In a perfect world, everything we desire comes to fruition in the exact way we wish it to be. Life glows with the warmth of friendship, love and experiences that enrich us and make us feel whole. As travelers we tend to fantasize about what a destination will be like based on external factors like movies, travel guides, and the experiences of others. The journey first begins in our imaginations, before we ever take a single step onto foreign soil. We build up expectations of adventures that make us come alive, warm savory food that melts in our mouth, the melodic voices of handsome strangers flowing sweetly in an exotic tongue, sunshine and clear blue skies. But the real world is not so perfect and sometimes being present in a foreign city is the only way to accept that where you are is not what you thought it would be.
We emerged from Milano Porto Garibaldi on a cold, rainy Sunday morning. The almost 12-hour overnight train ride from Naples to Milan was rough. Like a scene out of a murder mystery, at the stroke of 22:00 hours, hundreds of disorderly passengers piled onto the partially rusting Intercity regional train. We both found our seats in the cramped six-seater cabin alongside a sketchy Nigerian priest dressed in white robes, a mature Sikh gentleman with his boyish lover and an Italian hipster. I shifted my eyes over to Nicole with raised eyebrows and caught her glance. After fifteen years of friendship, I hoped she could read my thoughts about the situation. Two women facing each other with our only escape route blocked by four men for an entire twelve hours. If anything crazy goes down we’ll break the windows and hop out of the speeding train like some extras from the Wild Wild West. Until then, we resigned ourselves to the uncomfortable, non-reclining seats and slept with one eye open, clutching our bags all the way to Milan’s regional station.
After a whirlwind tour with stops in Rome, Naples, Capri, Pompeii, Florence and Venice we settled into Milan for the last leg of our legendary Italian circuit. We were ready to rest our worn-out bodies, let loose and have some fun. From retracing the footsteps of gladiators in Rome, gazing in awe at the masterpiece that is Michelangelo’s ‘Book of Genesis’ painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and sailing the blue canals of Venice, we truly felt Italy’s spirit. Centuries of history, architecture, artwork and culture all preserved. But Milan was different – we landed in a metropolis, with colder temperatures, gloomy overcast skies, crowds of people zig-zagging along narrow walkways, mediocre food, and very little personality. Like Paris and New York City, Milan is known for fashion, finance, luxury and nightlife but unfortunately is the least exciting of the three. Be that as it may, if you happen to be in the area, here are some things you can do in between fashion shows and trips to Tom Ford.
Visit the Duomo cathedral. This is Milan’s centerpiece and most popular monument. Tourists are free to enter and can go up to the roof for a better view of the city. Next, go shopping in the main shopping district in Milan which is walking distance from the Duomo, called Corso Vittorio Emanuele. The area is filled with mid to luxury range boutiques from the GAP to Armani but you will only find Gucci, Louis, Fendi, and Prada at the elegant Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II next to the Duomo. When it’s time to eat, head over to Pizzeria Rocking Horse in Corso Como for their famous pies and bruschetta. As an aside, a gentleman who was chatting me up revealed that many dishes at high-traffic restaurants in Milan are not made to order, but are pre-cooked, refrigerated and re-heated. So, if you want something fresh, go for the pizza. A night out on the town can be epic in Corso Como, the popular nightlife district, if you go on the right night. Clubs usually charge at the door and offer a free drink on entry.
If you’re not too tired from fist-pumping to electronic beats all night, grab a 24-hour subway pass the next morning and ride the metro around Milan for a day. You can hop off and on at random stops and explore different pockets of the city on your own terms. Try to see Leonardo Da Vinci’s ‘Last Supper’ painting on one of your stops. It is one of the most famous religious works of art in the world but visitors will need to make an online ticket reservation at least one month in advance or connect with a licensed group tour guide to gain entry – same day visits are not allowed. Lastly, remember that many business and tourist sites are closed on Sundays and Mondays so check days of operation before heading out.
Why doesn’t it sound glamorous? Because it is like any other city in any other country with luxury boutiques, mid-range stores, Zaras and H&Ms lining busy streets filled with label-conscious shopaholics. Consumerism and materialism take center stage, while the rustic Italian charm we had come to expect was completely overshadowed. Oh but the people are beautiful! Dark hair, pale skin and rail thin model-esque specimens own the streets – and why wouldn’t they? Milan is Italy’s modern city, its fashion capital and the home of Prada, Versace and Guiseppe Zanotti. But if you’re an up-and-coming gal like me, whose profession is lucrative but not yet celebrity, Milan is just a place with a bunch of stores that a vast majority of visitors can barely afford to shop in. If you’re looking for things that cannot be found on Fifth Avenue in New York City, the only saving grace may be the tiny shops or local flea markets around Milan where you can buy thrifty vintage gear. Catch them while you can though, since street markets only open on random days during the week like Tuesdays and Sundays.
Overall, Milan is like the chick you bang and never call again. She has some good qualities but you really don’t care if you ever see her again – you would rather go on a date with Florence or marry Venice. That’s the thing about having high expectations and making comparisons, they are never completely fair because they are founded on an individual’s preconceptions and limited experiences. As a wise man once said, accept things as they are and look realistically at the world around you. Reality is, when you go looking for excitement, sometimes you don’t find it.
Subira Willock spills the travel tea as the creator of Black Travel Snob, a travel lifestyle brand for the hip-hop generation. Follow @blacktravelsnob on Twitter and Instagram or visit btsnob.com for photos and more stories.
