Jewels of Southern Italy - September 2024 - Simonetta Seri - Hostess Round Up

11 wonderful women came together for our very first “Southern Jewels of Italy” tour, the region of Puglia. Some of the gems visited included Lecce, Alberobello, Polignano a Mare, Otranto & Ostuni, and (in the region next door) Matera, which was an incredible highlight.

The weather was mostly fine (hot even) and we took advantage of pool & ocean water. A memorable day was spent swimming & bobbing around our boat in the Tyrrhenian Sea (almost the Mediterranean) with Chris & Cathy even sipping their prosecco whilst floating in the very salty water.

We visited a number of wineries where “wine tasting” was more like a glass of wine, and ate lots of lovely fresh cheeses, charcuterie, and impossibly delicious tomatoes. We learned the art of making pasta, handrolling a couple of shapes just like “nonna”, then eating the fruits of our labour.

We explored (or got lost in) numerous side-streets and winding cobblestone alleys, shopping and discovering history. We even saw several weddings and wished the happy couples “Auguri”.

Our tour concluded in the Eternal City of Rome with free days to wander at will. It doesn’t seem to matter how many times you visit Rome, there’s always more to discover.

As sometimes happens, we can be let down by ground operators but due to the resilient character of this group who embraced the Sisterhood Pledge, we pushed through. I can’t tell you how good it was to consistently hear uncontrolled laughter and endless chatter as the girls bonded, so thank you!

A special mention goes to Kerry for her positivity in the face of adversity – her bag got lost for a whole week! – but her humour did not dwindle. The girls rallied and generously shared belongings to get her through, but it was a salient lesson in why you need to carry medications & a spare pair of undies in your hand luggage.

Ci vediamo a presto, Sim