The city of ghosts

 Milan is one of those cities that gets emptied out in the summer, especially in August. The city becomes a desert. No people, no cars, no noise, no stress, just an empty city and peaceful silence. People run away from the city not only because in Italy you are supposed to go on holidays in August, but because of the unbearable heat. The city is like a boiling pot in the summer. The level of sultriness goes far above one can stand and it seems that the only ones who don't mind are mosquitoes.

Closed for the holidays sign on the shops outside of the city center

  I was lucky enough to be on the seaside during the annual heatwave, though this past few days that I've been here were more that enough for me. Yesterday I went out for a walk and wanted to take advantage of the empty stores. It was great not having to queue up for fitting rooms but it was so sad to see those streets so empty. Maybe I am too used to seeing them packed, but it felt like I got into a scene of the day after of the Independence day movie (minus all the things crashed). Well, like it or not this is the weekend when most of the population comes back and things start getting normal again.

 Have a nice beginning of the school year!