Category: 2017

Google translate is a wonderful thing. We use it to find the meaning of new Italian words. Type in gobbly gook and out comes Australian. We had a great conversation with Salvatore and Giovanna this morning mostly by phone app. 

New features pop up all the time. I discovered you can photograph a sign and out comes the translation.

Today we drove to Spoleto where the Festival is on. We met our landlady Sabrina. She was a bubbly, happy woman who spoke her Italian into the app and out came English. Brilliant! I was typing all the time and fat fingers made the task a chore. 

As she was using it, I thought, “I could use that!” 

I need a haircut. My hat is now a tight fit and a cockatoo crest is beginning to form on the top of my head. When we later decided on a walk of the Spoleto, I noticed a hairdresser next door to our apartment. 

“I’ll use the google translate app,” I thought.

I spoke into the phone,“I would like an appointment to have my haircut tomorrow, please,” and to my delight out came a mixture of words that I assumed meant what I requested.

Boldly, I entered the deserted salon and found a woman, I hoped was the hairdresser, seated at a chair.

She looked strangely at me as I said good day and pointed the phone at her that displayed my prepared message.

She looked surprised. This may have been the first time she’d seen this technology but she seemed to comprehend the translation.

“No. No appuntamento,” which I took to mean she could not fit me in as tomorrow was a busier day.

She was obviously an Italian only speaker, so I thought I would use the app to tell her I would come back another time.

I quickly spoke into the phone, “I’ll come back another time,” and showed her the message.

Her brow wrinkled, she stiffened a little in her chair and a small movement began around the corners of her mouth.

Pleased with myself, I said my best,”Ciao, grazie,” and left the salon.

Looking at the phone on the street, I read the translation of my Australian drawl,

“Would you like a game of tennis in armour!”

I think I’ll have to find another hairdresser.

 

We drove to Locorotondo to see the trulli,the conical roofed houses that dot the towns and countryside here. 

Apparently, they were made so they could be quickly dismantled to avoid the taxman and then reassembled when he had moved on.

We stayed in one on a farm while we were there. The young landlord explained it was lived in by his grandfather. He has made some additions for his B & B.

There are many trulli in the local towns especially Alberobello.

Locorotondo and Alberobello are perched on hill so they command great views.

We walked around the streets of Locorotondo. 

This woman asked if I’d like to take a photograph of her dogs. We thought she was a paid dog walker.

“No. This is not my work, This is my life,” she answered.

What a great answer!

We came across a group of children playing chess.

And popped into the local church.

It is a very pretty part of Italy. We liked it here a lot.

 

 

This 13 th-century fortress on a high hill commanding 360 degree views is  interesting in that it has eight towers on its eight sides. The interior courtyard is an octagon and one highlight for me was the mathematical opening to the sky.

Castle Del Monte has an interesting mix of styles with the yellow limestone in the main building and red coral limestone around the doorways and columns.

Large fireplaces, interesting windows that give great views over the countryside, and richly decorated columns give some hints to its former glory. 

A macabre sculpture exhibition of skulls, skeletons and body parts added to the interest of our visit.