As we sat down for lunch at a restaurant overlooking Martina Franca’s beautiful Basilica di San Martino, we collectively thought – did that really just happen?
And together we went over how events had played out and which invigorated our belief in human nature after three strangers stepped forward to offer the most generous help and support in a time of need.
Only one hour before we had been stranded in the middle of nowhere – on a back road close to Locorotondo in Puglia’s trulli-filled countryside – with the front tyre of our hired car shredded to bits and the rear tyre badly damaged.
In the back of the car was my sister and her new husband – on day two of their honeymoon – accompanied by me and our other sister and my brother law (not as strange as you might think, we are a close family).
I had hit a pipe which runs parallel to the verge of a field and immediately knew something was badly wrong. My first thought was – fuck! As was my second thought.
What do we do now? The honeymoon was all going so well after a visit to the trulli capital of picture postcard Alberobello (or tourist hell depending on how you look at it).
We pulled up at the first safe spot which was a dusty road ending beside the electric gates of a substantial home set in large gardens. Almost immediately a woman emerged, who turned out to be the home owner Angela, and from her rapid Italian I managed to work out that her daughter would soon arrive and that she spoke English.
The implication was “stay put” help will soon be on hand, but racing through my minds was how the hell do I explain this to the car hire firm, and on a Sunday arrange for this to be sorted – conscious that we were supposed to be on the road to Otranto early the next day.
Soon Angela’s husband Leonardo arrived. He spoke no English but with my limited Italian I understood that their “figlia” was nearby, attending to guests living at trulli that they owned, and she would soon be here to help.
Leonardo seemed to be saying – it’s ok we will get this fixed, not today, but first thing tomorrow – and of course I am thinking “no chance”.
After about half an hour la figlia Rosanna arrived, who can only be described as a whirlwind of efficiency, and like her mother and father, kind to a fault.
Within minutes she was on to the car rental firm, explaining the situation and getting approval that it would be much quicker and cheaper for me to get repairs done than waiting for them.
Rosanna told me not to worry – she had a “truck man” who naturally couldn’t do anything on a Sunday but he would be here first thing in the morning and it would be sorted. Again, I am thinking “mmmm, ok”.
We could park the car in their drive and she would arrange for taxi driver Gianni to pick us up, take us to Martina Franca where we could enjoy lunch and a walk about centro storico, then he would pick us up later to take us to our accommodation in Monopoli.
On Monday morning at 10am, Gianni would then pick us up in Monopoli, with our luggage, bring us back to their home and the car would be ready for us to continue our journey to Otranto.
In my mind I am thinking, who are these people, this can’t go to plan, life is not that simple. But that is exactly how it played out.
We arrived the next day to find the car jacked up and by around 11am the new tyres were fitted, the vehicle was loaded and we were on our way – and at a fraction of the cost for replacement tyres and labour that I expected to pay.
The Palmisano family run Trulli Angela, six holiday accommodation trulli near to Locorotondo. They look stunning properties and I have no doubt it would be a fantastic place to stay on holiday, because if they treat their guests the way they treated five stranded Scottish strangers, it is sure to be an unforgettable experience.
Later Rosanna wrote to me: “It’s all about being compassionate, and helping each other… this will give you the good energies to do the same when needed with someone else!”
Somone was looking after us that Sunday afternoon when by pure chance we pulled up outside the Trulli Angels’ home – possibly our late and loved sister Angela!
