The top of Mount St Primo offered a magnificent sweeping view over Lake Como and the highest Alps, a combination of snow-speckled mountains and blue waters in the frame of early summer greenery. The temperature was responsible for some mist in the distance, but both branches of Lake Como were visible from the highest summit in the Larian Triangle, so called because this mountainous area is encompassed in the upside-down Y shape of my favourite lake.
PM Renzi has pledged to change the statute of the Chambers of commerce in the frame of a greater plan to modernise the civil service. In early May he announced his revolution, as it was referred to in the media, and set a deadline of 40 days for consultations before proceeding. The proposed measure that affects the Chambers of commerce in particular consists in abolishing mandatory membership, so that if the reform is carried out companies will be free to decide whether or not to join the "private club" or stay out. The upshot is that the Chambers will not live off their present guaranteed revenue – in fact a taxation – from all companies, but would have to earn their day in order to stay on the market. If they can.
My visit to Vinitaly took me to South Tyrol as an extra weekend trip this year. The choice was dictated by chance because I found a convenient car-sharing ride to Bozen. I therefore set Udine aside, and a related logistical nightmare, promising myself I'd visit another time to mark the 100th anniversary of WW1 in the relevant places.
It's been the second time in a fortnight that I've had a clash with a colleague, and yesterday, as she was giving vent to her rage, I realised that it was not just a fit of the moment. Twice in such a short time is not normal, and I'm all the more surprised because I considered our relationship serene. However, the things she said revealed an unease she had brooded over and had probably repressed until it burst out. I'd like her to regret reproaching me things on the spur of her anger, but I am afraid that the rift between us is rather deep seated.
Finally a clear Sunday was announced. I brushed up the text message that Danilo had sent me during the week to propose a hike in the mountains. It read: "Climb to Mount Barbarossa starting from the hamlet of Teveno, the peak is at 2,148 m with an ascent of over 1,000 m." I looked it up on the internet and realised it was an alpine skiing route. It was described as medium difficulty. Although my friends were going hiking and not skiing, surely there would still be a lot of snow. I would need snowshoes and crampons, neither of which I had. I replied to my friend that I was forced to give up.