Martedi Mercato

Sometimes you are in need of a change. Even if it means that you arrive a bit late to a class that is not happening. Like today. For once I wanted to be on time for class, so I got up early and made sure everything was prepared. Probably even more prepared than the teacher. Upon arriving to school, I found out that the doors to the class were locked. So I waited to see if maybe someone will arrive. I waited in vain. After 30 minutes, I asked myself: "What is there to do when there is no class?" Well, it is Tuesday morning (11:30 am is still morning in Italy), the sun is shedding its' last rays upon the turning leaves, why not visit the market?

Every Tuesday morning in Via Eustachi, there is a market where you can buy almost anything. From stockings to fish (not a very nice parallel is it?), everything is for sale. There is no order. There is no such thing as a section for fish, section for vegetables and fruits and no section for clothing. The only difference between all of these stands are the prices and the marketing. By price difference, I believe my readers can understand clearly. By marketing I mean by how well the vendor is able to present to you his finest piece of fresh sea fish (in Milan), the warmest fleece jacket or even the best grocery bag you can buy for 1 euro. 

While strolling along the street, it was hard not to stop and take a moment to not only observe but to listen to the rumble of the market, the sound accumulating with the whizzing engine of a Vespa or Piaggio truck filled with plants passing by the street. Although Via Eustachi is a long street, the market itself does not fill the whole, therefore it makes it a pleasant quick inhalation of what Hollywood has projected towards us as Italy. Might I even say that the Arabs and Bangladeshi have been able to quickly assimilate between these Italian merchants. While selling their artichokes from boxes having imprinted on them: Be in Italy, buy Italian products (in Italian of course). 

I opted only for some salad from a local Italian farm (how local I don't know, but hey, the feeling is there), where 3 heads cost 2 euros. Then Israeli dates and Romanian walnuts from a Bangladeshi vendor. Talk about Globalization. 

Universiday

Since I am here in Milan to study (seriously), there are usually events provided by universities so that students can get to know each other and the city they are living in. One of these events was yesterdays Universiday. The event was to be informative, letting us know what the city of Milan is doing and what services they want to provide for the students - foreign and from other cities of Italy. Of course what this particular event needed, was a gimmick to get the students to come. Not only did the mayor of Milan, Giuliano Pisapia, the famous journalist Beppe Severigni come, but also the special guest of the evening - singer Mika. I think that for the most part, all of the girls present went because it was an opportunity to see the famous singer.

Milano Milano

I don't know about you, but the weather here is a bit gloomy. Milano, as is San Francisco, is famous for its' fog. Unlike San Francisco, the fog comes in autumn and is accompanied by rain throughout the winter. They say that the sun should come this week, but I'm a sceptic and am so far enjoying it. Personally I love fog, and it goes along well with the sound of ravens (the size of chickens mind you) and the yellow leaves, crunching under your feet. So, with September being an amazing month, full of hot sunshine, there was nothing better to do than to explore the city.

Nevim jak jste na tom vy v Cechach, ale pocasi v Milane je trochu pochmurny. Milano, jako ze je San Francisco, je slavny pro jejich podzimni mlhu. Na rozdil od San Francisco, mlha prichazi na podzimu (v SF je to v lete) a je doprovazeny destem pres celou zimu. Rikali, ze by melo vykouknout slunicko tento tyden, ale ja jsem skeptic a i presto, ze je mlha, tak si ji uzivam. Osobne miluju mlhu a myslim si, ze patri k zvuku havranum a spadane listy ze stromu krupajici se pod nohama. Takze, s tim, ze zari bylo nadherny mesic plna slunicka, nebylo nic lepsiho nez se prochazet pres mesto.