Man, what a day! I woke up in Taranto, and I swear, the sun was already throwing shade at me. I mean, who needs that kind of energy first thing in the morning? Anyway, I grabbed my coffee from this little café on Via D’Aquino. Best espresso ever, but the barista? Total grump. Like, dude, it’s not that serious.
So, I’m walking down Corso Vittorio Emanuele, right? And I see this street performer. He’s playing the accordion like he’s in a Tarantino movie or something. I stop, thinking, “Wow, this is gonna be a good day.” But then, outta nowhere, a pigeon decides my shoulder is the perfect landing spot. Ugh! Thanks, bird. Just what I needed.
I shake it off and head towards the old town. The narrow streets of Taranto are like a maze. I love it, but also hate it. I mean, I got lost like three times. I ended up near the Castello Aragonese, which is super cool, but I was just trying to find a bathroom. Seriously, why is it so hard to find one in this city?
Then, I finally find a place to pee, and guess what? The toilet’s broken. Classic. I’m about to lose it. But then I see this cute little gelato shop on Via Duomo. I mean, who can stay mad with gelato in sight? I get a scoop of pistachio, and it’s like heaven in a cup. I’m feeling good again.
After that, I decide to stroll by the waterfront. The view of the Mar Piccolo is stunning. The water is all blue and sparkly, and I’m just standing there, soaking it all in. But then, I hear this loud honking. I turn around, and it’s a guy on a scooter, yelling at a tourist who’s taking a selfie in the middle of the street. Like, come on, man! Move it!
I’m laughing, but also kinda annoyed. Why do tourists think they own the place? Anyway, I keep walking, and I bump into this old lady selling fresh fish. She’s got the biggest smile, and she starts chatting me up in Italian. I can’t understand half of what she’s saying, but her energy is infectious. She hands me a piece of fish and says, “Try it!” I’m like, “Lady, I’m a vegetarian!” But I take it anyway. It’s surprisingly good.
Then, I head to the market on Via Garibaldi. It’s packed! I love the chaos. Fresh veggies, fruits, and all the locals haggling. I’m trying to blend in, but I stick out like a sore thumb. I overhear this guy arguing about the price of tomatoes. “Cento euro? Sei pazzo!” Classic Taranto.
I finally get my act together and buy some olives. I’m feeling like a local now. But then, I trip over a crate. Olives everywhere! I’m mortified. People are staring. I just laugh it off, but inside, I’m dying.
As the day winds down, I decide to grab dinner at a little trattoria on Via Cavour. The food is to die for. I order orecchiette with broccoli rabe, and it’s like a party in my mouth. I’m in heaven. But then, the waiter spills wine all over my shirt. Great. Just great.
I’m sitting there, covered in wine, and I can’t help but laugh. This day has been a rollercoaster. I’m angry, happy, surprised, and just plain exhausted. But that’s Taranto for ya. It’s messy, chaotic, and full of life. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
As I head back to my place, I can’t help but think about all the crazy stuff that happened. Taranto, you’ve got my heart. Even if you do have a thing for pigeons and broken toilets. What a day!