Cervino/Gran Becca/Matterhorn

Fabulous view of Monte Rosa massif and Cervino/Matterhorn today. The Grand Combin massif behind it?

Flights from Edinburgh to London City and on to Florence were so punctual our checked in bags labelled ‘Rush’ in red were left behind at City. We were reunited after an irksome three-hour wait. Got back to house as darkness closed in at 17.00.

We’ve been away for over two weeks and although weather has been mild it was 10C indoors and 11C outside. Will take a while to heat the huge thick walls, the terracotta floors and the spaces between.

Tonight the wind is gusting around. From the air the Arno plain was very green but up in the Casentino at 500m it is fair sere (spelling corrected), a ghostly grey light beneath complete cloud cover in the valleys as we descended on empty roads from the 1000m asl mark at the Consuma Pass.

Another year in Italy begins.

Buon Anno!