Dana L'Americana Goes Running

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Dana L'Americana Goes Running

8:48 AM |

Dana Kaplan, Stresa Sights |

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It is ortensia,hydrangea, season now, and the lakefront is absolutely ablaze with the blossoms, mostly in deep blues, my favorites.

Dana L'Americana -- that's me -- is running along the lake. The last time I ran along the lake it was March, the tail end of winter, the very beginning of spring. It was gray, and chilly. Most of the people I encountered then were Stresiani, walking dogs or taking their daily stroll.

It's hot enough to play on the fountains now.

This beautiful pool overhanging the lake was much different in March.

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.

I'll run for as long as I like in this way, doubling back and ultimately stopping somewhere around the Regina Palace Hotel. I cool down a bit, and Colleague meets me here for a cappuccino at Lido Blu.