Off Season In Gallipoli

Off Season in Gallipoli April’s bus from Lecce unloads at the fabled fish market. It’s closed. The only hint of June’s full fare is one slight stall. No one lunching there. The streets are open; we stroll at will by a weathered or a white-washed wall. Look at the moored boats. The slips are full. No one paints or mends a sail. Not one child with shovel and pail works the beach. One man and his bull dog play a game of pitch and fetch. Cameras out; this is the daily catch! The mercato. Shop? No dice! but its facilities have no line, leaving time to lick Italian ice or to enjoy the local wine and for the uncluttered spell to weave until it’s time to leave.