Taranto - Getting Stuck
- Tobias Heller
- 22. Okt. 2016
- 5 Min. Lesezeit
Never did I expect that day to get stuck in Taranto, a place that was not really on my list to see. It is one of the harbor cities of the south of Italy. Two nights before I have already been to the cities new center during night time by car with my Couchsurfer Antonio and several of his friends while staying in Brindisi. Taranto is also called 'City of the two seas' and harbors a turning bridge that leads over the sea and establishes a connection between the different parts of Taranto.
Sightseeing & City
Stuck - Let's take it easy
Taranto, a place where I never inteded to stay but after missing the only bus to Matera due to a delay of the train, I am stuck at the bus station. Fortunately I could cancel the bus which was possible up to one hour before departure time, therefor I am not losing the money as I receive a voucher to my free disposal for the next journey. I think deeply about possible options, trying to gain information about other possible bus companies that might connect Taranto and Matera, which is not really easy as there are neither bus timetables nor a proper information or helpers center. I ask at one of the travel agencies, who tell me in a very broken english to ask at another place near the station. Once at the described place, and I am sure it is the right one, I of course find the blinds shut and the door locked. Closing out the possibility of trying to hitchhike, due to the fact that I was told that Matera is not so easy to reach, I decide to walk right up into the city's center. Even though I missed the bus my mood is still uplifted, despite walking aimlessly around in the streets. My way leads over a bridge into the old and ancient part, which actually is situated on a small Island between the western and eastern part of Taranto, connected by a bridge on each side. It has an old, run-down appearance, parts of the walls already fallen off or on the verge of doing so, wires dangling around, obscenities and random scribbles smeared to the walls. This place is not really appealing, though lifts up my explorer mood. Dark corners, dirty streets and being lost are my specialties. I neglect the thought of not having a place to sleep here meanwhile
Sightseeing & City
What did I expect?
A bridge leads over from the old part to the modern center with Taranto's large castle, Castello Aragonese, sitting direcly at the seaside, with the ocean to the left, which channels into a river flow to the right. The city center offers the ultimate contrast to the previously seen, wheras the old part seems to be rotting away the newer part has a way cleaner appearance, with various shopping possibilities, restaurants and a large fountain along it's main square. I step into a bar asking for wifi, those password they offer kindly to me and I check possibilities to stay, unfortunately most exceed the price I am willing to pay per night as I can't find any hostel around. I decide to text some couchsufers, hoping any of them would be checking their profile this spontaneously and luck being on my side. Meanwhile I fetch a snack at a supermarket, devour it hungrily and explore more of Taranto, making the best of my unwanted and unexpected stopover. I step across a nondescript garden, several streets that only offer shopping possibilities, obviously something I can't do with my anyways heavy backpack. The most interesting here is the long promenade along the coastline, with a very messy harbor, I enjoy myself looking around piled up slimy fishnets, rancid buckets, floating plastic trash and bottles and in all this chaos, fishermen are cutting the guts out of freshly caught fish. There is not rather much more to see for me and the bag keeps on constantly annoying me today. When I return to the center to the bar where I logged into wifi previously though find it shut already. That does not keep me from connecting to the wifi, sitting down around the corner slumping down with my back leaning against the wall, checking my messages - noting new.
Sightseeing & City
A memorable night after all
It then so happens that I get to know Pierluigi, an Italian that lives outside of Taranto. He is in the center to meet a friend later on and have a night out, and - oh i cannot believe my luck - invites me to stay the night in his car, as he will do the same in order to be able to have a few beers. Undeniably it is exciting to meet someone and just right away step into his car to go around the city for a cruise, which he offers kindly, but I have a good feeling about that. And sometimes a good feeling may be enough to neglect what your mama taught you at home."Don't go with strangers. And for heaven's sake, don't sleep in their car!". Anyways I consider it safer than sleeping at the train station or linger in a park to get some sleep. After a memorizable trip around in the car with a stop for a coffee and good talks during our ride, while tunes from Britney Spears drone out of the car's speakers, he drops me off in the center in order to reunite later and to get some things done. I leave my bag in the back of his car. "Oh dear", warns mama's voice somewhere from inside my head, "how can you leave all your belongings in a stranger's car? He got get off with it, never to be found again!". I know why, I cannot explain, but while traveling you sometimes have to rely on strangers, overcome the deeply internalized fear to refrain from the unknown and be open minded about new things. Not every person walking on earth is thoroughgoing equipped with a bad character, not everyone tries to take advantage of people in weak situations. There are good people. People such as Pierluigi.
When he returns we meet a friend of him halfway between Brindisi and Taranto in Francavilla Fontana, where saturday's nightlife is fully embraced in a small square filled with many young people. The night finishes back in Taranto, where he parks the car in order to have at least some rest, before bringing me to the station and driving back home. I say goodbye to my short time friend, and hope to see him again. Indeed the night had turned out to be great fun, though I am not overly impressed by Taranto, I can look back positively. The good memories always remain.
Kommentare