While In Milano ... By Uncle Monty.

While In Milano ...

By Uncle Monty...
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Two things have equally brought me to Italy’s
thriving city of Milano. Both are completely the opposite
of each other, but both equally hold my interest for one
reason or another. Yet, ironically, both also have a univer-
sality about them that attracts my abiding interest
– the world homeless football and the world Jewry!!
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Thus, I am here at Milan to attend the opening games of the 7th
Homeless World Cup (http://www.homelessworldcup.org/) and to
attend The 10th Anniversary of the European Day of Jewish Culture.
(http://www.provincia.milano.it/turismo_en/eventi.html?id=46534)

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18th Century Engraving of Milan Cathedral.

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Both open on the same day and I shall ensure to take in both
at different times of the same day and for the next 10 days that

I am in Italy while staying at Contessa Maria’s stately Italian

abode just twenty minutes or less from Lombardy’s Milano with

its population of 1.3 million people as Italy's second largest city.

"Besides its main city, Milan, Lombardy is full of cities of art and

small villages that attract visitors inside their walls from all

around the world. Milan is the Italian economic and financial engine

and the city that dictates trends in Italy, from technological innovation

to design, fashion or lifestyles. Milan is also one of the most important

cultural centers in Italy with a first-class artistic and architectural

heritage," so cited from one of Lombardy's many websites.
Although I have been to Italy before, I have never actually been to
Milano until now. By Italian standards, the city is considered an
expensive one but then there are few European cities that are
"cheap" thesedays especially where the Euro dominates.

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Milano's Alfa-Romero Cars.

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"With 500 players from 48 nations standing proud to change their

lives in the Arena Civica, Sempione Park, at Milano," I shall be there

to see them with my cameras at the every ready to record them.
"Founded by world-leading social entrepreneur Mel Young, the

Homeless World Cup is supported by Nike, Vodafone Foundation,

UEFA, Global Ambassador Eric Cantona and international footballers

Didier Drogba and Rio Ferdinand. It has triggered and supports grass

roots football programmes in over 70 nations engaging over 100,000

players since the beginning. Over 70% (of the homeless players)

change their lives coming off drugs and alcohol, moving into jobs,

homes, education, becoming football coaches, players and social

entrepreneurs. A ball can change the world," noted one

recent press release from the Homeless World Cup.
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As for the broad history and deep culture of the European Jews,

"(Some) 59 localities are involved. In each of them synagogues,

places of worship and meeting, and districts that have known the

presence of Jewish communities will be open to visitors. In many

cases the members of the Jewish communities themselves will act

as guides. But in order to create a festive and hospitable climate,

the activities that each location has been putting together are also

needed: shows, concerts, exhibitions, meetings, conferences, culinary

offerings, all of which will naturally be done in perfect respect for the

great Jewish tradition. It is a tradition that displays many facets,

due to the fact that while making its way across Europe and the

Mediterranean, the Jewish culture encountered different peoples

and traditions, borrowing various specific aspects, while remaining

part of one great, single tradition. You only need to think of the

musical genres known today as Klezmer, Sephardic, Synagogal,

Yiddish and Hassidic, each of which is influenced by different

countries and customs," reports the website of The European

Day of Jewish Culture, 2oo9.
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Come Wednesday evening, Maria and I shall also hope to

attend Anglican Evensong at Tutti i San Chiesa Inglese

Anglicana-Episcopale of the Diocesi di Europa

at Milano’s Via Solferino. We shall also go sailing!!

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So, come sail with us on Thursday ...

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After Milano, Maria and I shall head to Swiss Geneva for

a couple of days, too, before she then goes onto Arizona for

the American Fall and I to then return to hit home base un-

til going next to Gibraltar to bring in the New Year, 2010.

I shall also attend the 8th Homeless World Cup to be

held at Brazil's Rio de Janeiro in late 2010. Thankz, of

course, to Contessa Maria. Bless her, my good Lord!!

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Greetings From Italy's Milano, Uncle Monty.

+St. Giles, 2oo9.

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