Very hot. I've no idea how anyone did any work in the summer here before they got air conditioning. However, cherries at the market are now 3 euros a kilo, for a bag of really ripe, plump beauties.

Apparently everyone in England is hanging out St. George's flags on their cars etc. for the biennial display of frankly tedious nationalism that goes with the major football championships. Not that I won't be watching the games and supporting England, but I can tell you that Italians, who won the U21 European cup on Tuesday night and have a decent chance of winning the main event, are just as excited about Portugal 2004, but there are absolutely no Italian tricolores being hung around the place.