The first deadly heat wave of the summer is here and all of Liguria is under temporary work restrictions barring outdoor labor or other heavy work between the hours of 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

There was, nevertheless, a marathon held yesterday evening right here in town. It began at 7:30 p.m. down on the coast and the course came up the mountainside to Capriglia and then over to Capezzano Monte and then back down again. Despite the evening start, this seemed insane to me.

And also, apparently, to the runners. Some of them stopped in at the pub to have some snacks and cold wine sitting under the trees on the terrace. Mind you, this was DURING the race. They were having a good, if not very strenuous time, and were happy to let me take their picture. 

Jonathan and I were handling the bills. We have told Daniele and Alice that we will always work Saturday nights until their baby is born and then we will work every night as long as they need us.

The pub was slammed with people last night who had come up into the hills looking for a little cooler air and a bit of a breeze. One man, while he was paying, said to Daniele, pointing at us, "Who are they?"

"They're Americans," Daniele said. "So you can pay in either euros or dollars -- whichever you like."

"But what are they doing here?" the man said.

"Look, pal," Daniele said to him. "Up here, we are a community. Everyone helps out here."