Anne: Up and packed before 7am and were lucky that the rain overnight and then predicted for around 8am managed to hold off giving us enough time to walk the ten minutes to Ottaviano metro. While we are organised and our bags compact the rain would have been a bit of a nuisance.

The ticket machine at the Metro station refused to accept either of our 10E notes and we didn't have 3E in change so had to line up at the ticket office which was about to open. Fortunately we had - as usual- left plenty o time.

Termini has been considerably upgraded since our last visit, so there were plenty of clean, bright options upstairs on the terrace where there had once been a rather dingy run down cafe. The train left on time, and unlike our Italo.treno experience, this one was was crowded. There never seems to be enough storage for the kind of luggage people bring, making navigation of the aisles a challenge, and sitting under some of the precariously stowed pieces in the overhead a life threatening option. With our carry on only policy, our own storage was easy.

On the last long train trip I'd bought Oreos from a machine so decided to do the same. I went for a walk, tricky at speeds up to 246 km/ hour, but there was no machine. About an hour later there was an announcement that the dining car was open for coffee and snacks so I made my way there and I thought I asked for "Oreo" please. The man went off and I heard some rummaging about and he returned with two tiny bottles of olive oil. Instead of Oreo he had heard "olio". I ended up with two cranberry muesli bars and he was most gracious.

Once in Bari (only "dieci minute in ritardo" ) we walked the ten minutes to our unit (photo of the entrance is our blog pic today. As to why it has come out sideways- who knows! ) We received the warmest of welcomes by the owner Enzo, and the manager Matteo. Enzo lives in a small town nearby with his wife and twins and Matteo lives in our building with his wife who has lived here all her life. Enzo showed us the unit which is just lovely and then sat us down, after getting our passport details etc (the law) and went through an extraordinary range of maps and tourist details that he had prepared himself and laminated. Nothing was too much trouble and he told us to call Matteo any time if we needed anything. He has laminated information sheets, and sent the most exhaustive set of directions as to how to get here from the station, including step by step photos.

There was also an incredible package of food and supplies (in the photos) for us including fresh panini, little calzone ie deep fried pizza, some cakes/ tarts, a bottle of wine, milk and water. The place is spotless and has everything anyone could ever need including an excellent heating system.

After we devoured the delicious panini we foolishly set off to the supermarket for our usual supplies, not realising that here the shops REALLY close between 1-4. So we did our main shopping later in the day with the plan to get fresh fruit and vegetables tomorrow morning at the nearby market. This is open 6 am - 1 pm, Monday- Saturday.

Dinner was pasta cooked in the unit. Mick watched the Inter v AC Milan game commencing at 8.45 pm and I went to bed, still fighting a cold.