Lock Down The Eleventh Day

Day 11th. Had to get out of the house, needed to get some medicines at the pharmacy which is just in front of the Cathedral. So I put on my mask and gloves, then headed out.

Walked across IV Marzo Square, it was pretty deserted, this square is surrounded by restaurants and bars, so normally it is crowded and very lively. Despite being sunny and bright in the morning, it still felt rather depressing.

An old man approached and begged for some coins, he sounded like he was about to cry. Unfortunately I didn't have any extra to give him, so I had no choice but to walk away.

There was no other customer in the pahramcy, but still I had to wait for pharmacist to prepare my medicines.
While leaving, there were already some people queuing out the door for their turn.

In the afternoon, started immediately, outdoor activities such as running, jogging, cycling, ball playing etc are no more allowed in public places.

Location : Duomo/Piazza IV Marzo

The situation, the photos all seem surreal, it all becomes more real when someone you know became a victim.

For Elvira...RIP

Lock Down Tenth Day

Day No Ten....
had to go to pay an electrician for the work he had done for us some time ago, so just arranged to meet him at the door of my block, so I can hand him the payment.

The street was empty, pretty empty, at that moment, there were only two persons waiting at the bus stop in front.

The arcade was empty and looked large than usual, it seemed.

Later, went on the balcony on the side of the courtyard. No one from the other blocks was out on to the balcony, it was quiet and really peaceful, unlike normally when we could heard people talking or working.
It was peaceful and the sun was bright, just the type of morning I like, I could even hear the birds singing from some distance away. Is just like Spring.

Suddenly, I was thinking of the 'otaku' in Japan who hasn't been out for a long time. In this situation, how would he feel at this moment?

( Some photo are not taken today )
Location Via Pietro Micca

Lock Down Ninth Day

Day Ninth. Didn't go out, morning just stay on the balcony and looked out to the street. Seemed to have more cares, 3 cars to be precise at that moment. A man was walking slowly on the pavement on the opposite side. The bed of the apartment on the second floor was still not made, and the guy staying there was talking on the phone in the other room.....

Actually, I seldom go out to walk around, usually when I  get out of the house, it is for work, to shop or to the gym, therefore the lock down isn't really so suffering. One thing that I miss is the feeling of being free to be out, now whenever I go out, I just have the feeling of guilt, as if I am doing something wrong.

P.S. Some photo are not taken in these two days.

Location : via Pietro Micca/via Monte Di Pietà

Lock Down Eighth Day

The eighth day. In Galleria San Federico, now all the shops and bars are closed, except the supermarket is still open. There are a few homeless decided to host themselves in the gallery.
It is obviously safer than sleeping by the road side and since the weather has just turned a bit colder again, it offers a better shelter.

#iostoacasa is one of the hashtag very much used in Italy in these day, meaning I stay home, to support the idea of staying home to prevent the spread of CONVID 19.

These homeless, they have no home, so where should they stay to prevent the spread of the virus?

Location : Galleria San Federico

Lock Down Seventh Day

Day 7. Monday morning, there seemed to be slightly more vehicles moving on the street, maybe one or two more....

Took a quick walk to the piazza San Carlo, through via Roma, the luxury shopping street. All the high end/middle end shops were closed, their winter end sales announcements were still displayed on the shop windows.

On one end of the street is piazza Castello, the large piazza was basically empty, except lined with police cars on one side and a few cars from the TV news group on the other side.

Piazza San carlo is on the other end of the street. Usually Monday, there are less people going around, strange that I found it hard to tell if in the piazza there were usually more people than today or it was more or less just the same.

The prestigious high-end cafes on the square were closed,  the tables and chairs were till occupying the corners of the piazza, but the huge parasols that stand by the table were shut closed.

The group of seniors who used to sing in the piazza had dispeared, each 'imprisoned' in their own home. Will they feel lonely without their music and songs?

I returned home through Galleria San Federico.
Theaters, cafes, and stores are all locked up, and only one supermarket was left alone to continue to provide services.

Realised that after one week of lock down, the streets are cleaner and quieter, the quality of the air is much improved.
However, one has to step out of the house to feel it.
In the evening, someone was singing loudly from his balcony....

Location : via Roma/Piazza Castello/Piazza San Carlo/Galleria San Federico

Lock Down Sixth Day

Sunday, the sixth day of the lock down, there was not the usual crowd coming to the center for breakfast and then a pleasant walk.

The street was just as empty as yesterday and the day before  and before....

Near to the main door of my block, a homeless guy was sitting there alone. No mask, just a pair of rubber gloves. A homeless guy sitting alone under the empty arcade.
Left him some coins, let hope it helps.

We are advised to stay home and go out as little as possible, but for the homeless like him, where should they go?

Remember last night, while was out for a short walk, the street was quiet and almost empty.
Then we saw an acquaintance sitting on the steps of the entrance to a restaurant. The restaurant was closed of course. So he was sitting there alone looking at the empty piazza.
He was almost pleasantly surprised to see us, then he asked us about the supermarket. We told him what he wanted to know and we greeted him and left.
He went back to the same spot and sat down again alone.
Does the current situation makes lonely people even more lonely?

Before lunch, saw a row of police cars passed by the street, perhaps it was the time to change shift.

 Location : Via Pietro Micca/via Garibaldi/via Mercanti

Lock Down Fifth Day

Woke up, noticed that it was raining, maybe the first Spring rain. After the rain, the Spring flowers should be blossoming, the smell of Spring should arrive. The Spring is just at the door, yet the joy of Spring is not in the air

The street below was still quite deserted and quiet, considering that it was Saturday. It was rather bleak to see a person with mask holding an umbrella alone in a deserted road under the fine rain,  in an empty bus stop, waiting for a bus which never arrive.

The usual supermarket was with queue waiting at the entrance, due to the at least one meter rule, the queue was extended till the corner of the building.

So we went back to the other supermarket with the chinese girl at the cashier.

There were customers in the supermarket, we hesitated to get in, so we waited outside. Just a moment later, there was already a queue of 3, 4 persons behind us, each maintained a distance of about 1 meter and no one was making any noise.

I never knew that Italians can be so disciplined and quiet.

On the way home, noticed a piece of white cloth hung on the balcony of a building, a rainbow was designed on it, with ' Andrà tutto bene ' written on it and with the names of the two young artists.

Normally, Saturday evening in the center is crowded and loud, but this Saturday, there were just the empty streets accompanying the equally lonely street lamps.

Friday evening, residents in many area of the city were performing music and songs on their balcony in their individual home, to boost the morale.
Perhaps everything is going to be fine.

 Location : Via Pietro Micca/Via Santa Teresa