ITALY: Life in
Lockdown
We have all followed the horror and terror
that has engulfed Italy during the past weeks. The heartbreaking news
updates are hard to read and harder to watch as many people suffer in Italian
hospitals. As of March 10, all of Italy was placed on lockdown. Tourist travel
was halted and locals’ movements were restricted. The initial lockdown period
was extended and could be adjusted to an even later date.
In order for residents to leave home, they
must carry a document describing the reason they are out: grocery,
pharmacy, medical appointments, to walk their pets. If approached without
proper documentation, people can incur a stiff fine.
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| A portion of a permission form in Florence |
Changes to the way Italians interact with
each other and the fabric of their social network are challenged when they can no
longer kiss hello, meet their friends for a chat in the piazza, take their
daily passeggiata, men no longer meet at the bar or play cards, and women are
not in the parks watching children play. Will this change Italian life
after the end of the pandemic?
Everyone must wear a mask when out. In the
supermarkets, to keep the number of shoppers at a minimum, shoppers are kept
outside until signaled to enter. They are spaced while waiting to check out and
only when the shopper at the front of the line is finished and has packed their
bag can the next shopper start the process.
Many are facing no work for weeks. The
Italian government plans some assistance in addition to the suspension of rents
and utility bills during the lockdown, but will it be enough for the many
businesses that have been closed?
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It is heart-warming to see entire
neighborhoods out on their balconies singing or even exercising as a neighbor
leads. Often neighbors who play musical instruments will offer a concert. While
reaching out to colleagues and friends who are in lockdown, I found some have
found innovative ways to manage endless days within their homes. Here are just
a few of their stories.
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| Kelly Medford: Rome |
Kelly Medford, a talented Plein-Air artist in Rome, has worked indoors
since early March. You usually find Kelly creating a new painting from a
street location in any number of Roman neighborhoods or conducting her popular ‘SketchingRome’ tours. At the start of week 4, she described life indoors: “It is not
easy. It helps to reach out and be on video chats with friends, send emails,
anything we can do to connect. Online meditation and yoga classes have helped
too.”
Kelly took it upon herself to reach out to
others confined to their homes. She offers free online video drawingclasses several times a week as “a way to help keep everyone’s spirits up.” Each
class covers a different skill allowing students the ability to layer each
skill on the previous class work. The shutdown has encouraged others on her
block to frequent the small food shop in her building. The proprietors wear
protective gear and the patrons enter only one-at-a-time to make their purchases.
One
concern we each share is, will Italy be the same after this is over? Kelly is
also concerned about the homeless in Rome. If they can no longer beg, how will
they have the money for food?
Marisa Convento, a skilled impiraressa (bead stringer) in Venice, shared photos of her
neighborhood near Fondamente Nove. With permission to walk her dog, Toby, she
recounts that you meet almost no locals on the deserted calli.
On the allowable quick excursions to the market or pharmacy you can
still hear the church bells peal from multiple bell towers. On a normal day,
you would see locals walking, using the vaporetti or meeting friends on walkways now empty
and quiet. Home delivery of meals is not that common, but Marisa says, “a few
food retailers have started an online service.” Home delivery can be
challenging for a city without roads and now without public transportation by
vaporetti.
Prontopia is a unique personal travel app
that connects travelers with locals who can assist them during their stay. CEO and Founder Shannon Kenny launched Prontopia in April of
2017. The service is available in four Italian cities,
Barcelona, Spain, and Santa Barbara, CA.
Once Italy announced that all
residents must stay at home, Prontopia in Venice realized the problem this
would be for some elderly residents or others who could not easily navigate a
city with no transportation options.
Prontopia stepped up with a program
to help deliver medicine, supplies and groceries as well as run errands or even
walk the family dog. Ilaria Nardone, Prontopia manager for Europe, coordinates
matching a Prontopia member with anyone requesting assistance.
To make it even easier, Prontopia is providing a free service to elderly for helping with grocery shopping, running errands and even walking the dog. The service will be free for anyone over 65 years of age and for people with chronic illnesses until the end of the crisis. Venice group
Generazione 90 has joined with Prontopia to assist during the emergency.
About
50 households, some who have signed up for regular service, are part of this
special program.
Contact Prontopia.com for all details
