Here I am, back in Stresa. The weather is gorgeous; everything is even more beautiful than I was remembering. And my first impression, this time, is of hydrangea. Ortensia in Italian. They are in full bloom now, and everywhere along the lungolago. They are massive, and bursting in colors from creamy offwhites to intense violets. They make a great foreground or background for photos, a serene backdrop for reading, and a nice welcome to Stresa indeed.