Relaxing on a Mediterranean island called Lipari

This is a shot of the village of Lipari, on the largest island — also named Lipari — of the Aeolian Islands , which sit just northeast of Sicily. My wife took it just as we arrived on the hydrofoil ferry from Naples more than six hours earlier.

We’re staying here a week, relaxing (as I write this, it is raining), reading and going out on occasion for food.

So one movie reference: Perhaps the most famous of the Aeolian chain is Stromboli , which not only has an active volcano but is the name of a 1950 movie directed by Roberto Rossellini and starring Ingrid Bergman.

And some book recommendations: My summer reading, especially when we travel internationally, is typically eclectic. My reads (grades included) so far include: “The Late Show” by Michael Connelly (C+), “The Midnight Line” by Lee Child” (B-), “Street Fight in Naples” by Peter Robb (B), “The Liars’ Club” by Mary Karr (A+) and “A Spool of Blue Thread” by Anne Tyler (A).

Oh, and by the way, that bright light next to the moon there is the planet Venus.