17th January

Plane to Munich is full and delayed as we are boarding at 11am when we should be already taking off but hey better now than never as much as some people complaining as they have connection flights to catch, which in my case I listened to intuition and booked a next morning flight instead of the same day so  I’m not panicking as the hotel room will be there no matter what time I will arrive to Munich. Eurowings is nice low cost airline with comfy seats, nice staff and cheap relatively edible food in case of hot food but better sandwiches. Well twelve hours of journey is a long time on my bum so few stretches and walks around cabin to break the time  as well as to move muscle and blood around. I’m not sure what time it was but I strike conversation with steward, young chap whom I ordered turkey sandwich and we kept talking about life , travelling etc as he was telling me that their base is Dusseldorf so he is not happy to be late as well as rest of the travelers since he need to catch another plane too. He mentioned that usually they have three long haul flights but in the winter they are five to six long haul flights since Germans are escaping winter to Mauritius and other hot sunny destinations. When he described me his schedule I have respect for the air stewards as it is not an easy job and I think that is mess up your body clock big time. He said that sleeping is really hard for them to keep some routine of it with so many changes of time zones. He said for example that flight to Jamaica and then Bangkok is tough one. Well since he is studying he said that money are good but he cannot seem himself doing it for long time. We chatted a bit longer until he was interrupted by his colleague, either to tell him to work or just being jealous of our conversation, which one was it I had no idea since I don’t speak German. But as he left, chap standing there during our conversation said hello and we get chatting as he said that he did not want to interrupt our conversation previously and we start talking. Great chat with Apy if I spell the name correctly who is Indian but living in Germany with his missis and children who are always travelling around the world. It is great to see that even families with small kids could do such travels as he said that this is their spending of money instead of cars, houses etc.. His wife came as well and such aa lovely person with  their kid as I saw here previously playing with kids at the one of the wide corridor and she mentioned that there should be a kids area as when the children are together they are better behaving on the long haul flights. Also that kinds are making friends so easily not like us adults. We had so great chat that when the steward came back he just asked if we are still talking since he left and we said yes, as it is only few minutes. Well he said , it is about three hours 😊 so we laughed about it and then get to our seats as the food is about to being served and we were in the way of food trolley. Food was served and few minutes afterwards the captain announced that we are preparing for descend so all to the seats. Arrived in Munich two hours later I was so knackered that I just went to shop get some fruit and taxi to hotel. Taxi driver mumbled something about bus when I showed him the address but took me there anyway and charged €20, what is a lot of money considering the short distance of hotel from the airport, well I was tired and will not take money to the grave.  Hotel is nice simple travelers choice of room with double bed and bathroom all clean an in order like it supposed to be in Germany. Suitcase dropped between bed and wall what is nearly just the size of my suitcase so not much space to dance 😊 toilet break done and now down to reception to vending machine which has bottle opener attached to it by chain like the pens in the banks. Well what a man can do when the sign is so clear… get a beer and open it straight away what caused a bit of foam spill since the bottle rattled down the chute and me tired did not engage the grey matter as the liver was in charge. Also got a water since the beer is good for sleep but needed water for thirst too.

18th January

Woke up before alarm and just as turned phone on, video call came from Rajiv who was at the airport with Vimal and Mom, since was departing Mauritius and wanted to say hello. So nice and warm gesture from them as Vimal, Rajiv and Mom were all together on the airport bench waiting for Rajiv to go through security.  Waved to Mom on the camera and she asked that see me in July at Nitish wedding. I said hello to them and it made my day I have to say as I felt like part of family and community but I had to run to the shower as the bus was departing hotel at 6:30am and need to catch some food too as I paid for breakfast too. Surprise as the breakfast was nice selection of buffet style cold meats, cheeses, fresh bread rolls and buns, cereals, juices coffee from Franke machine “ not bad espresso” so I’ve got some down the hatch as it was 6:25 and I needed to go. I was on the footpath by 6:29 when the driver came towards me mumbling something about time as Germany is about precision not like Mauritius. It was freezing and as it started snowing I laughed as it was funny so see snow when just yesterday I was complaining about sweating my ass off during the night and day in hot and humid weather. There was only three of us on the bus, mature couple and myself but as I expected from Germany, God forbid for them to say good morning or have conversation with stranger. Get on the airport looked for all the signs and letters as the “Z check in  area “ is on opposite place as other areas, since it is for low cost airlines. Checked bag and went to gate where I got another espresso and breakfast of ham & cheese croissant  with big bottle of water and sat down as the table near the glass wall watching the runway through the snow flakes what floated around in the wind and typed another article. As I listened to music I typed and laughed on the snow swirling outside, sending the photos to lads to Mauritius to cool off a bit, then talked a bit to brown eyed girl before boarding and here we go board the Easy Jet plane for Milan is on time. This is short trip so not much time to type but flying over the Alps and see those snow covered caps was some sight all right. I have took some photos of them and seeing them all white, made me want to ski … Well since this was short flight we were landing in Milan before I blink my eyelids on all the beauty below. Got ticket for the train express to Milano Centrale as that is from where I will got Pisa later so want to be around the station to save time in the morning of departure. I was a bit cranky from all the travelling and also my phone acted up when tried to search for accommodation but phone call from brow eyed girls helped me to calm down and also she send me some suggestions from her friends about accommodation in Milano and as we talked I realized that I’m standing next to the hotel and I went up to ask about the room and it was €56 per night but the owner offered me a deal for €50 for one night as I needed the room for three nights but still it seemed to me a bit steep so I googled hostel at Villa San Giovanni metro station and went there. What a sh.. hole it was… however I was so tired that all I saw was bed and since it was €50 for three nights I took it and get into room. Put down the suitcase and went to get some dinner, water walking down the street which eventually leaded to the Centrale station but somewhere in the middle I just sat down and had my dinner of chicken, fries and cold Moretti beer. Then ready for bed got to the hostel, talked a bit with brow eyed girl and slowly dosed off watching The Big Bang Theory. Woke up as someone entered room and staid at the door looking around the room so I just prop myself on the elbow and the person quickly disappeared from the room “not a nice feeling” and then another chap came for the night and talked on the phone a bit when the receptionist came with another guest and told him to switch off the phone as people are sleeping in the room or go outside to take call.  Then I woke up as I was roasting and sweating like in Mauritius, realizing that the bed was directly above the radiator and that all steel frame and my matrass “in plastic wrapping” were like oven and I could not sleep since the matrass and bed was hot and air was cold.

              19th January

Woke up in the morning tired and with bad back, packed the stuff and left the hostel on the way back to the Ada Hotel near station what I found first time. On the way to the metro I passed around the charity food bank giving food to people who by the attire looked like homeless or less fortunate and I was so grateful land glad for all that I have when I saw them in this freezing cold morning in line for bit of food. Got to the Ada Hotel and owner / receptionist recognized me and he said that he will keep the offer as from previous day for €50 per night what I took as I seriously needed sleep. He asked me where I went and I told him so he just shake his head and asked why…. Well he gave me key showed me room as he said that I probably want to sleep, which I really wanted. Get in the shower as I did not risk this in the hostel since the shower was let put this way not far from being classified as health hazard. Get under blanket and fell asleep for few hours as I woke up around 14:00, when I just went to walk around Milan to see what is around and get my bearings for next day exploration. Again talked to brown eyed girls during my walk about Milan as apparently the Milano is not considered Italy 😊 well reached the Milano cathedral and investigated the access, bought ticket for next morning and walked around the piazza until I found the Benetton and since I was freezing my ass off I bought a new pullover and gloves. Immediately found better so went in search of lunch what I found in GREEN STATION just around the corner from piazza at Via Spadari ang. Via Victor Hugo 20123 Milano where they had fabulous hot chocolate what I’ve got since he lunch was not available at the present and it will be in 30 minutes so I sat down and admired the street through the big glass window. Later locals started flowing into the shop what I realized must be good sign as they will not eat anywhere and the food was nice and cheap, set lunch course for €8. Lasagna were nice as well as cous-cous and steamed veg which I finished with mascarpone desert and espresso and went to walk more. Did the Sforza castle and park then just wondering around but since I was getting sleepy I hit metro and soon enough bed as I needed a decent night of sleep. On the way I’ve got a Vodafone sim card and stopped at Naviglio  for hot wine as this is where the Milano night live is, restaurants beside canal where locals are having their social dinners and talks. Lovely part but it will be even more lovely in summer 😊

              20th January

What a difference when I had nice sleep in silence and nice comfy bed… I was up by 7:00 and ready for Milano Cathedral as I had ticket already and since most of the tourist are sleeping in the morning it is best to be there first without the crowds. The cathedral is nice, different that the other I saw with decorations and the high ceiling all made from marble. When I was in the crypt, brown eyes girls called and we had great chat and laugh as well as some dirty talk as you do in the church. Went out and phone call came from Frank so we chat a while, while I stand on the sunshine and warm up since the morning was cold and I need a bit of warmth before get up on the roof of the cathedral. Finished call with Frank and I called Pat since I have not talked to him a long time and as one of the best pals he deserved to be teased by my travelling info. Well since the call took a bit, the roof was now open but only first level as the second was apparently still covered with ice, which is hard to believe as the first floor was in shade and not ice was there. Anyway walked around took some photos before tourist flooded the roof, admiring the view of waking up Milano to the frost, fresh winter morning with smoke and steam rising from the chimneys above the roofs. All done and now the Museum of Technology and Leonardo Da Vinci what it was a treat and you could spend easily whole day there as it is huge and lots of things to see, not only Leonardo but generally technology and science what is interesting to see as the human race progress in the times. After the museum I have tow choices, either Brera Museum or Banksy exhibition at MUDEC “Museo Delle  Culture” so since I was hungry I went to first restaurant what was ramen spot and had probably the worst ramen so far but it was hot and I was hungry so… Brow eyed girl called again and told me about this house with hanging gardens BOSCO VERTICALE what won so many architectural prizes so I went there to see it before the sunset hide it in the dark. It is in nice and posh area with banks, modern buildings and park where all the dogs owners and child owners were with their pets 😊 Then hit the metro to MUDEC for Banksy exhibition what was amazing and I really enjoyed his works as he has a great talent to address the  issues with simple graffiti what everyone understood no matter what language do we speak. As he said at the end of his photo presentation “WALL IS A VERY BIG WEAPON” Got a book of his works for brown eyed girl as present since she mentioned that she love his work and slowly walked towards the metro station happy that I saw so much in one day and also that tonight is the last night in Milano before I will head off to PISA to see brown eyed girl. Packed the “little” suitcase, back pack and hit the pillow in anticipation of morning journey to PISA….