22 Comments
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Richard Golb's avatar

Images of the lovely Tina Turner, the indomitable Zeus and hail the size of generous gelato scoops, this is a wickedly good post!

Sarah Bringhurst Familia's avatar

Whew, that took a turn! And yes, I’m still jealous from Umbria. Give me golf ball hail and a 20-degree temperature drop. 🙏

Life Lived Italian's avatar

I’ll send them over :) Maybe put the car in the garage. If it makes you feel any better, Marche is heating up again too. This summer is just a slow broil.

Flavor of Italy's avatar

Sarah, I’m with you!🥵

Gillian Longworth McGuire's avatar

It is even miserable up here in Venice this week! I am glad you and Mino are unscathed.

Life Lived Italian's avatar

He’s a survivor that cat. Car is a little worse for the wear, but it’s a rental :) sorry that even Venice is getting hit. There’s no hiding this summer. A friend went to London and roasted even there!

Elfin Waters's avatar

I'm gasping for air in Val Padana so reading this made me feel seen. There was some of that hale in the paese next to mine and it damaged cars and crops. Buon Ferragosto, let's hope this heatwave is the last and we can go back to enjoying our summer.

Life Lived Italian's avatar

So interesting in the Italian countryside how the weather can be hyper-local— you have hail in one spot and not in the town next door. In Marche, this one seemed to hit everyone. Stay cool— and drink water!

Cheryl A. Ossola's avatar

Yikes, the full story is worse than I thought, especially since you were doing it all solo. Glad Mino is okay. (He’s sorry not sorry about the white cushions.) Those sudden cooldowns are glorious—if only they’d last! Thanks for another great read!

Life Lived Italian's avatar

It might have been better alone really— C probably would have been convulsed in laughter at my flailing around. I know what you mean about the cooldowns— it’s back up near 40 again this weekend. Hope you’re siurviving in Perugia.

Cheryl A. Ossola's avatar

Laughter? I’ll have to have a word with her. 🙂 We’re looking at 35-40 for the next two weeks, even with some thunderstorms in the forecast. Ugh.

A Brit in Ferrara's avatar

Oh my word! You had me at the Thunderdome photo! I absolutely understand where you are coming form I am in the humidity capital of Italy…Ferarra in Emilia-Romagna and it is a horrible sweaty mosquito riddled hell just now….or this could be just as I am still travelling to work each day to a semi air con working classroom (hence the grumpy nature). Anyway a great post, thanks for sharing!

Barbara Boyle's avatar

Great, great post. I felt the pounding of the hail! And I love your cat. Have a great Ferragosto. I look forward to reading your next missive. Each one inspires me.

Flavor of Italy's avatar

Wow, Eric! Unbelievable! I’m feeling a little bit jealous as we’re still suffering a pounding heat… Almost too hot to go out to the pool.🔥🥵☀️

Andrew Sedlock's avatar

Mother Nature is indeed incredible. We just had 9" of rain in 24 hours.

Life Lived Italian's avatar

Wow!!! That’s madness. That has to make things a bit wild in the stream that runs below the garden! Hope you guys are well and dry!

Marciebp's avatar

Beautifully written. Thank you for brightening up our day.

Life Lived Italian's avatar

Thanks so much— not sure my emergency management will win any awards, but it looks good in retrospect.

Life Lived Italian's avatar

Yes, sounds like we're both feeling a little apocalyptic these days. I love Ferrara but I do know that Emilia-Romagna can be pretty rough in this season, especially with those mighty mosquitoes. Hoping your classroom is about to call things off for Ferragosto. Really appreciate the nice comment and wish you a respite from the heat, wherever you can find it.

Life Lived Italian's avatar

Thanks so much! It was quite a pummeling that hail delivered. Only the cat seems to have emerged unscathed. Really appreciate your kind comments and thoughtful read. Enjoy your Ferragosto as well!

Life Lived Italian's avatar

I know-- Roma has not gotten a break. We were in the city last week and it was just brutal. Your place is an oasis, but I'm sure this heat is taking a toll. Stay cool and safe-- and don't let that beautiful pool go to waste :)

Life Lived Italian's avatar

Thanks so much!! You’re right— a good gelato scoop is exactly the size of those stones. Hard as a rock though. Hope your summer is less eventful than ours!