Okay, I’ll keep this short. I’ll have to figure how to insert photos at the appropriate spot later

1) My first complete day of hiking, ten miles in five hours. No speed record here.

2) My first day of sunny, wonderful weather, albeit my weather app said there were gusts of 26 mph. It felt like it.

3) My first day of exhilarating views, from mountains to flowers. Got me out of my funk of having a deep chest cold.

4) My first day that Margarita and her husband picked me up and drove me to the top of a ridge that I had to climb. I must have looked rather pathetic at that moment! Saved me half-a-mile uphill.

5) My first, and hopefully last tumble. Walking downhill is great until it isn’t. I slipped on loose gravel between stone steps. Fortunately, I leaned backward and fell on my rump rather than pitching forward.

6) My first day encountering six dogs, at least. The fenced dogs aren’t a problem. One was unfenced but silenced by its owner. Another dog almost passed me on the trail to my great consternation. The hiking owner seemed to say something like an Italian apology for surprising me, but I’m not quite sure.

7) My first day senior moment, forgetting to apply the sun screen purchased the day before.

8) My first note to self. Avoid lodging where I have to walk 20 minutes uphill at the end of the day!

9) My first reminder that I’m in rural Italy, don’t use the sink water.

10) My first Ibuprofen.