I noticed from the balcony this morning a few women carrying branches of mimosa, and at first didn't realise its special significance.
We went to the cafe and asked if they would be staying open. The law is changing all the time. said the girl with a shrug and a laugh. Tomorrow? Who knows? So we sat in glorious sunshine with the other people enjoying drinks and snacks and chat - children playing on scooters, couples, elderly people with sticks or on the arm of a younger relative, prams, wheelchairs...
The supermarket was no busier than usual, though for the first time they asked us to wait at the door until some people came out, so that it didn't get too busy I suppose. It looked as if people are stocking up a little, as we were, but there was certainly no panic buying and there didn't appear to be a shortage of anything. (Of course you can't just fill up the boot of your car - you have to walk home with what you can carry in Venice.) The smiling boy at the checkout handed us a potted hyacinth each as we left! For International Women's Day perhaps? When we came back I saw that our neighbour with the mimosa tree had a pair of stepladders beside it...
It has been such a happy and productive first week.
No shortage of toilet rolls so far....!
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