Week 36 - Ellie ventures out into a strange old world

 Edited bY


G P Kennedy


Ellie - Milan, Italy




Hey there, fellow boat-riders on this wonderful common earth. Are you enjoying life outside or cozy at home? Is it cold where you are or nice and serene?


I am reporting here that a cold wave has hit Northern Italy, which goes nicely with the orange-zone decree that allows us to go out to any store.


This means we are still doing the same, basically. Staying mostly at home where possible.

 







Speaking of stores, even though they are allowed to open, many are in a hunker-down mode. What with their limited hours in which weekends are still off-limits.


They are mostly expecting the full force of the season. Or rather, the sales season, which, in Italy, happens in mid-winter, early January.


Some will close permanently.

 




Coffee shops and restaurants are not affected by the orange reassignment. They still offer take-out fare only.


If they happen to be in an area with few passers-by, they don't even open for that.


This coffee shop accepts delivery orders only.

 





Judging from commercial banners and billboards around down things are not looking promising.


I admire the initiatives that are still taking place or in the plans, like this theater school.


The others, it seems, have not been advertising for months.

 




As if a feeble attempt to bring us all up to a festive mood, the cold wave brought us snow.


It had not snowed in Lombardy for a long time. It tries once a year to a rather weak outcome.


We are protected from the cold northern winds by the Alps so our winter experience is pretty mild.


Now, the snow came in full force and stayed for a few days. It won't be enough to bring winter cheers with it, though.

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