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Week 17 - we round out the week with Ellie's Photo Story from Milan

Edited BY

G P Kennedy

                                  Ellie - Milan, Italy


 Things have been changing, even just judging from the attitude of people to the lockdown. While it is over, it has become a source of inspiration and reflection. The Sozzani Foundation is having an exhibition of the drawing works of artist Kris Ruhs (American living in Milan) titled Diary from a confinement. I have to say it resonates completely with how I saw that time in which we couldn't go out and were scared to panic.

 

 It is also a time to capitalize on different companies' relationship with the lockdown. 

This company is trying to stay in the public's mind by reminding of their dedication and sacrifice during that time.

 

 The St. Hildegard Society of Oblates in the tiny town of Ganna (near the Swiss border) is trying to open a shop to sell their crafts and artisanal jar and bottle delicacies, to support their order. 

They tried to use the occasion of a surge of interest in hiking by positioning their booth near the trail. But any potential customers had to choose their goodie, leave the money, pick their own change and go home with their purchase. The oblates were socially distanced.

 

 The commune of Milan (and all cities over 60 000 in Lombardy) is providing vouchers for residents to buy a bike - and is working on modifying the city traffic to accommodate the influx of bikers. 

This has created some conflicts about sharing the road. Motorists are not happy.

 

 In general, any kind of business that can be (creatively) adapted to an outdoors existence is lucky. This fitness club is meeting right in front of the Arch of Peace, the centerpiece landmark of Milan. 

Built under pressure to assuage Napoleon during his invasion some 200 years ago, it has seen a lot. Including fitness training al fresco, it seems.

 

 And schools, slated to open in mid-September, are still figuring out how to make things work. For now, they are trying to instill physical distancing values in kids. My tender age informants have indicated that they don't care about needing to use facemasks at all. It is mostly their parents that are making it a problem.

 

Put on a facemask, y’all! Listen to kids.

 

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