A Librarian's Holiday

Not long after the last dot was placed on the chart, the last prize given out and the last certificate presented to another successful summer reader, this librarian took off for a much anticipated vacation – 2 glorious weeks in Italy.
The first week was spent in the little mountain town of Villa Santa Maria in the Abruzzo region:








We were able to enjoy all the activities of the festa –processions, nightly concerts on the piazza, and dazzling fireworks. And the food, of course, was phenomenal. But most importantly, we enjoyed the warm and wonderful company of family, who always make us feel welcome and loved.


We even made a new friend:



Lily, the hotel dog




The second week, we went to Puglia (commonly referred to as the “heel” of Italy’s boot shape).
We stayed in a 250 year old trullo:






Don’t let the rustic exterior fool you, inside the accommodations are luxuriously comfortable.





We traveled around a bit, visiting Lecce with its beautiful Baroque architecture, Locorotundo, Fasano, Ostuni , the stunning beaches of Gallipoli, and the delightful trulli of Alberobello:







All were lovely, each with its own distinct character. On my last day, we visited the quaint, exquisite fishing village of Monopoli:









No vacation is complete without visiting at least one library and here I was not disappointed. In the Piazza Garibaldi, I stumbled upon the Biblioteca Communale of Monopoli, which is under renovation but still functioning. Although they were about to close, they graciously welcomed me in the children’s room to look around and take some photos:








I even came across some old friends:













A magnificent trip, but it’s always good to be back home.

Posted by Sue Ann