Changing the air

It’s been hot this summer—not like it was in France—but still hot. In case you are curious about how Italians manage the heat, considering that there is almost no air conditioning, here’s how it’s done. Most buildings are made of stone with thick walls that serve as insulation. You air the house out in the early morning when it’s cool and then shut all the windows, keeping the cooler air inside. (The Italians call it changing the air.) Shutters are very handy because if you close them on the sides that get direct sun they provide a second layer of insulation.

This morning this is what greeted me in our bathroom during the morning airing, and I thought it was pretty.