'We live without heating and telephone coverage. At the same time you get to know yourself (and each other) again. It was almost two years ago that we decided to purchase a dilapidated trullo near Martina Francaaan and to return to its former glory, but it was also the starting signal to pursue a different lifestyle. More 'one with nature' and especially more being outside, enjoying the sun.

Rain
The name Puglia comes from the Latin Apollo, which means 'lack of rain'. The region is warm and dry. Although there is no sign of that last April and May. It has never rained as much as this spring.

Lots of parking at the supermarket
What we probably learned the most in these first months in Puglia is that you can indeed live without heating, but the lack of a working Wi-Fi signal is crazy, since in Maastricht the bookings for the hotel continue. It will be a matter of letting go and lots of parking at the supermarket, because there is an open WiFi channel there. When the satellite dish is placed, we can use the internet, Netflix and Whatsaps again.

Farmer around the corner
We want to show our future guests Puglia through the eyes of a local. Then you quickly talk about food and the small shops in the neighborhood. These shops are really the heart of the region: small and specialized. For a lawn mower you go to the specialist and filling a gas bottle is a separate matter. You can buy fresh burrata at the farm around the corner. Also get the stracciatella, one of the many mozzarella variants fresh from the farmer and you will undoubtedly get a nice anecdote with it.

"Poeklia"
Yes, that is Puglia for us (speak Pulley). Certainly not the region that RTL Boulevard was described as extremely dry and "you feel rich when you look around you in that Masseria." Unfortunately, the presenter meant perfection and money with these words. No, it is the 'Poeklia' region (according to the statement of the same RTL presenter) where you feel rich because there are real people living with real stories and real skills.

Living here enriches your life and that life does not have to be perfect. The non-perfection unfortunately also applies through holes in the road and dumped waste along the road. In the summer months you fortunately see this less because of the high grass.

Second trullo
In the meantime we have purchased a second trullo. A trullo that with 2 large zones, 2 Alcoves and one hectare of agricultural land almost borders our plot. In our fantasy, we have already planted a vineyard, because there are almost 80 vines. In Martina Franca, fruity and delicate white wines are produced from Verdeca and Bianco d'Alessandro, so it is a good breeding ground.

Zucchini from Paesi Bassi
Our 70-year-old neighbors Alfredo and Sandrino with their familia Masseria la Grotta make wine. They fill large glass bottles of 5 liters, so they know what they are talking about. They tell us that the Dutch potatoes that we have grown are not suitable for the red Pugliese soil. Also those zucchini seeds from Paesi Bassizijn are totally worthless. A handful of seeds is offered, that's how it should work. So there is enrichment: a simple hand gesture and the sympathy that grows from the neighbors for the two ignorant Dutch people who have moved to Puglia for vague reasons.

The Beckhams
Indeed, Justin Timberlake, Madonna, the Beckhams and Ivanka Trump have spent their holidays in recent years at one of those beautiful masseria addresses in Poeklia, but there is so much more. It is certainly not just 'the new Ibiza'.

Long summer
The glass bottle returns and is filled again. The 7 dogs of masseria la Grotta keep remarkably calm when we walk down the yard. It will be the Pugliese lazy summer or maybe we already blended a bit in the area. Puglia is the place to be. '