MONTICHIARI


Across the street we have an ortofrutta where I can get fruits, vegetables or herbs that I might not be able to find in the grocery store.  They have some weird hours even though there is always a sign on the door that says "aperto" or "open."


This is the water point where the city can fill up water bottles with drinking water: frizzante (or fizzy), naturale (still), or freddo (cold).  I take empty 2-liter bottles to fill
every week or so.  Lots of people just choose to buy bottled water in the store which
costs about 0.20 centesimi for 2 liters, or roughly 40 cents a gallon.


Behind the water point is the big park in town where there is a fountain 
 and a cafe that is open during summer.  There is also a pretty cool zipline there, but I have
never seen anyone using it.  This is mostly just a hang-out for teenagers, but it is well-maintained and 
its only a 5-minute walk from the apartment.


Further down the street is the Post Office where I sometimes pay the bills (internet, gas, electric).  It can get really busy here and you have to take a number and wait in line to pay.  Normally there is about 20 people waiting, but sometimes I get lucky.


The main government buildings are all near each other, so right next door to the Post Office is the Municipo, or the municipal offices.  This is where Stephen and I filed documents for our marriage, where we said our vows, and where there is a permanent file of our marriage!



Here is one of my favorite things about Italy.  This is a milk machine from one of the local farms.  The right side of the machine is yogurt and cheese made from the harvested milk.  On the left, there is a spout where you can fill up bottles with unpasteurized milk.  The goods are about the same prices as the grocery stores, but much more fresh.


Then there is the piazza, the most important part of town.  Here is where people come together to sit and have a coffee or maybe a gelato.  When the weather is nice, there is usually something going on like a concert or a food market.