Last evening after dinner, the skies changed and the dark clouds forecasting rain clung to the mountains.  Sure enough, the rains came about 8:30 pm.  Graziano instructed me that the day was too cool for thunderstorms; we would have just a gentle rain.  Mountain meteorology is something you acquire living in the valley.

In the morning, the rain had stopped, but the cooler temperature (45*F) brings these wispy clouds amid the rolling folds of tannenbaum and larch trees.   Here’s the morning view from my room before walking to Prada to celebrate a 10:00 morning Mass…

W’ll go to Pontresina later today (not far from St. Moritz for a pizza with Graziano’s godson.  Stay tuned, the day is not over…

We drove up to Pontresina and met Riccardo at  a very inviting and lively pizzeria.  The selections are regional and traditional, but I did not have the “Pizza Americana! “  Nice thin crust, your selection of toppings, and a Swiss version of a  Rhode Island “Shanty,” beer and lemonade.

I‘ve seen Riccardo grow into a young man in Prada.  He graduated from high school this spring and has begun a three year internship in management.  Languages are very much a part of Swiss life, and a great number of young people and conversant in Italian, German, French and English.  In Valposchiavo, Italian is the local language, but the students study German in elementary school.  Riccardo is bright, eager to learn, and looking forward to the career opportunities this internship will pave for his future.  After our great time together, we dropped Riccardo off at his student housing in Samedan, climbed the Bernina Pass, and returned to the valley.   Ciao, Riccardo!  Study well.