So yesterday was Day 1 of our second lockdown following Campania's sudden but unsurprising leap from the fairly lenient yellow tier to the much more severe red one. Now we can no longer go out of our local council area unless we have a valid and documented reason and are unable to go for a pizza or eat at a restaurant (unless take away), sip an espresso at the local bar, visit our family and friends or go walking in groups. Curfew is at 10 p.m. so we have also had to stop wandering the streets at night....
It is not quite as bad as the first time round. A few more shops and businesses have been allowed to remain open and we can even go to the hairdresser's should we want to. Physical exercise is permitted at any time of the day, provided you stay near your home. "Near" however hasn't actually been quantified, so it is pretty unclear, (and I hope it stays that way), whether this means 200 metres, a kilometre or several. I prefer to think the latter. Back in March we couldn't exercise outside at all for weeks on end. So yesterday afternoon, when the morning's heavy cloud and grey skies had given way to sunshine , I chose my itinerary and set off down the road to the village of Nerano, and then on to Marina del Cantone and round the headland to Recommone.
I chose to walk along the road rather than cut down through the lanes, partially to avoid slipping, but mainly to make the walk a little longer!
Marina del Cantone was a far cry from the previous week when the place was heaving, the restaurants full to bursting and the bay dotted with motor boats of various size and importance. This time there were no more than a handful of evidently local cars in the car park and a solitary couple sitting on the pebbled beach gazing out to sea. The restaurants and bars were all closed and nobody and nothing was at sea. The path to Recommone was equally deserted and the only sounds were the lapping of the waves and the seagulls' cries. It was incredibly peaceful and it struck me how fortunate I am to live in a place like this. The dark cloud of Covid lifted momentarily leaving me more optimistic that sooner or later all will be well.
I just wonder when.
