Freaking out in Bari!!

I am now in Bari, lucky for those two at the train station in Foggia I didn't need a reservation!!!!!

The taxi from the train to the hotel cost 7.60 euro, the driver wanted another euro for putting my bag in the car - ahhhhh nahhhhhhh it's heavy but not that freaking heavy - I will get it out of the car myself grazie, he just looked at me, hang-dog look, got out of the car, got my bag, grazie signora - yeah! I should think so!!

Got to my room, it is nice and clean and big, but it is as hot here, I am sweating like crazy, short hairs are wet etc... summer is sposed to be sooo over in Italy! Grazie Dia per (Thank god for ...) air conditioning!

At check-in I asked the dick at the counter who doesn't seem to know shit about getting to both Lecce which is as far south as I will get - 150kms away - or going inland to Alberabello which is 75kms away to see the trullo houses tomorrow. He knows niente about both but said he would check them out for me and let me know. Grazie dick at the counter who doesn't seem to know shit!

I came to my room, turned on the air conditioner, went back downstairs and got ... a BUS ticket!!! Yes, I caught a bus!!!! This trip has had it all now!! I caught the bus back in to town and walked around for a few hours. I had some lunch at an osteria - homemade pasta with shellfish and salad - got pestered twice, once by an old lady begger who I gave 50c and she tried to kiss me on the hand to show her appreciation, and a hawker who I said 'no grazie' to but then he proceeded to put his shit on my table, 'No, grazie' and then he proceeded to put his shit close to my hand (I have a feeling if I had touched it somehow he would insist I pay for it), this time I pulled my hand back holding my fork and said very firmly said "NO!!!". He took his crap and left me to my pasta and shellfish!. Then I went walking. I wanted to see the beach and go through 'old Bari', the original town centre.

(I gave the older beggar 50c, she tried to kiss my hand to show her appreciation)

It didn't take long to get to the beach and then I went through 'old Bari'.

I went in to the church in 'old Bari'. That in itself was enough to freak me out!! Not the main part of the church, that was just full of art etc, but I followed some people down a flight of stairs where a priest was droning on and everyone had a scarf on their hair and they were 'hallelujah, hallelujah ..." and some other stuff I couldn't understand. It was dark and eerie and I didn't like the feel of it so went back up stairs and saw the sign and realised what was in the room that gave me the feeling that I didn't feel comfortable with... then I got out of there!  (I have since read up and the whole body of the saint isnt in the tomb, just bits of him!!!!).

(Downstairs in the church, and the sign that shows what they were worshipping!)

Then I went walking through the streets, it is the first time since arriving in Italy have felt a bit freaked out walking around and I won't be going back in to town, not sure where I will go tomorrow - Lecce to say I have been as far south as I could go or Alberabello to check out the trullo ... or a day in a motel bed watching television that I can't understand ...

(Streets of 'old Bari')

(I snuck  inside a door of a builidng in 'old Bari')

I came down to reception where there is absolutely niente information about what there is to do around here and the dick  at the counter who doesnt seem to know shit has gone home for the day and not done a thing about what I asked so the poor chick who is on duty found out there are no trains to Alberabello but there is at bus at ... 5.30am.  I will be getting the train to Lecce or staying in bed watching television I can't understand tomorrow, probably get the train!

While I was in reception I asked about where the restaurant is to have something for dinner and there is another prick at the counter this time.  He looked at me as if I was the biggest dumb arse in the whole wide world and just pointed his finger in a general direction and grunted.  Well, I am just about sick of rude ignorant and arrogant Italian men by now, and looked at him and said DOVE??????WHERE??????????? he pointed again and didn't say anything, so again, I said DOVE??????? WHERE?????????? and this time he actually opened his mouth and said 'next door to the bar'.  i looked at him and said 'grazie, but I don't know ... WHERE THE BAR IS!!!!   'oh, mi scusi signora' and walked me to the bar.  It seems the only way I can get anywhere in southern Italy is by going off my nut!!  Not all of them are like it, just the rude ignorant and arrogant ones!