I'm not an expert on Italy, but I'm learning quickly, I do not pretend to be a specialist in this field; these are merely my personal impressions of the wonderful places that I have visited here in the Salento.
Puglia has been home to us for just over five years now, we knew it would be really hard work, and indeed it has been! However we´ve tried to create as many opportunities as possible. People here smile when they ask me where were from.
To us the Salento is a hidden haven off the beaten track of Puglia, it has a welcoming sun-baked coastline, rolling, sunny plains and uplands that are a major source for much of Italy´s grain, wine and Olive Oil, Farmers all over the world would be jealous of the rich suitable soil which grows an abundance of vegetables, fruits and herbs.
We especially love all the wonderful groves of thousand year old olive trees, boasted to us, that they once fed the lamps that illuminated the streets of London.
"Your" Salento landscape is stunning, the beaches extraordinary, empty, clean and free, there is no industry so that the air is pure, be it the food, all the undeveloped land, temperature of the sea and it's therapeutic interlinked caves, or its impressive natural caverns ­ it´s simply perfect!!!
To me the Salento is a crossroads between East and West cultures; it is a cradle of ancient´s myths, millenary civilizations and vernacular languages.
The geographically privileged position of this great region overlooking the other countries belonging to the Mediterranean area, makes the salento occupy a relevant role for international relations.
Foreigners such as myself can live and learn all of this through the history of the Salento and its mixture of tradition, art, and culture handed down from father to son, something that has almost been lost in other parts of the world.
Although this regions coastlines are becoming increasingly popular with Germans, Dutch and of course us British, this region still fills with Italians from the North making up to 70 percent of the regions visitors, but remarkably so far the Salento is virtually untouched by these hordes of tourists and has managed to avoid the curse of the high-priced overdevelopment which has ruined so many other countries.
I don´t need things done yesterday; I came here to enjoy the laid-back simpler free way of life, a lifestyle more satisfying for my soul.
And I have come to the conclusion that Italians are happier people because of their decent general way of life here.
Basically my impression is WOW; everybody I have met has been unfailingly courteous, helpful and friendly, We are delighted to have found a happy place, quite literally, it´s not easy all the time but where is?
You know you´re a foreigner in Italy´s arms when perfect strangers worry about you catching a cold because you´re not dressed warmly enough in April, and when you find fresh eggs on your door step.
We consider ourselves to be a very lucky family indeed it is an honor to be here.
THE SALENTO IS SIMPLY A LITTLE PEARL!!