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Visit to Bari and Polignano

In the morning, we had to wake up around 6:20, then got dressed, had breakfast and at 7:45 we arrived at the meet up location. There we got on the bus and left for Bari at 8. The trip lasted about an hour. We arrived in Bari and got off the bus in the city center. We had a walking tour of the city where we visited the most popular sights, like the theater of Margarita and the old castle. After the tour we had about 2 hours of free time where we could do a bit of shopping and have lunch where we wanted. Me and some of the others visited a few shops like sephora and kiko and after ate lunch at a 100% gluten free bakery. We tried a few things like a focaccia sandwich, and a traditional food called panzerotti, which were delicious. After lunch we got some gelato in a nearby ice cream shop. We had to meet up with the others around two o'clock at the main square so after some exploring and walking around the city we made our way to the meet up point. We got there a bit early, so we sat down on a bench and enjoyed the sun. When everyone arrived, we got on the bus and left for Polignano which is a small city near Bari. After about a 45-minute bus ride, we arrived in Polignano, a picturesque coastal town near Bari. As we got off the bus, we walked into the town center, but we quickly noticed that almost everything was closed since it was siesta time. Because of this, the streets were quite quiet, with only a few locals strolling around or having coffee at the open cafés. Despite this, the town had a magical atmosphere—the narrow streets and whitewashed buildings radiated a classic southern Italian charm. Not long after, we reached Polignano's most famous attraction, a beautiful bay nestled between cliffs with crystal-clear blue water. The view was breathtaking, and we admired it from several different angles. We took a group photo at the top of the cliff, and then everyone took a few individual pictures as well. The locals told us a bit about the history of the bay and how this coastal area plays an important role in Polignano's life. After thoroughly exploring the bay, we still had some time, so we decided to visit the old town, which was located on one side of the bay. The narrow alleys, small squares, and balconies decorated with flowers completely enchanted us. The view of the sea from there was also fantastic, and we enjoyed the peaceful Mediterranean atmosphere for a little longer before walking back to the bus. The return trip to Martina Franca took about 1 to 1.5 hours, and many people dozed off on the bus due to exhaustion. When we arrived, everyone went home to their host families to rest for a bit. In the evening, some of the others went into town to have dinner together at a local restaurant, and from what they said, they had a great time until late at night. However, we felt too tired to go out, so my exchange student made me a classic Italian Carbonara at home. The meal turned out to be absolutely delicious, and we had a great time chatting with the family. We spent the rest of the evening in a calm and cozy atmosphere before going to bed early to be well-rested for the adventures of the next day.

Havarik Panka