Cobblequés: Al Fresco
I’m sure you’ve heard, and used on occasion, the popular Italian expression al fresco. Sometimes it’s written with a hyphen, al-fresco, or you may see it joined together, alfresco. Regardless, al fresco literally means “in the fresh.”
When we dine out on the patio, enjoy an espresso while the street traffic parades by, or sip an apperitivo (aperitif) at a sidewalk cafe without a care in the world, we do so al fresco.
A mural painted over fresh, but still damp, plaster on a wall or a ceiling is called an affresco. Leonardo Da Vinci’s masterpiece The Last Supper and Michelangelo’s handiwork in the Sistine Chapel were painted a fresco.
When you throw on a sweater, zip up that light jacket or roll down the sleeves on your shirt/blouse when there’s a chill in the air, you’re just being smart because it’s fa fresco out there. The late James Dean, with hand in pocket, collar up and a Lucky Strike dangling from his lips, was just being fresco, too — you know, being cool. Speaking of cool, al fresco is also Italian slang for someone who is marking time in the cooler/slammer/prison.
Remember drive-in theatres, and perhaps hiding in the trunk of the car to get a “discount”? Well, during summertime, some city parks put up a big screen and project a movie to help residents temporarily forget the heat and humidity, but not the mosquitoes. If you’re in attendance, you’re experiencing cinema al fresco.
The smell of baked bread as it comes straight out of the oven. A radiant flower in full bloom posing for the camera. Pretty much anything that is brand new is, you guessed it, fresco.
You can work outdoors, play outdoors, read a book outdoors, even sleep outdoors under the stars. All of these activities are done so al fresco.
Living the good life, including dining al fresco or sipping that umbrella drink UNDER an umbrella, is the epitome of la dolce vita, but that’s an expression we’ll explore some other time.
Ciao for now.
©The Palladian Traveler
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Oh, how I love the alfresco life. As it is 10C, grey and wet here in Yorkshire, it makes me yearn for sunnier climes… sigh…
Red wine, rubbers and a brawley ought to do the trick. Thanks for stopping by to “warm up.”
Galoshes. The rubberized overshoe. What do you call them up in Puddingland?
Takes me back to my childhood ! I can tellyou however that there was a lot of Al Fresco dining in Monaco – your presence was missed again but your legacy lives on – have been to Polpetta a few times in your honour! Maybe you could write about Limoncello!! Always a delight to read your posts my friend! chaucito,
jab
I missed you and “the gang,” too. I love the Cote-A and all that good flowing rose’. Hopefully, next year’s show I’ll make an appearance. I’ll be sure and do a post on Limoncello. I’m a bit of an expert as I used to “brew” my own back in Cali using the Meyer lemons from the tree in our yard. It was delish. I’ll let you know. Ciao for now.