Al Fresco

One of nicest things about Italy -- the thing that makes the country a king among countries -- is the whole alfresconess of it.
In the summer.
Light's beautiful; sun shines a lot. There can be a slight breeze.
It's so often the perfect temperature for sitting outside.
For eating outside. For having a drink at a bar. For going swimmming. For drying your laundry, gardening, puttering around.
Anything really.
Eating outside especially.
Just so pleasant.
Alfresco dining. At every meal.
Why not?
In Washington, you cannot eat outside really. It's too muggy. Too many mosquitos.
You just do not do it.
In other places I've lived too. Not so much.
Not that pleasant.
Here, just so pleasant.
Perfect temperature.
No bugs really.
We sit outside at every meal here.
It's just evolved that way. Because we have a big wooden table outside.
A big IKEA thing we bought 10 years ago now -- in a rush -- that seats 12, I think. Massive old crappy thing now that I've thrown a beautiful yellow Provencal tablecloth over I found at a market near here last year.
Looks so much better than it deserves to.
That's where we sit.
To eat, play cards, whatever.
We have an astounding view of this lake in central Italy.
The lake changes every day -- several times a day -- the way it flows, waves and shimmers.
You can stare at it for hours.
It's amazing when it rains too.
The other night, I was here alone, and I lay outside on a chaise longue on the terrace and watched a huge lightning storm pass through.
Big black clouds. Shafts of evening sun. Beautiful rainbow.
More punishing rain.
Just sat out there and watched. Almost three hours, I think.
Can you build a life around a view?