local language shoudn't be a problem. in that countries english is a second language, specially in Portugal and Italy. and don't be afraid with the hot, it's mild, if we aren't in June, July or August! and there's a plus, you've good writers ready to be discovered. In Portugal: Fernando Pessoa, José Saramago, Al Berto, etc. In Italy: Italo Calvino, Alessandro Baricco. In France, take your peak. In Spain, the same... ok, by now you think i'm a traveler agent, but no. i'm just thinking that you need to bread a air more loose and with more sun, less dark. try and you'll see. try to see this: pt[dot]wikipedia[dot]org/wiki/Porto_Covo. there is in deutsh too. ;-)