Spring arrives much earlier in Stresa than I am accustomed to when living near New York. It's the middle of February after all, and we are in the foothills of the Alps. The mountains are still heavily covered with snow. And yet, there are early signs of spring everywhere. Yesterday in Verbania I saw camellia trees with a few blooms open, and up in Someraro, high above the lake, these yellow vines are already bursting with little flowers. It's rather nice to see.

(   Continued ... )