August 07, 2003

Pietrasanta (LU), Italy

The weather continues to be blazing (literally). There have
been fires in the hills above Serravezza, a town neighboring Pietrasanta. They
fight the fires by dropping water from the sea by helicopter. Other areas of
Europe are experiencing similar fires and record heat and drought conditions.
The near 100 degrees F. we’ve had is still nothing compared to the 120+ in
Baghdad.

One of best refuges from the heat is the air-conditioned
studio. But, it takes time to get rolling each morning. We often finish dinner
around 11 pm.

We mistakenly thought a dinner on a terraced restaurant by
the sea would be some relief. There was no breeze at all. I can’t recall such a
calm, being so close to the sea.

The other night we had dinner with friends at a unique
location in Lucca in the shadow of the Roman Aqueduct. To reach the restaurant
we drove in and out of the arches of the ancient structure, built by the Romans
to bring fresh water for hundreds of miles, from the mountains to Rome.

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Our companions included three National Academician
Sculptors, including a former President of the National Sculpture Society, a
painter, a Director of Music Region of Lucca, a playwright/director, a
lawyer/sculptor, and me.