bari-italy

Amore in Bari: Chronicles of Love and Fate

Did you ever go to Bari, that town so lovely as a nice twirled spaghetti dish?

Snuggled in the cosy arms of the Adriatic Sea, Bari is that great Italian aunt who has a never-ending supply of hugs and gelato. Imagine cobblestones that sway to the beat of your footsteps, having long since perfected the tarantella step in that long promenade and in those picture-postcard squares that radiate with a fuzzy warmth of atmosphere.

Bari, it was more than a destination—it was an escape, a dream whispered in the quiet corners of stolen time. Their love wasn’t loud. It didn’t demand attention. It simply was—steady and quiet, like the waves lapping against the Adriatic coast. Their only plan? To get lost in a place that didn’t ask questions. By the time they arrived, with their happy smiles, a shared playlist  (they’d built together of glances and almost-confessions), and hearts wide open, Bari welcomed them like an old friend.

Everything in Bari felt alive—ripe tomatoes at the market, sea breeze in their hair, the scent of focaccia trailing behind old women carrying woven baskets. They laughed through Teatro Petruzzelli’s grand arches, kissed behind the Basilica di San Nicola, and tried everything—sgaglioza, panzerotti, orecchiette with rich ragu. This was their time. A chapter written just for two.

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But it’s not merely about the food – Bari’s heart is every bit as large as its appetite. Locals hug you like long-lost relatives, and before you can blink, you’re swapping gossip with the barista as if you’d been knowing each other since Vesuvius was a wee hill. Bari’s old town—its whitewashed alleys and labyrinthine lanes—is just like a playground. Every turn brought a new corner café or a waft of freshly baked focaccia. Getting lost here is like finding yourself in a romantic comedy, complete with serenading street musicians, gelato pit stops around every corner, and kisses from your lover.

In Bari, it felt like time slowed to match the rhythm of their love—unrushed, unfiltered, orbiting each other. The city wrapped them in its warmth, like an old love letter that had finally reached its destination.

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The historic center is a true testament to Bari’s rich heritage, with its ornate cathedrals, ancient churches, and hidden courtyards. The Basilica di San Nicola stands as a stunning example of Romanesque architecture, its intricate façade and domed roof an awe-inspiring sight that has attracted pilgrims and visitors for centuries. You can take beautiful photos all over Bari, just because even monuments deserve some camera love.

Bari’s cultural heartbeat continues in its theaters, like the majestic Teatro Petruzzelli. Art galleries and museums balance history and modern creativity, their walls echoing the passion that pulses through the Italian city.

But perhaps one of Bari’s most magical attributes is its connection to the sea. The shimmering waters of the Adriatic give a backdrop of tranquility, a sense of serenity that contrasts with the lively energy of the city.  In the evening, hand in hand along the Lungomare Nazario Sauro, they watched the sun melt into the water, painting the sky with promises. The golden hour was their favorite time—when the city glowed and everything felt possible.

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So whether you’re wandering through the tangled charm of Bari Vecchia, savoring orecchiette cooked just like nonna used to make, or simply living a quiet love story, Bari has a way of wrapping itself around your heart. It’s a place where time slows, love deepens, and memories are etched into the cobblestones.

Bari has a way of making you feel like you belong. It holds your memories gently, promising they’ll linger long after the last kiss, the last photo, the last wave goodbye. And sometimes, Bari is the perfect backdrop for a love that the world never saw coming.

After all, they’ll always have Bari!

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Rotterdam, the capital of Cool

During my basic education years, I learned a few things about what will later become my adopted country, The Netherlands: tulips come from here (let’s face it, we all know in the meanwhile that the tulip comes from Turkey), Rotterdam is the biggest port in Europe (from 1964 until 2004 it was the busiest port in the world even), the Erasmus bridge in Rotterdam named after the Dutch philosopher Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus, considered to have been one of the greatest scholars of the Renaissance, Rembrandt and Van Gogh (the second had become over the years my favorite painter), and PSV Eindhoven, Ruud Gulith with his crazy hair and Marco van Basten (my brother was a big fan). Read more

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De Haar Castle

When Etienne Gustave Frédéric, Baron van Zuylen van Nyevelt van de Haar (1860–1934), married Baroness Hélène de Rothschild, of the Rothschild family, he had not yet inherited the De Haar Castle. This marriage was a blessing for the castle, although it will still take five years before the castle benefits from the Rothschild family’s fortune.  The Baroness fell in love with the castle and decided to restore it into a modern version. She contracted the famous architect Pierre Cuypers (who was the architect of other two famous buildings: Amsterdam Central Station and Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam).  Read more

Photo: www.bluebirdsinthebackyard.nl

Bluebirds in the Backyard – vintage store

Vintage stores have something special. At least for me. I always imagine a story behind each product. If you are in Dordrecht, be sure to visit Bluebirds in the Backyard. It’s not just a simple vintage shop, it’s a fairytale place inside a magnificent 18th century building (Huis Roodenburch), which also has a cafe / restaurant where you can relax with a friend for a coffee or lunch (they have biological products). You can take your child with you, there is a very nice playground. You can rent a room for events and recently they opened the garden, so you can enjoy a cappuccino outdoors. Bluebirds in the Backyard is definitely on the list of hotspots in Dordrecht.

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Birminghan, U.K. – A mix of architectural styles and different cultures

I have this amazing girlfriend which lives in Birmingham. We know each other since I was 17. Our children have been a couple of years playing together, sometimes sleeping together by my home or hers, sometimes quarreling and then kissing and hugging. The good part is that now we live close by again since I am living in the Netherlands and her, in the United Kingdom. From time to time I miss her, and because of this reason, and especially for our children’s sake, we boarded an Amsterdam-Birmingham flight. Read more

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Giethoorn, little Venice of the Netherlands

Giethoorn is just like a beautiful postcard that you can’t wait to share with the loved ones. Called little Venice of The Netherlands, Giethoorn is a village in the northern of Overijssel province, mostly pedestrian. The car access is only partial, but you can visit the beautiful village walking or by rented boats and bicycles. In the old part of the village are no roads at all, and the transport is exclusively on the water, by boats. Giethoorn has 2 620 inhabitants and more than 180 bridges, giving the village a special charm. Read more