Europe 2003 - Part 1: Milan, Italy

Yes indeed, I have slapped my ass right in the heart of rolling Lombardy. It is GODDAM HOT and the WOMEN are EVEN HOTTER. I reached without too much fuss on cheap old Ryanair into Bergamo. In flight, I met a lovely Italian girl - Bella/Banalle … I have forgotten who offered to take me to the city centre of Milan (50km) for free since her friend was coming to pick her up. So I hitched a lift, and her interesting friend (called Suresh and - adopted off Indian parents and raised in Italy) came and took us through city centre driving like a bull in a ring and dropped me. Then I wandered around in the HEAT, spelt H-O-T, to find accomodation. I finally found something right in Duemo in a hotel called Ambassadario, which looks okay, can’t expect anything better than 40 euros since Milano is grossly expensive. Italians are so mad, just so utterly insane, and I’m just digging people at the moment, it’s a people watching feast, and cor, did I already mention the women? Every soul is full of passion and spice, it is fabulous to be a witness to all of this. My hotel looks like a brothel in this low season, so I may be in for an interesting night. I plan to train it out of here to Florence via the Metro to Stazione Centrale. But Milan is truly wonderful, the plazas and pizzerias are jammed and the beers cold and frothy like a river which really helps in this heat. It took me quite a long time to get one internet cafe, but I thought to tell you that elegant Milan is all around, with all its Italian cobbled streets where I got lost and little Piaggios and lovely ladies willing to attempt English with a loud blood hot passion, and all the time the whole thing feels like a cauldron bubbling tomato soup out of restaurants. The Duemo, financed by Milanese residents for upkeep is ornate like some painting that has been replicated a thousand times, except you know that people had to carve all that! A seller on the street told me he’s totally fed up of the heat and there is no rain which is understandable with the recent weather fracas. No danger of me getting Pradafied or Armanied over here since I don’t have money. Instead of all the shopping, I am on a people-digging frenzy. It looks like the tourist office is the only help around here, although it is really cool talking to girls on the street.

My trip has started with an ear-popping clang. And a few yells and shouts from drivers and scooters with beautiful ladies driving them - almost running over people every minute. Life is passionate and full of character over here.