Rob in Italy
Are you reading this? let me know...!
Milan Duomo at Dusk (day 24)
28-April-2002 (Sunday):
Today was a lazy Sunday. A day to sleep in, rest, and re-group from the travel to Venice and the activity there. Those of you who know Italy also know that it's not hard to rest on Sundays... until this year, most businesses were required by law to remain closed on Sunday. Grocery stores, shops, and most restaurants were simply not available. You were expected to rest. This is a lifestyle that seems easy to get behind! But, capitalism marches onward, even in the land where the day of rest was invented. Since the ban on Sunday business was lifted, a very small number of businesses have begun experimenting with Sundays. Today, for example, it was possible to shop for groceries. Of course, we couldn't go to the Esselunga supermarket near my apartment, because it was closed. But there was an Esselunga that was open a short walk further on.
The one thing you can always do on a Sunday is go to the Duomo (see above). Notice how the gold Madonna at the top is still reflecting the last rays of sunlight?
[Puzzler: can you spot the one thing that's wrong or odd in this photo? let me know...!]
[view the answer]
For dinner, we went to back to 'l Angelo di Abruzzo for tortelini en brodo... mmmmm... This is the first time I've made a return visit to any Milan restaurant. The fact that it's been written up in several guide books didn't hurt, but the real reason to return is it appears to be the only vietato fumare (non smoking) restaurant for 100 miles! Oh, yes, and it's also just down the block, on the same street as my apartment... (hey, I told you it was a lazy Sunday!)