In August Milan is normally out for holidays. This year is the first time that even the public traffic grows up. So more milanesi stay at home, because they cannot afford the holidays like the years before.
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Apropos the pigeons: right now is the beginning the "time of birds" in milan. Nearly all the trees around will be full with pigeons. If you park a car under such a tree...
The concierges at gallia - I know only four of them - are normally far away of beeing useless. And in the room there is normally a switch to activate a little red light beside the door outside. If this would have been activated by you, no one would have disturbed you. Unfortunately some guest let the "no disturbare / do not disturb" sign on the door even if they have their room allready left...