When Billy Joel sang about a “New York State of Mind” he was talking about going home to the Big Apple.
27.07.2023 - 18:00 / smartertravel.com
Editor’s Note: This snapshot of life in Italy under COVID-19 lockdown comes from Nancy Raff, an American expat who has lived in Italy for nearly a decade, and who shares her experiences of life in a small Tuscan village on her website and weekly newsletter.
I love Italians. But I’m falling more head-over-heels each day of this coronavirus lockdown witnessing their magic—which is unfolding with a certain Italian flair.
There’s pride in the air about doing this extraordinary thing for the common good. Marry that with an insatiable need to connect and some creativity, and touching things happen. Right now there’s a 70 percent approval rating for what the Italian government is doing—and 70 percent of Italians agreeing on anything is a miracle.
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I am particularly amazed given that almost everyone I know has a small business with no income stream right now, and none for the foreseeable future as everything is closed except for grocery stores and the pharmacy. This lockdown hits particularly hard because the Italian culture is the opposite of staying home alone: It’s all about cheek kissing, loads of touching during even the most casual conversations, and crowding into coffee bars to exchange gossip.
Different countries handle lockdowns in their own way, with some novel ideas to burn off stress and connect. But I wanted to share a few things that have happened this week in Italy.
The Stay-at-Home Flash MobsMy Italian friends are sharing videos from all over the country, and the streets are truly filled with music. Ideas come up on social media encouraging people to open their windows at coordinated times to sing. Songs have ranged from the national anthem to a popular 1970s pop song, to a locally popular ballad. This usually happens at six in the evening, and sometimes our village bells ring and ring in solidarity. I dare you to watch some of these short videos and not cry. Or this one, of people dancing in their homes, and not smile.
Tonight we turned on flashlights and waved them from our windows at 9 p.m. People were waving their lights back and forth and calling out “ciao!” across our small valley.
A Milanese friend says that everyone goes to their windows and applauds at noon in honor of the medical community and support staff who haven’t left hospitals in weeks. People are also lighting candles and putting them in windows in appreciation.
“It Will Be Fine”Kids all over the country are creating drawings of rainbows with the phrase “Andrà tutto bene,” or “it will be fine,” and placing them in windows. It warms the heart.
#iorestoacasa posters are the other signs you see around, both online and on houses: The pledge means “I stay at
When Billy Joel sang about a “New York State of Mind” he was talking about going home to the Big Apple.
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