Italian friends plus dog Floyd on the Macchiatonda beach at Capalbio Scalo in the Maremma region of Tuscany

…just South of the Lago di Burano wildlife preserve, is where we have come this groggy afternoon to honor this first day of 2011, recover from a late night, soak up the few hours of winter sun, take naps on driftwood logs, gather shells, play games in the sand, go running, and for one brave Italian friend, to take a dip.