August in Milan

Abandoned houses

Every street a vacant lot

The air unbreathable and choking

Scalding as a furnace

And thick as it's fumes

The children's games are long gone

Taking their voices with them

A swing hangs lonely

Its only friend the blinding, scorching, mirrored slide

reflecting the cyan sky screaming for clouds

Computer desks, their chairs still spinning

Power down from standby

Passwords will need to be reset

When it's all over

Earning forgotten

My heels sink inches into the asphalt 

A string of tar grabs on for transport

It too trying to escape

A bead of sweat has set up camp

Under my lip above my chin

No energy remains to wipe it away

My arms and legs itch and bleed

With raw open wounds

Victims to vampire, tiger, dragon bugs

Mutated beyond recognition

Stay indoors 

Move slow

Hide

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Sounds apocalyptic doesn't it? No, it's just my experience with Milan in August

Every year Italians take advantage of the heat and escape the cities in the month of August for their holidays. Most go to the sea or the mountains and even most offices and businesses are closed for most of the month. August is probably the worst time to visit Italy because the cities are functioning at their very minimum and the resort areas and tourist spots are packed to the brim and very very expensive.  

Milan in particular is famous for being very, very uncomfortable in August. A lot of services are put on hold and even shops and restaurants can be closed down for weeks on end. The worst aspect of Milan in August however is the heat teetering between 35 and 45°celcius most days with high levels of humidity. It doesn't take very much time outside before that type of heat makes you feel like you want to faint.  The tar in the pavement of the sidewalks literally melts it's so hot.

I actually happen to like the empty city in August. There's no traffic and a sense of being in another reality. But then, I have air conditioning at home and am naturally hermit-like. There's even a hot line number 020202 and website where you can find out what's open provided by the city council!

For all you Milanese out there, you know what I'm talking about and I wish you a very happy 'Vacanze' season.  I'll be holding down the fort like most years and 'gasp!' staying behind this August. 

Here's my main plan for the month:

• potty train Sera
• frequent trips to the community pools
• hanging out in the park (slathed with bugspray) on cooler days