Man, what a day! I swear, Gravina-in-Puglia is wild. Like, I thought I knew this place, but today? Total rollercoaster.
So, I woke up late, as usual. My alarm? Yeah, it decided to take a vacation. I jumped outta bed, threw on whatever I could find, and bolted out the door. First stop? The piazza, of course. You know, Piazza Benedetto XIII? It’s like the heart of the city. I needed my caffeine fix.
Grabbed a cappuccino from this little café on Via Roma. The barista, Marco, he’s a legend. He knows my order by heart. But today, he was all smiles, like he just won the lottery or something. Turns out, he did! He’s going to Rome for a barista competition. I was like, “Dude, you better win!”
So, I’m sipping my coffee, feeling all good, when I hear this loud crash. I look over, and some guy on a scooter just wiped out on Via Gravina. I mean, come on! Dude, you gotta watch where you’re going! He gets up, brushes himself off, and starts laughing. I couldn’t help but laugh too. Classic Gravina moment, right?
Then, I decided to stroll down to the old aqueduct. You know, the one that looks like it’s straight outta a movie? It’s so beautiful, but today, it was packed with tourists. I mean, seriously, can’t a local enjoy some peace? But whatever, I’m not bitter. I snapped a few pics, pretending to be a tourist myself.
But then, outta nowhere, it started to rain. Like, heavy rain. I’m talking torrential downpour. I ducked into this little shop on Via San Francesco. It’s got the best handmade pasta. I was just browsing, trying to stay dry, when I overheard this couple arguing. They were going on about where to eat. I wanted to yell, “Just go to Trattoria da Nonna! It’s the best!” But I kept my mouth shut.
Finally, the rain stopped, and I thought, “Okay, let’s make the most of this.” I headed to the Gravina River. The view is insane! The cliffs, the greenery, it’s like nature’s own masterpiece. I sat there for a bit, just soaking it all in. Then, I saw this kid trying to catch fish with a net. He was so focused, it was adorable. I thought, “Man, I wish I had that kind of determination.”
But then, my phone buzzed. It was my buddy, Luca. He wanted to meet up at the bar on Via Roma. I was like, “Sure, why not?” So, I hustled back. When I got there, Luca was already three drinks in. Classic Luca. He’s always the life of the party.
We started talking about life, dreams, and all that deep stuff. But then, he spilled his drink all over me. I was like, “Dude, what the heck?” But we both just laughed it off. It’s not a real night out unless someone gets soaked, right?
As the night went on, we hit up a few more bars. I lost count after the third one. We ended up at this place on Via Cavour, where they have live music. The band was amazing! They played some traditional Pugliese tunes, and everyone was dancing. I joined in, of course. I mean, who can resist a good tarantella?
But then, out of nowhere, I got a text from my mom. She was like, “Don’t forget to call me!” I was like, “Mom, I’m in the middle of a dance-off!” But I called her anyway. She just wanted to know if I was eating well. Classic mom move.
By the time I got home, I was exhausted but happy. Gravina-in-Puglia, you never fail to surprise me. From the coffee to the rain to the dance-off, it was a day full of unexpected twists. I fell into bed, thinking about how tomorrow could be just as crazy. And honestly? I can’t wait.