Recently, just as Gil does best, quite typically (like so many things) I misplaced my passport upon returning to France from Berlin. I got horribly sick, had to take antibiotics, and cure the Bronchitis infection. Upon getting better, an invitation to Milan came at the perfect time, it was a weekend away that was duly needed. For days I had been stuck in my room battling my sickness, now I had the opportunity of another weekend away, this time with a group of dandy British fellow assistants. We were to drive in our (rented) Fiat Punto across the border. No passport needed in this case as when crossing the border it was Italian army-men who were more interested in posing than actually checking cars. I guess that means I illegally crossed the border – woah I'm bad!
Just like the army-men posing cliché, on the highway in Italy a Ferrari passed us in a flash. It seemed to be going double the speed limit (well much faster than us at least), while the engine didn’t make much noise but just the velocity of the car made this subtle whooshing sound. And then entering Milan city (at rush-hour) more stereotypes came rushing threw, with cars not abiding by the most basic road rules and not having any regard for the other cars on the road. One car for example did a u-turn on the middle of a main road blocking all the traffic in its way, this seemed so regular for this driver.
The hotel we booked was a 1 star hotel, I didn’t think they existed, and this one lived up to the dodgy Italian style logement – the television had no reception and the shower had no hot water! The room was a line of five beds, and my friend joked about the piece of ‘high art’ that hung in the centre of the room, that was effectively a cheaply framed generic scenic print.
We may have not been living it up at home, but we ate well at classy restaurants, drunk at cocktail bars, and danced each night away! So the food was incredible, well made pasta, huge pizzas, great coffee and desserts. Friday night I demolished the biggest pizza of my life, the waiters though were more interested in the football on the television than serving food, as Italy were playing an international friendly. The cocktail bars were impressive, just the beautiful Italian waitresses were enough – my friend who is in a devoted relationship joked “he had fallen in love again"! This happened numerous times, in the fashion capital, he nicknamed girls things like ‘knee-high red boots’! And the night life was impressive. Living up to its fashion capital persona, we met Male Models (from Brazil), but they were less interesting than the Italian folk we met at the end of our nights.
Upon the conclusion of our night outside the flurry of bars and clubs we got into many-a debate and discussion about nothing. Still it was great, we barely spoke Italian, they barely spoke English, but still we communicated on this profound level. By profound level I mean, my mate and I were basically just stereotyping by waving our hands saying the few Italian phrases we knew like ‘malto bena’! Anyway I was alright in one guy’s book, just because I could name the three best Italians playing for Juventus – Italy’s most supported team! And this is how many conversations ensued, which team you support for example.
Despite the short whirlwind of a weekend, my conclusion is that I love Italian culture! They are warm, energetic, good-looking, fun, love food, fashion and football of course! What more is important in life ... well having a decent president, an honest citizenry (most people don’t pay taxes but then again taxes are incredibly high but that is probably because so few people pay them), and the corruption of course (Mafia own/run societies in the South). Nonetheless being there as a tourist, you only see the good, the beautiful, the romanticism of Italy – I am really curious what it would like to be to live there – perhaps a future venture of M.I.N.E! Before thinking I can live there I must travel to the south, which is much different to the more sophisticated north where Milan proudly resides as the big business city, so in May my next stop will be Naples!
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