Italy: Brief Travel Info On Milan

[tic-toc]

Disclaimer: These are the personal opinion of the writer. Readers are advised to interpret it with own discretion.

If you associate one of the fashion capitals in the world with modern infrastructure, state of art architecture buildings, easy assess of tourist information, efficient postal and banking services, then get ready to be disappointed with Milan.

Reality creeps in as early as when one hops off the plane in Milan’s Malpensa airport. Only 6 immigration counters are available. (2 for Italians and EU residents, balance 4 for non EU visitors). Just to give an idea to the tired traveller who is standing in the infinite queue waiting for a passport chop: In Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport, there are 120 immigration counters.

Milan played a vital economic and active commercial role in Italy. Its annual Design Week is an event ardently sort after by buyers and trade specialists internationally. It is an important city for fashion designers to present their collections twice a year. (catch the film “the devil wears Prada” and “Kinky boots” for some indication) Every 7 Dec, after the Scala theatre inaugurates its season's opening, audiences have the chances to enjoy world class operas and performances.

Places of historical interest

Duomo of Milano is a historical monument definitely not to be missed. It is the second biggest Gothic church in the world. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duomo_di_Milano

It construction started in 1387 and took 500 years to complete. You can see the massive pillars of marbles. The decorated “green bronze” portal gate is a masterpiece. Free entrance.

Those who have little time or not a great fan of maestro Leonardo da Vinci, you can give the visit to “The last supper” a miss. Firstly you have to make a booking which they will probably give you an appointment one week later. Secondly, you pay Euro 10.00 to behold just ONE alfresco (wall painting). 15 minutes is all you are permitted to stay in the church. This alfresco was mentioned in writer Dan Brown’s book “the DaVinci Code”.

The people (gay men)

Personally, I feel that the Italians are the most goodlooking guys in the world. (of course base on average population) But that doesn’t mean that I have to like them. They are passionate and warm blooded lovers. If they like you, they will go all the way out to woo you. I know you are more interested about the size of their privates. Like men everywhere in the world, there are big ones as well as tiny weenie ones. But majority are from average to big in sizes.

The Italians are also egoists, thinking highly of their country and proud of everything Italian. Speak badly of their food and they will trash you with words. They are known to be mamma boys, still living with their parents at the age of 40. They know little of Asia, thinking that it is where all the poor people and 3rd world is. They talk too loud and too much, making them easily identifiable in any European airports.

Places of gay interest

Milan is not “friendly” for a gay traveller. I don’t mean that the city is anti gay. On the contrary, gays are visibly everywhere. They are safe and undisturbed in the public. What I mean is that the gay establishments (bars and clubs) are far and apart, that without a private car or taxi, it is quite inaccessible. Most taxi will not stop for passenger in the street. They operate mainly through telephone booking or they wait in the taxi stand. After midnight, only few taxis are available. In several occasions, I have waited more than 2 hours. When the taxi arrives, several groups of people just fight to grab the taxi. What a terrible experience.

Clubs/bars/ or any place with a dark room will require the presentation of a Italian gay membership card (tessera ARCI). It is valid for 12 months and can be used in all gay establishments in Italy.

Edited March 23, 2008 by tic-toc

[erection day]

get ready to be disappointed with Milan.

Tic-toc, you are one of the best travel writers here. :thumb: I have always wanted to visit Milan. The other must-visit-before-I-die place is Venice. But as one gets older, the thought of travelling many hours (trapped with a passenger from hell next to you) on the plane is just too torturous to ponder.

[Andy@Tokyo]

woooo. i wan to go italy sometime

[tic-toc]

But as one gets older, the thought of travelling many hours (trapped with a passenger from hell next to you) on the plane is just too torturous to ponder.

U may be delighted to know that a ticket SIN/Milan from Thai airways permits one free stop-over in Bangkok. if you add another Euro 30.00/ SGD60.00, then you can have one more stop over in bangkok (altogether 2 stop overs). The long hours' journey is spilt into 2.

It is advantages to stop over bkk on the return route. A few days in Bangkok will help to ease the jet lag when you finally touch down in Singapore. (because we will stay out late in BKK, the 6 hrs time diff with Europe will eventually be recovered) U can also have massage in BKK to ease out tired muscles.

PS: Venice is definitely worth going. Highly recommended for lovers. If you travel alone, you will feel sad and melancholy. There is no gay places to visit. It was allerged to have a beach frequented by gays but I doubt it is crowded.

Venice is about 3 hrs train (normal speed) from Milan. 2nd class train fare is Euro 24.00 /SGD48.00). U can spend one night in Venice or you take the last train back to Milan.

[Guest Guest]

Have anyone tried Contiki Tours which caters to youth aged 19 to 35? Saw thier site and it seems intresting.. No more aunties or small kids tagging along for the trip..

http://ph.contiki.com/tours/109-european-discovery

[lonely]

The tour seems too rush, I would suggest you just focus on 1 or 2 countries because otherwise you will be spending too much time on the coach. If you like scenery, Austria and Switzerland is great, but I like Scotland best. Rome and Paris is simply beautiful with all the artwork and buildings. Venice is very romantic, great if you are travelling with someone.

I know because I booked a 21 day Europe tour when I was in UK with Thomas Cook. The tour was quite rush and we spend a lot of time on the coach. Not really my idea of a holiday. Worse still, the guide had a bitchy face throughout the whole trip.

[tic-toc]

I agree.

Personally I think that Europe is a destination for travellers, not tourists. It is not like Las Vegas, Malacca or Sentosa where one snaps a photo and then move on. You need to feel with your heart in order to experience Europe. Do not let time hurry you, wind it down to secondary position instead.

Close your eyes and let your emotion takes over. Sip a cup of cuppuccino by the road side cafe as you observe the passerby. Savour the local dishes and taste their wines. Chat with the local people and uncover their life's philosphy. Learn their history as well as understand their past wars and victories. Inhale the fragrant of autumn leaves and listen to the surronding music.

Sometimes I realise that I have not accomplished anything much or visited enough places of interest in a day. But my soul is saturated.

[lonely]

As for relaxation kind of travelling, I like Hobart. There was this little market square where I stopped for breakfast in the morning. The sun was gentle, there was a guitarist playing a comtemporary piece, the weather was cool and my mood was calm. That was the defining moment for the trip and it was so perfect.

But back to europe. I was disappointed as I would really like spending a whole week to see Vatican City. In the end the tour only had 2 days in Rome. London did not really leave any good impression on me. The only place I find worthwhile is the British Museum, and the best part it is FREE . I can easily spend another week just to tour the British Museum, but alas not the tour did not cater for that either...

[tic-toc]

...continue from the posting of 21/aug.

Clubs

1) Billy www.billyclub.it

Frequented by the most gorgeous gays in Milan every Saturday, dancing topless in trance / underground music.

Patrons usually appears after midnight. Admission Euro 15.00 including one drink. No dark room, no need membership card. Big dance hall. It is the most popular gay clubs in Milan in terms of the crowd and the quality of men. Quite near to the central. It is on the road towards the Linate airport (domestic airport) Can go by taxi or bus but after that may have problem returning to hotel because there is no taxi stand around.

2) Borgo

Opens on every Sunday at 8.30pm. 2 long tables of buffet fill with finger food, pasta, rice salat, salame. It's a place to prove that not only Singaporeans are KiaSu kings.

Music starts at 10.00 pm. Several halls playing various kinds of music. Pop, trash, electronic. All kinds of patrons from nerds, hunks, average, Asians, young etc.

Not located in central zone. Take the yellow line metro, alight at Port du Mare. Exit right and walk through the dark lane or follow the crowd. club is about 400 mt away.

Impossible to hail a taxi from that place. Taxi are reluctant to pick up the booking as it is quite out of the way. If without a private transport, the best is to be like Cinderella, leave before the last metro at midnight.

3) Binario Uno

Assessable by metro green line. Alight at “Lambrate” station. Requires membership card.

Located side by side of the sauna “Hamman”. Big space, big dark room underground. Patrons are mix ages.

4) Gasoline = tea dance on Sunday starting at 5.00 pm. Mainly young crowd. Right in the central. Small.

5) One Way = forget about it. Too far. Impossible to go back. Dark room. Crowd is less attractive.

6) Nuova Idea = Not recommended unless you like transvestites or pay for Eastern Europe boys.

Sauna

a) Metro www.metroclub.it

Good location, near central train station. 3 levels = Euro 15.00/ SGD30.00

b) Royal Hammam http://www.royalhammam.com/

swimming pool. Next to Binario Uno club.

Cruising clubs

One needs membership card to enter all these cruising clubs. Most of them opened 24 hours. More crowded in the night and during weekends.

- cruising canyon http://www.cruisingcanyon.com/

near metro green line “loreto” station

- X-line (next to Afterline bar) Not opened 24 hours.

- Flexo http://www.flexoclub.it/

- illumined http://www.club-illumined.com/inizio.htm

Bars

1) After line = near central train station. First gay bar in Italy. Worn out and province-like. Frequented by informal locals and south Americans. Small dancing place with commercial music.

2) Next groove = Near central train station. Small. Informal. Just bar and snack.

3) Ricci = In front of central train station. Clients are much well dressed. Used to be a hang out place for Stefano Gabana (D&G founder) a few years ago.

4) G lounge = Mixed crowd. Behind Duomo of Milan.

Edited March 23, 2008 by tic-toc

[tic-toc]

Nudists' hangout

As Milan is not by the sea side, river banks are as close as one can get in terms of nudist’ beach. There are 2 rivers in the region territory but unfortunately for the gay travellers, neither is in Milan city. Happening only in the summer. (june till Early Sept)

1) Cassano D’adda

It is a 45 minutes train ride from Milan. The train station is located right in the middle of this nature park. You can start cruising in the surrounding woods. Cross the iron bridge and then transverse to the opposite side. Track about 200 mt on flat grass land to arrive the actual core of nude area. The water in the river is not crystal clean so very few people actually go into the water. There are bushes and trees by the river side. Majority of people will stay nude. They do sun tanning, chatting or loitering. The real action is within the 600 mt stretch. Beware of thorns in the bushes. There are also mosquitoes.

2) Ticino river

It is complicated if you take a train because there is no bus services from Vigevano station to this park. It is only accessible by car. One hour’s drive from Milan and you will arrive to this nature’s reserve. During summer time, you will find kilometres of car parked outside the gate. Once you pass through the iron gate (opens in the day, free entry to all), be prepared to walk for long distance. Instead of concentrating on reaching the destination, take the opportunity to enjoy the nature and to throw meaningful glances at people walking in front and behind you.

In about 15 minutes’ time, you will arrive at the river banks. Usually straight people and family will gather there. Turn left and walk on. Once you see the last group of straights, you can start cruising. In order to arrive to the real core of the gay nudists, you need to walk for another 30 minutes. This is a nature park with a river pass through it so the landscape changes continuously. The nudists’ shrine is a big open space with small rocks by the river. (the size of 4-5 football fields). Hectares and hectares of woods surround this open space. People sun tan in nude by the river. Lots of hot action in the woods. This is a nature park so sometimes there are groups of horses riders passing by. (not by the rocky beaches, only in the woods). Beware of mosquitoes. No toilet. Bring your sun block.

Transport

Metro = there are altogether 3 lines (red, yellow, green)

Each ticket is Euro 1.00 valid for one metro ride and unlimited bus/trams within the arc of 75 minutes.

The 24 hours ticket costing Euro3.00 could be a good bet. If you first use the ticket at 3.00pm, it is valid till 2.59 pm the next day.

Things to buy

Italy is the birth place of fashion brands like Gucci, Armani, Versace, Trussardi etc. Their flagship stores can be found in Via Montenapoleone, one of Milan’s most elegant street where luxurious boutiques, antique shops, tearooms are located. Do your shopping fast because most shops close at 7.30 pm. Sunday is a non working day. That rule applies also to most of the shops.

Those who are same as me, that has an uncanny rapport with local markets and street stalls (pasir Malam type), can venture into Via Papiniano. It is open on Tuesday mornings and on Saturday from 8 am till 5 pm. With some luck, sometimes designer goods and prototypes samples are sold at a bargained price.

Extra virgin Olive oil is a good buy but could be troublesome to bring back since now it is not possible to hand carry liquids of more than 100 ml in the aircraft.

Eating Out

Unfortunately besides McDonalds, there is no Kentucky or starbucks for inexpensive meals.

The cheapest is to visit a Chinese restaurant, which can be found everywhere. The standard of the food is usually so-so. Recommended is “Ristorante Specialita’ di Taiwan” (Taiwanese food) in via Adda 10. Another good one is “Giardino di Giada” which is near to Duomo. There are some Arabic Kebabs shops and they are inexpensive too.

Those who would like to try Italian food may like to know that there are various type of Italian restaurants. Restaurants specialised in region cuisine are usually much authentic in taste and also comes with an expensive bill. The cheaper Italian restaurants are usually operated by Chinese.

Milan’s specialty is “Risotto Milanese” (rice cooked in white wine and saffron)

As you know, pizza is originated in Italy. So I suggest you to try eating a pizza in a Pizzeria (simple restaurants selling pizzas) at least once. The real pizza is actually quite different from those selling in our Pizza Hut. A pizza costs about Euro 10.00 /SGD20.00) Adding drinks and cover charge, a simple meal for 2 can easily come up to Euro 40.00/ SGD80.00)

Wine is usually good and rather cheap (when compare to French wines). The variety of wines is as vast as the variety of cheeses. One of the famous Italian wines is Chianti but the quality could be very varied depending on different vineyards. (you can ask the restaurant to suggest you)

Period NOT to visit

Try to avoid visiting in the month of August. Not only it is hot (most metro and hotels are without air condition), you will also find the city deserted. Majority of the shops will be closed for the summer vacation since most of the Milan people are away. Some hotels are closed too.

I hope this brief travel information on Milan could be useful. If I had disregarded something which you like to know, please ask me. Ciao and arriverderci.

Edited March 23, 2008 by tic-toc