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The hidden Soul of Milan
A man dressed in a working overall rushes to the door of the train and wants to jump off while the doors close and the train departs. He did not make it in time to get off. I wonder if he realized too late that he is sitting in the wrong train, but then I see him going to an American woman, handing her ticket back and saying “è partito” (it has departed) with a sorry face. All is clear for me at this point: he wanted to jump off to stamp the ticket for her. In Italy you have to always stamp the train ticket before entering the train. If she had asked me I would have told her that all the stamping machines are broken on this track and I didn’t have the chance to stamp it too.
I keep thinking about this man, trying to help her to the point of risking to lose the train himself. This is part of the Italian hospitality. The American woman is a guest and he is at home here.
This is also why I rarely get to pay for my food when I invite someone for a business lunch or dinner in Italy. Even if I am the one inviting, I still remain the guest.
“In Milan I do not really feel like a guest” – I think while the train takes me away from the city where I lived for around 6 years to bring me to the airport.
The city I loved and the city I hated. The city that embraces all the guests but can also be very cruel and give you the sensation of real loneliness.
I think I went away because of this feeling of loneliness. It felt like being with the person you love but who ignores you. I went away to make the point of my life. And it was the best choice ever. Sometimes you need to force yourself to leave the things you love in order to rearrange your relationship. I am not sure you can say this about a place where you live, but that’s how I felt.
I never lost my love for Milan and the enthusiasm to show the city to all visitors that come here with me, because Milan is often not very appealing for the guests coming for the first time without knowing the city. You have to know someone who makes you “live” the city, who explains the spirit to you. I had the luck to be able to show the city to many friends, and they all discovered a new face of the city – they all loved the city like me.
I am here often for work now and I always have mixed feelings when I arrive, but also when I leave like I am doing now. A mix of excitement and sadness.
Ok, maybe this post seems not to have much to do with travel but for me it still has.
It shows the feelings one can have for a city.
It shows how friendly Italians can be in regards to strangers.
And it has a recommendation: go to Milan with someone who knows the city and the Milanese lifestyle – you’ll love it!
Here are some hidden angles of Milan:
A bird’s-eye view on London
I have been to London nearly one month ago and I finally manage to go through my images. There are many things that I noticed and many impressions I would like to share with you but I will start with a travel-tip which can also be seen as a life-tip: Always try to see things from more than one perspective.
The perspective I want to talk to you this time is the one “from above”, by listing some ideas of places with a panoramic view in London.
ArcelorMittal Orbit
When we arrived to London it was already dark and on the way to the city center one building with a very strange shape attracted our attention. It was illuminated in red and looked very futuristic. We found out that it was the Archelor Mittal Orbit, built in 2012.
It symbolizes an orbit which goes up and down with a continuous line, which expresses the energy and creativity of London. Not only it is a building one has to see, it also offers two platforms with a beautiful view of London and the Olympic Park. Not to miss: the funny effects of the concave mirrors that will flip your perspective and turn the horizon upside down.
The Shard
The Shard is a building you cannot miss in London – you see it from every part of the city. Seen from far away it looks as if the pyramid made of glass with a broken top.
Getting closer you realize how unique it is. It has been developed by Irvine Sellar and built by famous Renzo Piano, with the idea of creating a “vertical city”. The building now incorporates retail, offices, a Shnagri-La Hotel, apartments, restaurants and a public viewing gallery. With its 310 meters height it is the tallest building of western Europe. There are 3 open floors: 68, 69 and 72 that offer you an amazing view of the glass construction above. And, at almost twice the height of any other viewing platform in London, it offers 360-degree views of the city.
Sushi Samba Restaurant & Bar with a rooftop terrace is on the 38th floor of the Heron Tower. Don’t go if you are afraid of the heights as there is a panoramic glass elevator that brings you up in speed. It is a fascinating place and going there was such a great experience! Can you imagine Japanese-Peruvian-Brazilian fusion food and cocktails? Matcha tea infused Pisco? It’s worth a visit!
A very charming place for an after-work drink or a unique dinner experience. But not only: the spectacular view of London with all its most famous buildings took my breath away!
Radio Rooftop Bar
I didn’t manage to see it but it’s on my list for my next London trip: Radio Rooftop Bar. It is located on the 10th floor of the ME Hotel and it is called like this because the first BBC programming was broadcast in 1922 from here. You can relax enjoying your cocktails while sitting on fancy white sofas and have a wonderful view the Oxo Tower, Big Ben, St Paul’s, the Gherkin, the Shard…
London Eye
Who doesn’t know London eye? With its 135 meters height it’s the highest observation wheel in Europe. It’s located in the center of London and one of the cities symbols.
It’s part of the classical touristic tours but this does not mean that it’s not worth it. I’ve been there before and I chose to do it again. The views of the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey from one of the Eyes’ glass-capsule are just stunning!
“La Dolce Vita” combined with Swiss Efficiency: Lugano
There is a part of Switzerland which is mostly not being considered in the general common idea people have of the typical Switzerland. It is Ticino: the Italian speaking part.
It is not about cows and cheese fondue. It is a very classy, upscale and dolce vita loving part of Switzerland.
Lugano is one of the most renown cities of Ticino. It all develops on the mountains around Lake Lugano.
The charming city center is very small, formed by numerous banks (ok, this is also part of the typical idea of Switzerland), luxury shops, Swiss/Italian restaurants and bars and one casino.
All the other buildings are spread on the mountains, which give this place a very picturesque look. Wonderful villas, luxurious hotels, restaurants… Everywhere you go, you will be stuck by the unique panoramic views. Lugano loves its Lake and the view of it.
You can have a refreshing swim or do every kind of watersports you desire on Lake Lugano.
To get the “real” Lugano feeling I recommend staying or just drinking a coffee in one of the hotels which made the history of this place, that has lived the golden era and still is in a splendid shape.
One of them, a very intimate place, is Villa Principe Leopoldo. Not only has the Villa wonderful accommodations, it has a Restaurant with one of the most stunning views I have ever seen. Don’t miss it, even if it’s only for an aperitivo in the evening.
I have actually staid at the Villa Principe Leopoldo. It is located on the so called “golden hill” not very far away from what used to be Hermann Hesse’s house. It is one of the most charming places I have ever seen, and the staff is very friendly. They even have a shuttle service which brings you up and down the hill to the city center.
You can combine Lugano with a round-trip through Switzerland, by flying to Zurich (it is only 3 hours from there by direct train), and maybe cross the Italian border and fly out from Milan.
Milan can be easily reached in one hour by train. There is a bus shuttle service which even brings you direct from Lugano to the Milan Malpensa airport. Swiss efficiency! 😉
Venus lives in Sicily: Erice
“On the highest top a medieval village rises among bristly towers. It is the small village of Erice where once the most famous temple of the most famous goddess…Venus,… with its fortified walls, with its streets accurately paved”.
Roger Peyrefitte, descripion of Erice in 1952
“Sulla vetta più alta inciela una medievale borgata irta di torri. È il piccolo borgo di Erice, dominato una volta dal più famoso tempio della dea più famosa…Venere,… con la sua cinta fortificata, con le sue strade accuratamente selciate”.
Roger Peyrefitte su Erice nel 1952
This road brings you back in time – curve after curve – until you arrive to Erice.
Erice is a Medieval town, with only 512 people living in the city center. It is located at a hight of around 700 meters on Mount Erice, with a wonderful panoramic view of Sicily’s west coast, with Trapani and the Egadi islands.
When we first arrived to the top, the town was covered by a thick fog, which gave a somehow fascinating mystical look to the town.
It is a phenomenon that often takes place on Mount Erice and which led to many mythological histories about the town. Since prehistoric times, Erice has been connected to the goddess of fertility, love and beauty: to Venus. Some say it is because of the strong relationship between water (fog) and fertility.
PINKVEL 
