The winter in Calabria can feel endless, especially with that sparkling Ionian Sea taunting me. I walk up and down the lungomare from November until May, impatient for the day it's finally warm enough to get in.
That day came last week.
Baptism by Sea
There are a few factors that go into determining when that first swim of the summer in Calabria will be. Obviously, it has to be warm enough. It's been in the 70s and 80s for a few weeks...but that's not all I had to take into consideration before I shook the dust off of my swimsuit.
Warm though it may be, with 25-mile-per-hour winds, swimming is no fun. Especially if the waves are high. So, I've had to wait for the winds to die down.
Finally, all systems were go on a sunny Friday afternoon. The great thing about this time of year is that there are very few people at the beach, and even fewer in the water. In fact, most of my Italian friends raise an eyebrow when I tell them I went swimming in May! Many wait until June or even July to take a dip!
There's something magical about that first swim. Yes, it was a little icy, but once I was submerged, it was perfection. I laid back and let the mare absorb all the cobwebs of winter, all the aches and pains. It truly was a baptism.
Now I can't wait to get back in!
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