The Luxurious Season; Ferragosto, The Ascension and August in Europe

At the beginning of August you can feel the environs shift into low gear, the weather is fine; life's quiet in Europe.

Hanging out on Lake Garda near Verona

By the time the 15th arrives its as if everyone's granted a reprieve, they leave for the beach or the mountains, anywhere but the city. Except for us, a most productive and wonderful time in our recent lives. Deadlines and schedules are met steadily, everything is colliding gently in the mind. The Bohemians leave me a lane each morning at the swimming pool, preferring to sun and sit outside the pool. Time's kind, plenty of space, a thoughtful pace.  

Hanging out near Venice, La Serenissima

While living in Rome, time was a concept to understand, one had to adjust. Time no longer just stood still it became completely stagnate. Rome insists you forget a world resides outside, by the time Ferragosto arrives you might as well give up any remaining energy you thought you had and just channel the Italians; its time to hang out. To enjoy the time that no longer feels to exist. There is the present and that is all there is. Basta. 

 Living in Paris, August felt uneven, almost funky. It's the only real major city in France and its face is completely altered; everyone leaves and the few that decide to stay have chosen to put protocol and dress sense aside. It becomes foreign to itself, highly informal and very unlike the other months filled with distraction. It becomes very, very casual.

Malta celebrates a fest every month but by the time August arrives its time to celebrate a fest each week and then in between. Malta's 400,000 residents are 98% Catholic, the Ascension becomes all consuming, surround sound. 

Hanging out in Malta

Here in Prague its simply relaxing and inspiring. Our neighborhood is leafy and calm most of the time but divine in August. The sun is soft, the noise level is low, almost absent. One can focus on nothing but the present but its still a choice. I'm almost finished editing 'The Things My Feet Have Seen' series which will part of my Travel Series, to be published next month. 

Until then, at present, its still August, the most luxurious time in the euro zone.