Down at my favourite watering hole there is a curious new flag with ‘Four Four Two, Milan’ on it. Although this flag, which can been seen on Facebook, appears to be English – red cross on a white background, not the Union Jack, interestingly enough, it is the flag of Milan.
I have no idea why the England and Milan flags are exactly the same, but I have to say that it is very appropriate for a sport pub in Milan. If anyone out there knows anything about the origins of the Milan flag, then please let me know.
I have used said flag as the basis of the new banner ad on this blog, and you will see it down on the left hand side. If you click on said banner, you will be taken to the official 442 pub site, but much better than a virtual visit is a real one. And shortly all you rugby fans will be able to see all the rugby down at the pub – but get there before the matches start, otherwise you will find it is standing room only. The atmosphere will be great though, sitting or standing.
Oh, and the ‘two beers for the price of one’ offer is still on. Yet another excuse for checking the place out.
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Hey Alex,
Will you be dropping in to the pub this week?
If so, can you ask them if they’ll be doing the Men’s Wimbledon Final on Sunday? There’s a couple of us that would enjoy a beer or two whilst watching it.
Cheers
Andy
Hi Andy,
I’m not sure if I’ll be popping into the pub – I just go there when the mood takes me – but I’ll drop in and ask about Wimbledon for you, and let you know.
As you have probably noticed, tennis is not as popular as it is back in the UK. This means that it is hardly ever on TV. I think Sky Italy is running Wimbledon though.
Cheers,
Alex
Thanks a lot, Alex
I would make an educated guess that the number refers to the 442 Infantry. The 442nd was the number of the Infantry unit comprised entirely of Japanese-Americans who faught north through Italy and on into France and Germany. They are renowned for their heroism. They were the most decorated unit in U.S. military history for its size. There is a film (early 1950s) that profiles them – Go for Broke, There is a LOT of information on them on the Internet. Given that almost all of them had family in virtual concentration camps back home, they loyalty to America is especially noteworthy.
Hi from Singapore Alex,
I love your blog: ten years ago, when I moved out of Italy to work abroad I realized that it takes a foreigner to write about Italy in a clever, informative and impartial way.
I’m writing this comment to point this page to you: http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandiera_del_ducato_di_Milano.
It explains that the Milan flag is actually the Republic of Genoa flag. Looks like Genoa’s flag was adopted by several North European countries, including England.
Cheers,
Attilio
Hi Attilio,
Good to hear that you like my blog. Thanks
You’ve been away from Italy for about as long as I’ve been away from the UK. Cognitive-Affective Neurosciences is a interesting area to be in, not that I know anything about it. I would not have thought of Singapore as being a place for research into this.
“…it takes a foreigner to write about Italy in a clever, informative and impartial way.”
That’s an interesting observation. I think being a foreigner gives me a different perspective and allows me to see some things for the way they are.
If you’ve never lived abroad, you will never be able to compare your own country and its culture to that of a different country. This means that it can be difficult to see your own country for what it is, and, perhaps for importantly, understand how to change things for the better.
You will know something about this, seeing as you have been in Singapore for some time. The living-abroad experience transforms you to an extent, but not in a bad way.
Some aspects of Italy are better than similar aspects to the UK, and vice versa. But without having lived in Italy (or Singapore) for some time you cannot ‘see’ the differences or understand why they exist.
Writing about them helps me, I hope, understand things better, and may help others too. If people disagree constructively with what I write, then that’s no problem, and I can learn from different viewpoints too.
Thanks for the info on the flag. Very interesting.
Thanks for commenting.
Best,
Alex