Last

Last
March we went to Puglia with the idea of spending a couple of days in a
place where spring was already ahead of London time. Southern Italy
seemed like a great choice and, at random, we picked the coastal
town of Monopoli as a base.

The town in itself doesn’t boast anything that makes it stand
out on the tourist map. Monopoli’s charm lies in its beautiful
ordinariness. This southern Italian town is big enough to fulfil
the most basic of desires – good food, old architecture, transport
links – but small enough that one can just stroll out of its
medieval centre to a coast dotted with small coves ideal for
swimming and relaxing.

When we arrived, spring had already bloomed in all its glory. Nature had
reawakened from a slumber. The fields around town were covered in
wildflowers, the almond trees were in full blossom, the air was
balmy and the beaches deserted but for a person here and there.
Where the land had been cultivated, there were fields dotted with
ancient olive trees and the typical Puglian trulli houses. In the
evenings we would stroll across piazzas with the locals, scouting
out a restaurant or gelateria.

Today, a little over a year later, I long for the ease with
which we took travel for granted. I look at my pictures from recent
trips with amazement. It seems more like a dream than a past
reality. The thought of just travelling wherever, whenever on a
whim seems so foreign now. I hope we can re-establish some of the
normality we were used to. Until then I will have my memories and
my pictures.

@larsstephanista | larsstephan.com