Va bene. The compromesso, the purchase contract of the trullo in Martina Franca between the 6-headed Northern Italian family and the two sometimes stubborn Dutchmen, is sent by registered mail to the broker in Cisternino.

The largest donkey species in Italy
We see ourselves early in the morning in front of the traditional Martian house, looking at the slow-growing olive trees or the super-fast lizards that pop up everywhere among the stones. And we love being stubborn, because someday we'll keep some donkeys around the house. The asino di Martina Franca is by far the cutest, but also the largest donkey species in Italy. However, we have to be patient because it will take a few months before we sign deatto notarile.

The time between decompromess and the notarial purchase is used to prepare the necessary documents and certificates of the plot. It is also checked whether someone from the neighbors is a full-time farmer, because that person is automatically entitled to buy the plot for a lower price.

Separate check for each family member
That gives us time to have the checks made at the banco di Napoli in Ostuni. Checks for the interpreter, because we need a translation of the purchase contract. Plus a separate check for each family member, and of course a check for the broker. Interpreter "Peter" who has lived in England for years, will also be present as soon as we sit at the notary, just like 2 English-speaking witnesses.

Procrastination
We receive an e-mail from our buying agent Pierdonato with the request to postpone a number of weeks because part of the six-member selling party cannot be present on the planned date. We are planning a new date.

It is February when we close our Teazone tea shop and our Bouteaque hotel for a few days. The people of Maastricht will have little need for tea at Carnival. Sheng from the geng, we take the flight to Brindisi when another mail comes from Pierdonato. A number of necessary papers from the municipality of Martina Franca are not ready. There is a new manager and now everything is going slower in the town hall.

Hibernation of Puglia
If the geometra has indicated that it needs time for a number of technical documents, we know that our first days in Italy are just hanging around a bit. This winter is freezing cold in Puglia, with temperatures well below zero at night. So cold even that the cacti around the house freeze and snow falls. Many restaurants are closed. Welcome to Puglia's hibernation.

Refurbishment
Tourism is on the back burner at this time of the year. This also has its advantages: we can park everywhere, we are surrounded by only Italians, we eat delicious winter dishes in restaurants, and we also taste the spring when the sun comes up in the afternoon. Between the builders in Matera (capital of Basilicata, not of Puglia), the cultural capital of 2019, we stand in the winter afternoon sun. We are working hard to prepare all the sassi (cave dwellings). We look forward to the future refurbishment of our own trullo. We have already loaded the car with building materials and tools. A few more days until we go to the notary.

Piano, piano, dear reader, we will get there, because the asino di Martina Franca does not hit the same stone twice.