Peschici –> Rome
400 kms / 4 hours 15 minutes
Dinner: Jardin de Russie
Accommodation: Relais Piazza del Popolo

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I spent my last morning in Puglia on a small boat in the water, admiring the jagged coast and golden beaches of the Adriatic Sea as we zipped by Gargano’s beautiful coast back and forth from Peschici.

Peschici is a small town on the northern coast of Gargano park. I was surprised at how busy its historic center was, even late at night, with hordes of tourists, mostly Italians, walking the streets until well into the night. The 5-room hotel I stayed in is a grand old re-purposed apartment built on the side of a cliff in the historic center. It felt as if we were staying at some relative’s home, only with more amenities and less noisy aunts. The views from the room and from the rooftop terrasse are breathtaking, with nothing but the blue of the sea ahead.

It takes a little over 4 hours to get from Peschici to Rome. Last night’s dinner was the Grand Gelinaz Shuffle, an international event that “shuffled” 37 of the world’s best chefs. I bought tickets weeks ago and didn’t know who would be cooking at Jardin de Russie until the very last minute. The surprise element was sweet torture as I tried to speculate on who would be there. The revealed chef was Bertrand Grebaut of Parisian restaurant Septime and the dinner was an elegant affair in the beautiful gardens of Hotel de Russie.

This post marks the end of my reports from the road in Puglia. I will be back here soon with more of my Italian adventures.

To read the rest of my Puglia road trip adventures, click here, and follow me on Instagram for more daily photos of my trip.