20/3 2020, Gärdesta, Sörmland, Sweden

Oh! so difficult to write tonight. I have been sitting inside all day, freezing and trying to hit the fire, talking at the same time on the phone to people in Stockholm, in Germany and in Italy. I have family and friends all over Europe. And we are all in a bubble, not knowing how and when to be able to get out and reach reality again.

More than 600 dead only today in Italy, my birth region, Lombardy, is the worst hit part of the world by this virus that is changing our western way of life. We feel like offers in a threat but we are willingly putting our lands in a situation of complete chaos and crisis. The people in less fortunate countries – developing? countries – don’t even think about quarantine for Covid 19 because their primary issue is to survive from hunger and poverty.

What is worst? Be afraid of dying of Covid 19 or of hunger? What is the bigger probability in Italy, in Sweden? What do people in Pakistan chose and what do they think about what happens in Milan? Shit happens?

I am talking to European people and I see a progression of fear, a progression of measures to control fear and a progression of acceptance of control and, in the best case, a progression of solidarity. I am wondering what will happen: will it be a “statalization” of the western welfare states, with states and banks owning all biggest businesses? Or will the populist parties gain from this complete confusion of the West and win next elections in all our battered countries?

Someone on the Italian Radio 3 (my favorite channel these days) told me that THIS IS NOT A NEW ERA IT IS A MOMENT, but I am most worried by the consequences of this moment on us small entrepreneurs young and old in Europe, our free Europe, and on our pizzerias and enoteca, enoteca our design studios and our travel agencies.

IS THIS SANE? I don’t know. Anyway I wish to conclude this day of bad feeling with a good proposal. The museums in Italy these days are all making better and varied Virtual Tours, and I think it is a great idea! TheAlps will continue to share with our friends online, some of the beauties and the ideas that Italy always creates, even in times of crisis. Keep an eye on our social media.