Via Dietro Listone, 5a

Once again, I’ve been extremely happy with my AirBnB rental. It’s comfortable and equipped with everything I need, and more. I haven’t had the urge to make a pie, so the rolling pin has gone unused. For the first time in a rental, the shower is big enough to turn around in and has a door that doesn’t leak.

This flat is one of two in the small building; the other is above me but I rarely hear anything from upstairs, even from the two-week-old baby that is now there. It's very secure. Just look at the lock!

Small as the flat is, there is a lot of built-in storage space. However, when you can’t build out, you build up, so to hang my clothes, I have to use a pole with a hook. The ceilings are very high and very beautiful, and other than in the dining room, the lighting is on the beams. Changing a light bulb would require a very tall stepladder.

When I first arrived, in the narrow entryway were a washing machine (non-functioning, obviously), two bicycles, and couple of plant pots. About a week later, I was met by a very strong smell of rubber when I opened the main door: eight new tires were piled on top of the washer. Two weeks ago, along with the baby, a baby carriage appeared, and all of it or at times parts of it (three of them), since it apparently takes apart and perhaps serves other functions, now lie in wait to trip the unwary. The photograph doesn’t do the clutter justice because I can’t get far enough back to get it all in.

Today my friend Myra came in by train from Milan for the day. She’s the person I’m sitting with in the double selfie that we got after three tries with the self timer, balancing the camera on various bits of furniture.Read more