Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Mambo Italiano!
Aha! And so, I'm in Milan now and I finally have a day-off from all the backpacking and moving around because lo and behold, I sprained my back yesterday :( Arghhh. Now I cant turn left at all, and I sound a whole lot like Julius Caesar with that "stand on my right side and speak" phrase of his. Europe has been so absolutely amazing so far!!! AHHH. Molto bene!! What with the World cup that just started, and Italy winning their first match yesterday! The crowds were crazyy! I am definitely coming back here to study. Either by transfer or exchange, I'm sure about it. After a month in France, I actually understand the gist of what the locals speak and even unconsciously talk like they do as well. Its so interesting - this culture change! Italia is of course, as vibrant as everyone says it is, with the stereotype of italian men being very true as well haha. It feels like I've been away from SG for ages...gosh. I dont know how I'm going to be able to get used to it again when I come home. No more kissing on the cheeks to greet someone immediately, or saying Merci, Grazie, De Rien, Prego! Mixing up all these words when I'm in between travels from France to Italy or Italy to France. My mind is all in a jumble right now haha. And this has got to be one of the worstly planned trips I have ever done, ever. I keep backtracking and changing my mind at the last moment. I could decide to go to Rome one day, and the next morning at the train station I just spontaneously buy a ticket to Venice instead. And instead of staying there for just a day trip, I change my mind yet again after seeing Venice, and end up spending the night there as well. Arghhh. So much time wasted with my travels back and forth. Just the day before yesterday, I left Milan to go to Switzerland, thinking that I'd head through there into Austria, but then (who would have thought, hur hur) I arrive and decide to spend just a night there, AND head back down to Milano again because my friend in Milano has a house in Nice and we're driving there this weekend! Can you even imagine how many people I've met or stayed with who think I'm absolutely out of my mind with my spontaneous decisions. Needless to say, some were amused and others werent too happy! But the amount of people you meet when you travel is just so amazing!!! On the train, or at the train platform waiting for the connecting train, at a party of your friends', at the pubs, on the streets...gosh. And one thing's for sure.. when you know how to say "Cheers!" in four different languages, you start to realize you've got a bit of a drinking problem. Sante! Proost! Chin-chin! Salude! However you spell them (my spelling is terrible still) Was supposed to head to amsterdam, but I changed my mind again, and bought this Eurail select pass, which lets me travel within 3 neighbouring countries for a certain amount of time and cash. SO, the chosen ones were France, Italy and Austria. Too bad I'm out of time now, and have to rush the last part of my trip :( I was so tempted to just not come back. To forego my plane ticket back home and stay in Europe longer cos I've had a few job offers and offers for help with the visa as well. But of course that would be too foolhardy as usual :( There's so much to see and do here, no wonder people fall in love with it. I've had my own fairshare of problems of course, but I'll talk about it another time because its just too long a story.
As for those who keep asking if Paris and Milan is all and everything that their stereotypes make them out to be...haha! It depends on whether you're living with the locals or not ;) hehe, nah, but Milan as the famed fashion capital of the world is filled with good-looking people but I don't see much of the hype about it probably cos it isnt Milan Fashion week, when thousands of models from all over the world gather here haha. The clubbing here is too cool though!!! Haha, this is where it lives up to its name. Paris has the most lovely views and cafes, but it will probably get boring after a while if you dont know the right places to go with the right people :) The life there is really nice and relaxed though, you dont feel rushed at all, except for when you're in the crowded Metro or on the busy shopping streets like Chàmps-Elysees of course! The bars there are so nicely decorated too! Buddha Bar was a hugely over-hyped place filled with pretentious-looking people though. The music was its only saving grace. Anyway, I cant believe Ive been in Milan for a week already! Too much time spent here, I should move on quick. Cant wait for Nice on the Cote D'Azure this friday! Got loads of pics and videos with me, plus stuff that people have given me from all over, this trip has been so so awesome. Gotta go now though, je fàime!!! à bientot poto!
Shu at 10:18 PM
