Not so this time. These are hot summer mornings. The lungolago is crowded, and now it seems to be more tourists than locals. I hear several languages spoken, most of them not Italian. I see many couples pose at the prettiest spots to take photos, one taking photos of the other. I offer to take a photo of them together, and then I make it my goal, my mission, to do this for as many people as I can. I speak to them in English or Italian, and if neither of those languages work the universal hand gesture of clicking a camera always is understood. Then I continue running. I reach L'Idrovolante, do a circle of the parking lot, and begin my return. Inevitably, I'll pass some of the people I've taken photos of. Now I greet and wave to my new friends. In fact, I say hi to almost everyone I pass, especially if I can hear them speaking. I love saying good morning to them in their own languages.


Dana L'Americana, she really loves starting her days in this way.