The bora surprised me this morning. I heard it howling from time to time even before I left my house, but it blew like crazy on Barbacan, which I had to cross to get to the store. It is facing northeast. The wind almost stopped me in my tracks at one point. Bracing myself and squinting, I pushed myself through. On my way back home, though, I went along Gradiziol and Borgo. I met only a few people on my way. “Crazy weather,” grumbled Tonči Đermadi, who carves wooden souvenirs out in the open for tourists to see. “It’s all jumbled up!” We quickly turned to the drought that is gripping Istria. “Not a drop for so many months,” he shook his head. “Now they’re talking about restrictions!” This I heard from several people already. If there is no abundant rain soon, water will be available only for brief periods during the day. “Crazy weather,” grumbled Tonči again as I took my leave. But the bora is pretty kind to my part of the hilltown, which is facing southwest. I forgot about it soon after I returned home.