Last evening there was a concert close to our front door. Someone was playing a piano with the balcony doors open to the little street next to ours. The lush and brimming music filled the neighborhood at sunset. We opened our balcony doors and listened to it for more than an hour. Selections included a wide range of popular songs like Lara’s Theme from Dr. Zhivago and, my cultural favorite, Speak Softly Love from The Godfather. I have to look up the word for “schmaltz” in Italian. I looked it up. It’s schmaltz.
MedFlies 
Just wanted to say I’m following and so envious of your adventure!
Hi Emily, So glad to have you and the family along. I remember your solo sojourn in Paris. I was envious then. Photos of you, John and the boys in Malta still surface in my rotating photo albums. Good memories.
Nothing wrong with a serve of schmaltz. I still recall music heard one morning as I woke in Peru. I found a recording, and play it now and then, and that exotic courtyard room comes rushing back.
Yes. I think these songs will remind me of Piazzatta Regina Maria whenever I hear them again.
What a lovely experience. Because of the closeness of the buildings and the fact that everything is made of stone, do you get any “street noise”? I don’t mean auto. Is it warm enough in the evenings to have the doors open and is it quiet at night for sleeping?
Italians don’t eat until late a night (as opposed to most Americans), so I was wondering about the quietness. Speaking of night, have you taken an evening stroll and does Lecce “really” glow then? Terry
It is very quiet at night. No traffic noise and no neighborhood noise. Also amazingly dark for being in the city. It is not yet warm enough in the morning and the evening for open doors, though it is mild in the sun at midday. We have taken an evening stroll but have not yet been in the central piazza surrounded by luminous Lecce stone.
I looked up “wunderbar” in Italian. It’s NOT “wuderbar”. 😉
Schmaltz is a Yiddish, a truly universal language.
Hi you two! I’m so happy to see that you’re on the road again. I love your writing and beautiful photos – I’m looking forward to more!
Cheers, Ellen
So glad to have you with us Ellen. Where are you living now?
How wonderful. Is this a picture of your balcony? I wonder if the choice of the Dr. Zhivago piece was influenced by what’s happening in Ukraine.
Yes, this is our front door. Didn’t think of Ukraine but maybe.