Rainstorms have been blowing through here today in waves. In between them, the sky is luminous like pearls and the sea has bands of palest aqua and bottle green. We can see the surf breaking on the beach down at Viareggio.

We skidded down the mountainside into town to buy meat at the butcher and bread at the bakery and fruit and veg at the fruit and veg shop. In case you were wondering what it is like to spend twenty bucks at the tiny little fruit and vegetable store in Pietrasanta: It is like you have won the lottery and the prize is being  paid in produce. I am a glutton for it all, but figure that there are worse things to be addicted to than fresh vegetables. (Full disclosure: I am also addicted to some of that other stuff.)