Did I tell you I went on a bicycling trip in Puglia? I lied. It was a gastronomic tour! The first full day of biking was fueled by cherries that our group picked along the narrow roads and huge panini served by the smiling couple above.

Puglian chefs pride themselves on their fresh fish and vegetables which they intersperse with fresh mozzarella and pasta dishes to create feasts for the eyes and the tongue.

Even I tried my hands at pasta kneading on a rainy day when we cooked rather than biked….

It wasn’t all about food. We biked past ancient olive groves where farmers still plant their vegetables and carpets of poppies, up the hills to gain scenic views of the Adriatic,  and through the historic town of Alberobello, filled with stone Trulli houses.

But most of all, our visit to Puglia reminded us of the Dolce Vita. Living in and enjoying the present moment is actually practiced in the heel of Italy!