In the dry air that came in the wake of the recent rains, the Mirna valley appears sharper and closer. The lush countryside feels more intimate, almost cozy. The stretch of the Adriatic to the west, which can be seen through damp air only when the sun is directly above it, is now visible all day long. And it is always blue. Today, the blue was most intense around noon, when it had an ultramarine tinge. Or should I call it an ultra-Adriatic tinge instead?