Writing from the island of Capri.
Looking out — Villa San Michele, Axel Munthe Museum.
The shift is constant, and the constant is a humming from a nearby fan.
Consciousness is floating in and out of the room.
As the heat of the day trek up the mountains’ peak,
so does the volume of the rising cicada symphony.
Light breezes bring with them the sweet perfume of torn basil,
and from where I am, I see the island of Ischia, boats
leaving trails of whipped lemon sorbetti in the sea.
The shift is constant, and now, the constant is replaced by
the stringing creeks of the cicadas and the whipping blades of helicopters
arriving and departing the island of Capri as they please.
HG
Italy has long been an inspiration. Time after time when I return, I am replenished, restored with good energy and creativity, especially when it comes to writing. This summer, I bring the office back to Italy; the writing room is outdoors with the breeze; the rippling of waves and stringing orchestra of cicadas as my soundtrack. Now and then, cream-coloured butterflies flutter lowly on the grounds, scattering among white morning glories.
I was introduced to a Limoncello Spritz, and in the soaring heat, this was my thirst-quenching equivalent of a lemonade — though, its booziness reached my head in record time, I was jolly, and as my mind returns to the moment I discovered this spritz (and learnt you cannot complete your day with Southern Italians until you’ve had a Limoncello), it led me to compile and share my inspirations with you while I have been on the island of Capri.
R E A D I N G
While researching contemporary titles on the island of Capri, I came across Pagan Light, published in 2019, and I was thrilled to have discovered a fairly new publication touching on the history, stories and personalities who have spent time on the island. Another great read I return to is a compact blue book, A Brief Historical Guide to Capri by Salvatore Borà. Capri publishing house, Edizioni La Conchiglia produces some charming books representing the spirit of Capri with an old-world aesthetic presenting writings by Edwin Cerio, Norman Douglas, Laura Lilli and more.
L I S T E N I N G
Old is new. Return to the 1960s and watch the sun setting with the track Lujon by Henry Mancini from the Mr. Lucky & Mr. Lucky Goes Latin Soundtrack. I was mesmerised when a DJ perfectly timed the song’s finale as the sun tucks into the horizon at Lido del Faro.
E A T I N G
I found myself in the kitchen of a Capresi family home, and my knees weakened at the scent of a freshly baked chocolate and almond cake left to cool on the table; and then I wondered how the Torta Caprese came to be…
TORTA CAPRESE
Simply made with melted dark chocolate, almond flour, sugar, eggs and butter; the Caprese Cake was accidentally created in 1920 by Pastry Chef, Carmine di Fiore, from the Island of Capri. One day, di Fiore received an order to bake an almond and chocolate cake for three American gangsters, henchmen of Al Capone. Anxiously rushing to make the cake, di Fiore unintentionally left out flour, and to his surprise, the cake came out well and was praised by the gangsters, who later requested for the recipe. It is from this moment, di Fiore continued to make this flourless cake in his pastry shop. Along with its story and popularity, it became the cake of Capri.
THOUGHTS & WISDOM
I leave you with the words from the last Baci Perugina chocolate I ate…
‘I am always astonishing myself. It is the only thing that makes life worth living.‘ — Oscar Wilde (N. 136)
