If you remember my post on the 1st of May concerning East Lugtonridge Garden, this is a view of the plants I bought there. All are blooming well.

Please bear with me over the next week or so – my posting is likely to be a bit erratic.

Also in Rozelle, we spotted this somewhat larger duck. In fact it looked quite like a small goose when it stretched up, but the colours are very mallard.

This plant, growing wild at the pond in the Rozelle Estate, makes me think of foreign climes rather than the unpredictable weather systems in Scotland.

Yesterday was a first. The first Red Squirrel to visit the garden – well the first one we’ve actually seen!

It was busy hoovering up the bird seed on the table and munching on the hanging fat balls. We watched it through the kitchen window (explains the slight distortion on some of the photos) for about 10 mins without worrying it in the least.

For an extended period at the beginning of the year we had a grey squirrel visiting the garden eating the nuts – then it stopped and shortly afterwards I saw one dead at the side of the road and assumed that was it.

Very recently one had started coming back, but yesterday we had two. I know they are an alien species (introduction from the US) and that some carry a virus which the reds have not yet developed any anti-bodies against, but there is something …..

The final two Italian pictures come from the west coast of ‘the heel’ overlooking the Mar Ionio.

The National Park at Porto Selvaggio is quite something and stretches between two watchtowers on that coast.

It is a rocky coastline, but the waters are crystal clear and made for swimming. The rocks don’t put off the locals who seem to have a penchant for baking themselves in the mid-day sun. Obviously it’s not just the English!

The picture of the watchtower “Torre dell’Alto” (Torre actually means watchtower), one of the most photographed in Puglia, was taken from the beach. I read somewhere – can’t track it down now – that it was supposed to have been opened to visitors by now, but that bureaucratic wrangling has caused the date to slip and slip.

However it was here that we heard and saw the Hoopoe (Upupa) which we’d wanted to get all that holiday. Just made our day.

Today’s photos come from the town of Galatina.

The first set are of the main cathedral of St. Peter and St.Paul.

The first is of the frontage and the second is an interior shot of the roof.

The third shows you not to believe everything is as it seems – the frontage of the cathedral seen from the side.

The following two photographs are from the cloister at Basilica Santa Caterina d’Alessandria, since I wasn’t allowed to take photographs inside the basilica itself. The link gives a minute indication of how impressive the church is.

It really is awe inspiring and the frescos look as fresh as the day they were painted.

Firstly photographs from the market in Poggiardo, a little town very close to Spongano. It is large, with a good variety of suppliers providing everying from fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, clothes, shoes, handbags, used clothing ………

This town also has a very odd little bread supplier – I mean the shop is odd, not the bread, it’s delicious. We’ve been here several times and you always get something extra stuffed in the bag, like a couple of rolls or a hard bread that has to be dipped in oil to eat.

The next photographs are from Otranto.

A ‘must see’ is the Cathedral which was consecrated in 1088 The basilica contains columns said to come from a temple of Minerva and has a superb 1165 mosaic pavement {please use the Cathedral link to get information on it – it’s worthwhile doing so}.

It also has a crypt supported by forty-two marble columns.

However, don’t neglect the rest of the town.

Just in case you thought I’d got over mentioning the Palazzo Bacile di Castiglione in Spongano (which you must, must visit), you are wrong. I’ll make this the last day I mention it though.

First a picture of one of our starters for dinner outside the Casotto. It was as good as it looks.

Next, fresh lemons anyone? Just one of the fruit trees within the Palazzo grounds.

For a change from fruit, here is one of flowers within the grounds.

The final photograph is of the swimming pool in the grounds.

If the little selection has not made you want to visit the the Palazzo Bacile di Castiglione in Spongano, then I don’t know what will. You really, really MUST!

Gallipoli is located in the province of Lecce on the west coast of Salento.

It is known as the queen of the ‘Basso Ionio’, mainly because of the fabulous setting of the old city nestling as it does on a small island which is connected to the mainland by a bridge.

The city is dominated by two structures;

the 15th century castle

and the Baroque cathedral full of Salentine and Neapolitan work.

There are many more churches of many hues, each having tin-glazed earthenware painted with flowers and fruits, both inside and out.