Weather Wonders

   October brought a cold that made me wonder if I would make it through the winter.  However, I am happy to report that the weather is as finicky here as in other places.  Don't get me wrong, the skirts and tank tops are hibernating soundly, but I just might survive the winter.  November has brought a new meaning to the word rain.  I believe the Italian word is piege.  We experience a deluge of rain almost daily. Sometimes I wake up to a shower on Monday morning and my will to crawl out from beneath my covers wanes (I refuse to turn on the heat.  A colleague of mine shared with me that once she had a 500 euro bill--Ouch!).  The rhythm of rain drops trampling upon my landlords' cars consumes by thoughts and soon I find myself in that space between dreams and wake...it is a dangerous situation.  However, I find that I must embrace damp November or I may never leave my apartment again.  My Peruvian hiking clothes have become a daily after work assemble.  I know one's fashion is assumed to improve when living in the country of Gucci, but the weather supersedes any fashion ambitions in my opinion.  So, to ballet and Italian I walk in comfort in white sneakers, loud black waterproof pants, an equally loud green windbreaker, which is one size too big and undoubtedly a scarf.  I have this theory that if my throat stays protected, I can avoid getting sick--This theory has not been researched in anyway. :)  However, each wet walk is blessed with the beauty of fall.  There are these gorgeous locations along the Arno, in which the water stands still to reflect the beauty of Florentine architecture and the yellow and orange leaves that cling to the trees.  There is another piazza along my walk that honors one of many marble statues.  The significance or details of this statue I do not know, but the park benches filled with people and the yellow leaves that frame their peaceful moments is stunning.  For right now, I endure the rain and when it begins to snow I will probably wish for piege to come back.  Ahh...I guess I am still a California girl at heart.