Thunder in the snow...Summer in a bottle

The snow just won't stop falling in Edinburgh this year.  In a way, it makes a real change from the usual weather of cold and rain, but it's been at or below freezing now for nearly three weeks and that part is getting to be a bit much.  Twice this week we've had thunderstorms with the snow, or maybe it's snowstorms with thunder??  I don't remember ever experiencing thunder while it's snowing so I'm not too sure what the actual meteorological term is.  Other than the standard scientific one: Crap.

So, it snows, then partially melts, then freezes...over and over, day after day.  Yesterday, after struggling to walk Oz on his afternoon trek, in treacherous icy conditions, my mind drifted back to Italy, the Summer heat, the beautiful aqua waters of the Med, the Limoncello, the pizza, the coffee...sigh...

In light of my drifting, Alan and I drank a bottle of Prosecco last night, and toasted the sunny climes of southern Italy.  Or, maybe I should say we got toasted.  Whatever.  It was a deliciously good bottle, filled with memories and sunshine and a really nice buzz.  Since we didn't overindulge on New Year's Eve, we felt totally justified in celebrating last night instead.  It was fun, and as soon as we can dig out the popsicle car, we will be rushing off to the store for more.

Until then...here are some photos to remind us all that eventually Summer comes...

Photo taken from our hotel balcony of the Bay of Naples, with Vesuvius looming in the heat haze.  Heat haze...isn't that a concept almost too nebulous to fathom in the Winter??

View from the Art College in Sorrento, looking back to our hotel in Sant Agnello (far in the distance on the jutting headland) and the mountains.  If you keep going, through the winding, white-knuckled mountain pass, you will arrive in Naples in about an hour, give or take the traffic and the scooter maniacs.

Sun sets on the Bay.  Photo taken from our balcony as we sat sipping Limoncello and planning where to go for dinner.

Okay, I can't take anymore, so will stop with just these few photos.  If I close my eyes I can smell the Umbrella pines, and the Olive trees, the hot Summer air mixed with hints of orange and lemon.

I think it's time for the first batch of chocolate chip cookies of the new year...maybe I can bribe Alan so he'll scrape the ice off the car and go get more Prosecco...