30/05/2026
Three years ago in Puglia, one of my guests from America mentioned she would love to try fresh prickly pears.
As we were driving through the countryside, surrounded by olive groves, vineyards, and fig trees, I spotted a local farmer working alone near the road. I pulled over and asked him if he knew where I could buy some prickly pears.
He thought for a moment. Then I mentioned they were for my guest from America.
His face changed immediately.
“Come inside,” he said.
Now, people in this part of Puglia can be wonderfully warm, but they’re also quite reserved. Yet within seconds, this stranger welcomed us onto his land, grabbed a bucket, and filled it with freshly picked prickly pears.
“No charge. Take them.”
Just like that.
My guest was delighted. The prickly pears were incredible. And when I got home, I gave the rest to my mother, who turned them into jam.
Moments like these are why I love what I do. Not the monuments, not the famous sights, but the unexpected encounters that reveal the true heart of a place.
This is Puglia. ❤️🇮🇹
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