Back to reality

Blue. When holidays are over, when a dream is over, when love is over.

The thoughts land, the heartbeat gets slower, the eyes open and you go back to reality. And suddenly the light is gone, the smile disappeared, the sweetness is just a memory, it's cold around and maybe you are shivering a bit.

It is not the end of the world, sure. It is the beginning of new opportunities, new plans and new adventures in even better places - soon again. Yet before all the new stuff, gotta get yourself together, gotta try to adapt to the darkness of the world and the triviality of all that keeps you busy. Perhaps, gotta resist in the face of lies, betrayal and disappointments.

One day, sure, there'll be holidays again, there'll be dreams again and there'll be love again.

Summer skies

From the veranda few days ago, I could see a boat anchored in a peaceful bay, blue waters blessed by the sunset or coloured by the reflex of the city lights at night.

From a different balcony today, I can see a beautifully starred sky. A few years ago this same sky offered me a falling star to which I was quick enough to make a wish: I wanted to get a chance.

A couple of summers down the road, it seems that my wish may come true.

Could it be that's it's too late to matter? Could it be that things have changed too much? Why am I not looking for a new falling star to ask for a new chance?

Malta

A flight on a Diamond DA40 over the east coast via Gozo and the west coast, a long drive along San Ġiljan towards Valletta, a walk along Marsascala bay and Mdina, a swim in St. Peter's Pool and Paradise bay.

More relaxing, yet no less fulfilling my second time on this little rock in the Mediterranean, after a first hectic and emotional visit a year ago.

Malta has many colours, many tastes and many sounds.

Honey is the colour of Malta: in the stone of its houses, sweet, warm and relaxing. Shining in the unforgiving heat, glorious against the deep blue of the sea.

Salt is the taste of Malta: like the sea, like the sweat, like the Gozitan ravjul, the pastizzi, the ġbejniet cheeses and all the other intensely savoury specialties.

The sound of Malta is the sound of sunshine.

Night at the sea

Night, I'm exhausted, can't wait to be in bed. Yet I'm still here, on the veranda with the beautiful view.

Admiring the lights reflecting in the water of the bay, listening to the quiet voice of the sea, investigating the light on the top of the sail of a boat just in front of me.

The day is for fighting, exploring, achieving. Now it's night and it's the time for this beautiful salty peace.

Summertime

Filling the days with sun, sea, boat tours, beautiful caves, Greek temples, trying to make people happy while at the southern tip of Campania. Then quiet days with green hills, morning clouds, chilly nights and family time, in the middle of Campania's countryside.

Summer here is not so bad - except it lasts just 2 weeks, before the town falls again into its winter lethargy. Open air concerts everywhere, food festivals all over. And people coming back to their roots from the four corners of the world.

I am not one of those. In a way, I never left. I'm not one of those who settled somewhere else in the world, I'm just temporarily away. Am I?

Travelling by my-efficient-self

Some trips start with a long oft-interrupted nap, others are more like time for yourself, time when you learn about yourself and the world. Like a journey in the journey.
This summer trip home is one of those. No sleeping, no screaming babies, no stress. Time to shop, sit, read, rest and smile.
How come after days of weakness and illness, here I am on top of everything I have to do, ticking off one organisational task after the other, pleasantly chatting with airport employees or taxi drivers, reading work-related papers I had been postponing for weeks and even the manual of instruction of the new camera?
And learning. Learning that fat is a feminist issue, that taking a decision is best done before going to the loo, that the best coffee is served down-under (hey, who wrote this?).
And I know exactly where to recharge my battery after landing and while waiting for the luggage.
So far, a promising day. And a promising trip.
Wishing for a promising life.