Smiles come in all languages. A face has a language of its own independent of its words. My Italian is not so good anymore and it was never so good in the first place so I have replaced words with lots of nods and pointings and smiles and eyebrows and more nods with smiles. Smiles work very well.
It is late evening as I sit here in my little apartment and write this. It rained today, drizzled really. just enough to make my hair frizzy and coat the road with perfect shininess. The cobbled streets had been waxed and shined. We walked about, me looking everywhere and my friend trying to stop me getting run over by the cars and scooters that hurl themselves bravely around the bends and corners.
We had spent the morning is these amazing Baths, styled on old Roman baths, everyone wearing identical white bathing robes, and wandering at will through rooms lined in dark stone, everything water. Of course there are no pictures from there, that would have been wholly intrusive, but it is called Terme Milano and is in the Porta Romana area if you are ever in Milan. All my travel fatigue just washed away – though it does not seem to have been replaced with a need to sleep.
I am wide awake and running out of things to read!
All our walking took twice as long, as I was endlessly stopping, handing my umbrella over and taking photos. Here is a quote from Antonio Gramski that my friend showed me, beautifully written on a stone wall along with other graffiti. I have always had a soft spot for graffiti. Especially intelligent writings for all to see and read and discuss.
This was written by Antonio Gramski. Gramski was an Italian Marxist, a thinker, a theorist and a writer. A revolutionary really who stood up and loudly fought for his ideals. Right or wrong – his theories were interesting. While imprisoned in the early nineteen hundreds he wr0te. (And this is a translation remember) “I hate the indifferent. I believe that living means taking sides. Those who are really living cannot help being a citizen and a partisan. Indifference and apathy are parasitism, perversion, not life. This is why I hate the indifferent.”
Whether you support his politics or not. The sentiment is meaty and challenging. And weirdly current.
The light faded as we walked and soon it was time for us to part. I went back to my apartment, cooked a simple meal with fresh ingredients we had gathered on our travels and ate as I worked on my pictures. A glass of wine at my elbow.
I became so tired I could not hold up my head and went to bed gratefully. Only to wake up two hours later totally refreshed and ready to get on with my day only to discover that it is 11pm. No morning yet. Sigh. So now I write.
Tomorrow we walk again – I will be meeting new friends. The best way to see a town is from the feet – having guides is not such a bad idea either. My guides will soon know that in the absence of a horizon I am totally without any sense of direction and there is only so much a smile can do. But I know where all the little stores are now, close to my apartment, the bread store, the vegetable shop, the tiny little supermarket with wine, a place with cheese and olives and a stunning butchers who know where his meat is grown and I know to walk close to the buildings so as not to be cleaned up by a fast moving tiny car with a honking horn.
The ancients are everywhere. 
I think I will be perfectly fine for a while. Two more full days here in Milan! A beach girl from a farm in a big foreign city. It is good to scare ones self out of a comfy body every now and then.
I am such a lucky person.
I hope you have a lovely day.
Love celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
47 responses to “The Milan SMILE”
Wonderful
Perfectly said, ‘the ancients are here’. The cobbled streets, the worn brick, the sensation of history as you walk along. The baths sound wonderful, I envy you that experience, but am happy you had it. Revel in Milan’s treasures.
It is very rare to find me lolling about in hot water that is for sure! and was so relaxing.. c
A wonderful post, your photos are great, There is nothing better than exploring a town by foot. Have fun and enjoy.
Morning Gerlinde. c
Brings back many happy memories of a week’s visit to Milan about 8 or 9 years ago, ending with a night a La Scala. Thanks for those wonderful photos and enjoy your stay!
MY budget is, as you can imagine, very basic, but it is a beautiful city to be in.. c
A friend’s daughter is studying in Milan this semester and has posted some pictures. It is nice to see more pictures from a different perspective. Enjoy your stay.
Work took me to Milan annually for quite a few decades: have to smile that now you are showing me the ‘real’ Milan I never had time to look at or did not see – delightful photo series! I do wish I was a birdie on your shoulder to go see the Stravinsky programme at La Scala tonight . . . . and I do hope you will somehow have the chance to take the short trip to the Lakes during time remaining . . . one of the most beautiful and relaxing places on earth from one of the most fascinating and cultured cities . . . enjoy!
Annually for quite a few decades is very many visits Eha – I am sure you know the city very well indeed. c
🙂 ! I know Italy v well: find Milan very elegant, stylish and exciting with wonderful food. but probably the romantic in me loves Venice and Florence better . . . Enjoy!!!
Looks and sounds wonderful! I hope you get some sleep soon though. Have a wonderful time and I look forward to seeing more.
Sleep is being elusive which is a very rare thing for me – maybe tonight.. c
Have to agree with Eha above on all counts 🙂 Not sure where you are staying, stock up, everybody closes on a Sunday. Laura
ah yes – good point.. thank you c
Looks awesome!
[J] You are! Lucky.
How cool – it sounds like you are having a great time 🙂
So wonderful, I love going along with you on your trip.
Oh C, these photos are wonderful. Thank you for letting us venture about with you. And…I admit, I am really very envious of your adventure 😉
Thank you! The next best thing to being there! Enjoy for all of us!
A great message along with beautiful photos. I am saving that quote. I too hate indfifference, hate the I Don’t Knows, I Don’t Cares, Not My Problems, NIMBYs. I say Pick a Side. If you’re Not With Us You’re Against Us. All sitting on a fence will accomplish is a sore bum.
Brilliant, Dale! Don’t quite know that I am a Marxist but that saying did it for me also 🙂 !
Thank you Ella D. Fence sitters with sore bums! HOwever It is a good idea, as well, to know when something actually is NOT my problem. I find that it is as good for us to know our limits and our own business as part of the equation. I will often shake my head and say “Not my Department” and I find that is a very freeing to ask myself IS THIS MY MONKEY!? Sometimes it simply is not my monkey. Then i can put it back.