Oh what a night.....

It was a dark and rainy night in Mezzegra, Italy!! No, really it was!!

Yesterday was a very hot and humid day here on Lake Como. I don't remember it being this hot last year but it was in the high 80's and humidity at least 90%. After an early dinner Joan and I were sitting around doing a little reading and a little talking. The sky got very dark (at least two hours before sunset) and a lot of lightening and thunder in the distance. Wow, did it get upon us fast! Next thing we knew it was coming down in sheets and blowing like hell. The west side of the house got the brunt, with water leaking in under the door leading out to our sitting area. Thank goodness the floor is tile and no damage done except using up one of our bath towels to stem the tide. We are only about one kilometer from the lake but it totally disappeared in the torrential downpour! It was sort of enjoyable watching the whole thing until I started thinking about the four foot overhang around the house. Could the wind rip the roof off?? Thank God no structural damage, although the outside furniture was completely rearranged when we got up this morning. Lots of crap in the pool but that's about it.

We woke to a crystal clear morning and about 65 degrees! Just beautiful.

A little about the "villa" we rented for the next eight weeks. They use the word "villa" a little too casually here. It is actually a three bedroom home situated on a hillside with a lot of trees, plants and grass. We have a neighbor fairly close on the east side of the house but lots of privacy on the west side where the sitting area is. Very quiet and peaceful with a beautiful view of the lake and the surrounding mountains. Lots of mountains!! Remember we are only about twenty miles from Switzerland!

The home is owned by Germans and there is definitely a Teutonic touch to the place! Very contemporary and somewhat austere although it has all the amenities one would expect except for a microwave oven. It's laid out with the living room, dining room and kitchen facing the windows facing the lake. Quite airy and very light during the day. The bedrooms are towards the mountains to the north of us and have windows facing the east and west. Those who know me well know I have already designated one as the "nap" room.

As Joan mentioned, our flights were on time and we arrived without difficulty. (For fun you can go back in the archive and re-read the adventure we had getting to Lake Como last year)

Today we go back to the Supermarket and stock up on some essentials. Twenty five kilometers towards Como and then back here for maybe lunch in town with a little exploring. We have now have had two days to recooperate so it's time to get out and see a few sights.

Ciao.

Gene