Giardini “Indro Montanelli” will always be simply “il parco di Porta Venezia” to us, because we started going there long before it was dedicated to the famous Italian journalist.

This morning, a gray morning, we walked down memory lane and remembered coming here with the kids when they were small, with their grandmothers and aunts and uncles, with our friends, and with our dog, Wendy. Many things are the same (the flying space ships on the carousel–from the 60s?) and some, sadly, are different (neither Wendy nor the organ grinder and his stuffed monkey marionette are with us any longer.)

Even before that, though, I used to come here from my nearby office. I was still wet behind the ears, a new immigrant to Italy and a budding “consulente aziendale” for one of the then Big Eight. On a sunny spring or summer’s day, I’d buy a sandwich at the sandwich shop on the corner across from the office, and then hoof it over to the park–sometimes with a colleague or two–and eat lunch. I don’t have a picture of us picnicking, but I do have one of me during that time:

Today the monumental platano still grows tall and strong. Over 200 years old and more than an 8-meter circumference around its trunk, it has also been protected by a fence to prevent people from disturbing it in its old age. There are several huge trees such as this in and around Milan. Apparently they do a great service to the city–they are one of the most effective in absorbing and combatting urban pollution. Spring is on its way–we spotted a bud or two on the magnolia tree. We’ll be back soon for some shots of flowers.

In the meantime, here’s to you, Parco di Porta Venezia (Giardini Indro Montanelli)!