saw that as a good sign for my story

Otranto nestled behind Castello Aragonese.

Nights in Otranto

The glittering nights in Otranto were romantic and it brought me to tears because I couldn't share it with the person who I loved the most. Otranto truly was a beautiful sadness.

From High Above

Otranto Love

The heart torn tee

I brought this with me because to me it represented her heart.

The Nice Letters over looking the beautiful Cote DAzur

Famous Scene at the end of the north Promenade de Anglais

Happier time in south France 2021

Cours Saleya

Open air market in Nice

Cote Lounge

On Rue de France. Great Food Atmosphere Management Service main backdrop for climatic events in the Novel