13 July 2016

We are all having a wonderful time, on the whole, in general, all things considered, by and large, for the most part etc.
The weather is all over the place. Thunderstorms are very dramatic on the southern slopes of the Italian alps, complete with hailstones, high winds and whoah, the lightning bolts across the valley! We sit on the top floor balcony watching the clouds racing across the peaks, weaving through the valley like white snakes.




Health wise I am constantly lowering my expectations. Right now,  I am dragging them on the floor behind me. Two days ago, I crawled and staggered across this gorgeous but hot hot hot town into the soothing arms and efficient hands of a wonderful osteopath who straightened and massaged my sore back into a brief semblance of sweet flexibility. But even she was somewhat baffled by the purple bruises along my spinal column. I try to cycle and walk a bit every day, along the stylish promenades where emperors and princesses used to take the waters and twirl their parasols, but mostly I seek out the soothing comfort of a deck chair or the stylish grey sofa in front of the large window with a view, while the gang is out and about, tasting wine, climbing peaks, swimming, listening to live music, visiting exotic botanic gardens and fabulous castles, bringing back ripe peaches, apricots (of course), fat black cherries, spicy sausages, the local flat bread baked with coriander and fennel seed, endless varieties of alpine cheeses and Italian dolce. I am spoiled for choice.




8 comments:

Ms. Moon said...

Well. If you are forced to limit your activity, it certainly seems to me that you're in a very fine place to do that. But I know that's rather cold comfort.

Anonymous said...

It's so beautiful there. I love your view out to the mountains. Your photos show the changing weather so wonderfully. I have been traveling vicariously this summer all through Europe, through the photos posted by friends on their blogs and Facebook. I love where you are right now. Thank you for this view. Hope you are feeling better.

beth coyote said...

WOW. The Italian Alps! Our tender fragile and inconstant bodies. The mountains are moving too, very very slowly. My dog ran into a thicket of burrs, tiny ones that I've been picking out laboriously. He is quite patient with me, yipping occasionally. I think he knows I'm trying to help him.

Sometimes, my imprint on the world is only that big. Pulling burrs out of my dog's curly hair.

XXX Beth

Elizabeth said...

I'm so sorry to hear of your health issues troubling you while away in such a beautiful place. Your description of the food are wonderful -- feel better, keep eating, keep writing. You inspire.

JO said...

What a beautiful place to be ill in! Leaves you with many complicated feelings.

Steve Reed said...

Well, you may not be out and about as much as the others, but you ARE taking in the beauty of your locale. It sounds to me like you're experiencing it in your own rich, beautiful way. So I hope that's something!

Rouchswalwe said...

The poetry of pain and beauty makes me weep. Coriander was the ingredient in an ale a friend and I shared last night. Now I'm wondering if one could brew with apricots?

Colette said...

All the food sounds great. I am glad you found an osteopath to help you a bit. In spite of the lowered expectations dragging along behind you (loved that image, by the way) it sounds like you are doing a bang-up job of balancing effort and relaxation.