Miscellany

Last week we went to an Indian restaurant just a few blocks away. The food was decent and we enjoyed it. The people running it were from the Punjab. We have seen quite a few people from South Asia around; the laundromat guy is from Bangladesh. This isn't a very good picture, but it was fitting that the wall of the restaurant had frescos, or something like them, but with Indian scenes. Sorry about the lighting. The ceiling rafters were covered with fabric.

For several weeks, we have seen a homeless man sleeping on the loggia (veranda) in front of the stores we can see from our window. Each morning around 7:00 he would rise, fold up his blankets, put them into a large tote bag, and walk off. I've wondered what his story is. This week he has disappeared. I hope it means he has a better place to stay.

Standing on that same loggia, I took this photo looking up at our building. On the left is the corner building that has a leather shop on the ground floor. The cream-colored building is ours. There are three levels of apartments and we are in the middle. Our eating area overlooks the street and it is constantly interesting. I don't think there is anyone staying on the top floor; we haven't seen or heard anyone coming or going. The one below us has a South Asian man I've seen once or twice, but no chance to chat.

Monday we decided to take it easy after a fairly strenuous day out on Sunday. It was rainy and I only got out for a short walk. We had decided to go to the Uffizi on Tuesday, but it was raining fairly steadily and we put it off to Wednesday (as I write this, we have just returned). So we had another lazy day.

This is a cornetto, the Italian version of a croissant. It is common to have them for breakfast, but we only do that when we are not in our apartment. This one was for dessert; it is filled with chocolate!

Tomorrow:  the Uffizi Gallery.