The Spirit Of Christmas Remains In My Heart

Sunday, 23 December 2018

A few days ago at a Christmas dinner, a lady said to me, "Argh, it was very stressful coming here. In fact, the last few months have been really bad for me. I really cannot wait for this year to be over." Then she carried on and attempted to enumerate the bad things that has happened to her. But I held her hand, tapped her shoulder and I said, "Don't worry, you have made it through (to the dinner and this year). Not quite the latter because we have a few days left before the new year starts but I am confident that she will get through it. What hit me the most during our conversation was when she said that she was going home for Christmas, but she said it will be just as bad. I begged to disagree because to me, going home for Christmas only means that she will spend time with her family- one thing that I have not done in 17 years. But she looked at me without saying a word. Her pain became palpable, I could see it through her eyes.

Or perhaps... she was just the reflection of my own pain.

The truth is, it is quite a challenge to remain optimistic when you feel like the whole world is against you. It takes a lot of confidence to go out there, face the world and pretend that everything is okay when it's actually not. I know this because the last six years has taught me how to be that person. I have mastered the art of pretending er, maintaining  "positivity amidst adversity". You are indeed one lucky soul if you haven't needed to learn this, because I am telling you- it is one of the most difficult things that you will ever have to learn.



I am only sharing this story because just like the lady at the Christmas dinner, I know that there are a lot of people out there who are struggling emotionally at the moment, including myself. For the last few months, I have been living in anxiety and fear. Fear that something bad might happen to someone I love who is vulnerable and helpless. I have been good at managing my anxiety, but it will soon be Christmas and I am not sure if my anxiety will turn into a needless guilt. This is because I will be in a place where love, peace and harmony prevail, whilst someone very close to my heart will be in a broken home and will potentially be alone.

Tomorrow, we will be travelling up North to spend Christmas with J's family which we have done in the last four years. Whenever I am with his family, I always wish that I could turn back time so that I could try harder in keeping my own family together. As much as I am jealous of their harmonious relationship, I remain grateful for the family that I had or shall I say still have, regardless of how bad things have turned out to be. J's family has become my constant reminder that once upon a time, I too had a loving family, although not as solid as theirs. I am also very thankful that J's family has accepted me unconditionally because otherwise, I would have forgotten how to have a proper family by now. And if I can be honest and I mean no offence when I say this, J's family is like the family I never had. 

So you may ask, what is my purpose in writing this? In all honesty, I do not intend to spread negativity and ruin the holiday vibes. I just want to remind you(and myself) that no matter what emotional challenges we are going through right now, that we have a choice. It is either we give in to our emotions and be miserable this Christmas or choose to turn things around and have a Merry Christmas.

I choose to be happy and I am letting the spirit of Christmas win because at the end of the day, it takes a strong person to smile like they are winning despite all the pain they have to endure. I have been that person and I remain.

So, stay strong and have a Happy Christmas.

TIN x

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The Unbelievably Enthralling Ancient City Of Matera

Sunday, 16 December 2018

We were not supposed to go to Matera because we had Altamura on our list to visit instead. However, I came across the city whilst I was planning our route from Alberobello to Altamura. The photos I saw online took my breath away that I was forced to learn a bit more about the place. Suffice it to say that Matera became one of those places that we must visit whilst we were in Southern Italy. 

The drive to Matera was over an hour from Alberobello via SS172 then SP106 to SP235. Finding a street parking in the New Town was not that bad from what I can remember. From where we parked (the name of the street escapes me), it was only a short walk to one of the most spectacular places I have ever visited- the Sassi di Matera.

Matera is the third oldest continuously inhabited city and until the 1980s, was plagued by poverty, illness and high infant deaths. In 1993, it became UNESCO World Heritage Site and since then, there has been an increasing number of tourists visiting the city. 

 The first glimpse of the Sassi drifted me away to some place quite difficult to believe existed. It was so surreal looking at the houses carved in stones.  I could easily see why they chose the city as one of the locations for the movie The Passion of the Christ. 

Admiring the beauty of this wondrous place from afar will never be enough. You actually have to roam around the place on foot to genuinely experience this magical place. In my opinion, this is the best way to explore every corner of the neighbourhoods of Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano.

 I must say that walking up and down the numerous labyrinth of uneven stone stairs of the world's third oldest city was a religious experience for me. It transported me back to thousands of years ago. 

From across the Sassi are the cave dwellings dating back to the Palaeolithic period. People lived there about 9,000 years ago.

Sassi di Matera was the biggest surprise of our Italian trip this year. The whole place was enthralling. It didn't feel quite real, it was almost like a dream being there. There is so much to love about this 9,000 years old city which is the European City of Culture in 2019.

 I have been to some amazing places in Italy, and in Europe in fact, but no place has given me such a mind-blowing experience as the Sassi di Matera. This place is special because of its sorrowful history, and yet magical beauty. 

 Where we ate:
1.Ristorante Borgo Antico- Str. Palazzo di Citta, 46 Bari
- My idea of Italian feast is a platter of my favourite seafood. This was exactly what Borgo Antico in Bari offered me. It was a well-deserved treat after that transcendent experience in Matera. Located in the centre of Bari, this restaurant is not easy to miss. We enjoyed our lunch here as it had that authentic Italian vibe. I ordered the Grigliata mare con scampi, gamberoni e polpo arrosto which was delightful.

2. Ristorante Hotel Grotta Palazzese- Via Narciso, 59 Polignano a Mare
- I had mixed feelings about this restaurant. Yes, it was a unique experience and yes, it was er, romantic. However, the service was disappointing and the food was mediocre. The serving was good for the price, but apart from that, there was nothing else about the food really. I didn't enjoy the service as it was too impersonal. It was haphazard and lacking some passion. I wondered whether the people who work there were genuinely happy to be there? For more or less than €130 per head, I would recommend the restaurant for its enchanting location. After all, how many times can you actually dine in a cave overlooking the Adriatic sea? And if you book carefully, you might also enjoy the beautiful sunset. So yes, Grotta Palazzese is one of those restaurants you should at least try- once.

 TIN x

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The Truly Amazing Trulli Di Alberobello

Sunday, 2 December 2018

It took me a week before I could properly say Alberobello, a place I have never heard of before. Thanks to Farrah whose idea gave me the opportunity to visit one of the most unique places I have ever visited.

So after four days of nothing but amazing trip to the Amalfi Coast, it was time to say goodbye to its best kept secret, Praiano. From there, we hired a taxi (£100 for an hour drive) to Salerno to pick up our car from Avis. We didn't explore Salerno as it was not part of our itinerary but it felt like a big city. We grabbed a quick coffee and sfogliatella at a nearby cafe from the car rental then we headed to Puglia.

 To be honest, I didn't enjoy the 3 1/2 hours drive from Salerno to Alberobello that much because of the numerous tunnels that we had to go through. They seemed endless and some of them were not even lit. Besides, the route that we took  was not as picturesque as I imagined it to be, hence easily forgettable. It was rather industrial and uninteresting. However, as we reached the town of Alberobello, things became more exciting. 

Alberobello is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is known for its unique Trulli. Trulli are basically small huts made of limestone, with dry-stone walls and conical roof. They were originally built as temporary shelters, however, people started living in the Trulli permanently when Alberobello officially became a town.

Alberobello has two Trulli villages - the Rione Monti and Aia Piccola. We visited the Rione Monti first as it is the bigger one with about 1,000 Trulli. Both villages are walking distance from Palazzo Scotto, where we were staying. In fact, Aia Picolla is literally just behind our hotel.

We arrived at Rione Monti late afternoon and it was very busy. There was also some festival going on so every place was packed with tourists and locals alike. The Trulli were uniquely interesting. We went inside one and it felt so claustrophobic. It was cramped, I wondered how people actually lived there. 

We wandered around the village aimlessly until we reached the top of the hill where the Parrocchia Sant'Antonio is located. On the other side of the street from the church is the main town of Alberobello. It was quite uncomfortable walking around the narrow streets because there were so many people, but it was still a good experience nevertheless. The Rione Monti is very picturesque from Piazza del Popolo.

Aia Piccola is much quieter than Rione Monti  with only 400 Trulli. Aia Piccola remains a residential area and to be fair, they are really lovely homes. We took photos of private trulli and the owners didn't mind. They actually happily watched us take photos after photos of everything and anything pretty that caught our hungry eyes.

We stayed out until late evening that day. The Trulli were fascinating to watch at night, especially because they were illuminated.

The day after, I woke up quite early and was out of the hotel by 0630 to fulfil a tradition. It was Keith's 18th birthday and so I went to Alberobello Cathedral (Parrocchia Santuario Basilica S.S. Cosma E Damiano), lit a candle and said a little prayer for him. The church has an imposing facade, however the interior is quite plain and simple. I was able to hear a solemn mass that morning, although it was in Italian. I also saw an unusual image of the Madonna and the Child.

As soon as I got back from church, Farrah and I returned to the Trulli village, thinking that it would be quieter then, and we were right. We had the trulli and the streets to ourselves. I had a better experience wandering around the village as there was no one around. The calmness and the quietness  of the narrow streets was refreshing.

In the whole, Alberobello is a very touristy town, however it is a must see. I had a unique experience here and I am happy that I was able to visit a place that none of the people I know (except Farrah of course) have mentioned before. 

Where we stayed:
Palazzo Scotto - Corso Trieste e Trento, 30 , 70011 Alberobello
- Palazzo Scotto was an ideal accommodation for us- spacious, clean and tastefully decorated with antique furniture. The location was perfect for exploring the area. Valerio, the owner, was very helpful and informative. He delivered our breakfast in such a delightful manner. Breakfast was served fresh and aplenty. Their croissant was very delicious. In fact, I asked for more to bring to our trip to Matera. The balcony where we had breakfast everyday, provided us with a beautiful view of the Aia Piccola and the Alberobello Cathedral.
Photo by Farrah

Where we ate:
Il Poeta Contandino- Via Indipendenza, 21 Alberobello
- In my humble opinion, Il Poeta Contandino deserves a Michelin star. It was a perfect restaurant experience for me. The location, although on the main street, was not as busy as that of the other Trulli village restaurants. The interior decorations were quite old-fashioned but just right to provide that formal dining environment that I was looking for. The big tree at the entrance was certainly an eye catcher. The food was served in an exquisite manner.  The service was exemplary. This is definitely one of the dining experiences I will never forget. I would recommend the Fava bean puree with Cavatelli pasta and seafood, and the Orecchiette with turnip, dried tomatoes and walnuts. Even the selection of bread and the complimentary treats in between were amazing.

TIN x

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