We just passed our doctor’s office on the way to the butcher. No need for a visit, thankfully, but by habit, I snapped some photos of the new signs taped to the glass door—because if you don’t, you’ll never know what’s changed on a week-to-week basis.
There are four new notices in total.
One is neatly printed. The rest are handwritten in fading red ink, Scotch-taped at angles, overlapping here and there.
Sign 1:
”Monday, June 16 – on the days before holidays, we are CLOSED.” But not really.
Sign 2:
“The doctor will be seeing patients in Scalea (a nearby town), at the ASL (I don’t know what this stands for), in the AFT section (no idea what this means), from 8:30 to 13:30. If you need a prescription? Text 331 2545064.”
Sign 3:
“Starting May 5, 2025, the doctor now accepts morning appointments—but only by appointment, and only if booked during office hours. With the secretary.”
(Which hours? See next sign.)
Sign 4 (printed):
”Medical clinic – Doctor Germano
Monday, Tuesday, Friday: 9:00–12:30
Wednesday, Thursday: 15:45–18:00
(Wed/Thurs visits by appointment only)
To book: call or text 331 25 45 064.
Only during office hours.”
There is no buzzer. No receptionist. Only the taped signs and your willingness to decode them.
To see the doctor, you must:
— Read all four notices
— Know what counts as a holiday and what counts as its pre-holiday
— Call only during the defined window of office hours
*And in my case, be able to speak fluent Italian.*
It’s medicine.
But first, it’s an IQ test.