I came across this Swedish artist who first appeared on Swedish Idol. Check out his cool song. Its also amazing how he sings with no accents.
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Snow, Snow!!!!!
Wow i don't remember the last time, i saw this much snow. Another day to hibernate indoors, reflect on life and entertain myself with Italian TV. Hey guys, do you need me to verify anything? I'm free for now.
The day i had been waiting for
what i woke up to. So yesterday, I decided I had to go the post office and questura "police station" to apply for a residence permit. I should have just waited for the school to help me with it given the way things work here. Did i tell you it was really cold. So i knew it was going to be a long day. I first go to the post office. First finding the booth where i could pick up the application takes a while. I finally get the application. I guess i expected a difficult time. It's all in Italian. Great!! my first question is, how do foreign who don't speak the language do these. I could figure out some fields on the form. I hear some girl speaking english, so i ask her for help. She explains the form and advices me to go to the questura and that there are people who could help. I hop on the metro to questura. I get there, the lady speaks no english but some girl next to me is able to translate that i have to go back to the post office and apply there. So back i get on the metro to the post office. I get to the booth having successfully filled out the form. The lady tells me, i'm missing two things, photocopies and a mail stamp "marco da ballo". She can't tell me where to making copies. I mean don't you have a Kinkos here. what the hell. She tells me i can buy the stamps at a tobacco bar called a Tabacchi. Most of my day was spent trying to resort these two things.
The sales here are insane. I mean real sales. What does that mean? There are people everywhere. Zara of course is a zoo. So i spend my time window shopping in the cold and at the same time looking for a tabacchi. I was certain, i couldn't find an internet cafe in that area. They have what they call internet points but i doubt they would have copy machines. After 4 hours, i start to look for the tram to go home. I'm now tired and cold. Today is a flop. I come across some cute boutique. Nice things!! As soon as i get out, bam there i spot a Tabacchi. I run in and get a stamp for 15 euros. I mean one stamp. I'm happy! Now it's locating a photocopy machine. I had given up on that and now looking for the tram. I would have to do that tomorrow. Some italian man approaches the lost girl and starts to chat in Italian. Damn, i shocked myself. I was able to carry on a conversation. Good thing he approached because that's how i learnt the next day was a holiday. Holiday called Epiphany. WTH I don't even want to know. So does that mean the post office is closed to? He says yes. So i rush back to the post which closes in 15 mins and try to see if i can still submit my application. Mind you the thing i was missing was 1 photocopy. The lady tells me no but to just come back on wednesday.
Since i couldn't find the tram, i take the metro. After the metro, is a 10 mins bus ride. Finding the bus was another problem. Things we take for granted. I finally get on the bus, some old man starts to speak to me. He seems so sweet. He keeps saying something but i guess i'm no longer tuned into Italian because i can't understand a thing he is saying. As soon as i get of the bus, i feel snow flurries.
Holiday means nothing is open or works
I can't even use the pay phone with a calling card to make a fun call. I swear the answering machine said, we are on vacation, so too bad. Pazzi!!!
Amazing Breakfast.
Maybe I just had eaten very little but those were the best croissant "pasti" i have ever had in my life. So next time you are in Milan check out Hotel del Corso for its croissants. Well if you are solo, you may get a twin bed. hehhehe. Really i was shocked too.
Day 2 in Milan : continued
Did i say "stronzo". Well you will find out what that means. We get back to the hotel so my friends can get ready and prepare for their dinner dates. The sweet Italian men, they met where making them dinner. Wow, that's great. The plan was to join them later at Duomo. So i later go to check them out and first thing they say, you wouldn't believe it. Something incredible happened. I'm waiting for more amazing news. The guys called and cancel. What??? They called and left a message with the front desk. The poor guy at the front desk had to relay the message to them. Get this, they canceled because they were sick. Wow how original. Is it me or have i heard this before. Ok never mind. Welcome to the big city girl. So being the only one in good spirit, i tell them, you can't worry about that, tonight is your last night before you fly back to Portland. Let's make the best of the night.
So we head out to dinner at some restaurant next door and then go out. One suggests we go to the place Mexican restaurant, where they had met the guys. Supposedly it was a very fun place. On our way we meet these two cool brits on the train who tag along. We get there, it seems the set up is now geared towards a romantic dinner. We check another bar. Before we know it, we are bar hopping. We then decide to check out some clubs next door. Gate fee, 70 euro. I guess when you are called Hollywood, you can charge anything. NOT!!. So we go back to the Mexican restaurant. Who do we run into, my friends italian dates. Wow so much for being sick. I told them, if you can chill, cool just have fun you are leaving anyways, but if you cant with them there, then lets go. One was cool, the other couldn't relax. Then i cant really have fun. What stronzos "aholes"!! I also think that restaurant was popular among basketball players. There where at least 15 guys in there who where at least 6'5' and most americans. Did i tell you it was snowing outside. Great. So we are bar hopping in the snow. Just what my night should be. We go to another bar. One takes off to the bathroom while the two of us, get explicitly proposition. WTF. Do we look like stupid Americans. At this point, our only other option is to pay 35 euros to enter another club. i am indifferent as i will be here for a while. one wants to have fun, the other wants to go home. What the hell, lets go home. We are not having fun anyways, we are bar hopping in the snow (wet). We catch a cab. I break out the little Italian I know giving the directions. We get to the hotel and crash the kitchen. Why do we find croissants just sitting there. Of course we indulge. We said our goodbye and went to bed at 4am. I set a wake up call for 8:30am. I couldn't miss breakfast this time.
So we head out to dinner at some restaurant next door and then go out. One suggests we go to the place Mexican restaurant, where they had met the guys. Supposedly it was a very fun place. On our way we meet these two cool brits on the train who tag along. We get there, it seems the set up is now geared towards a romantic dinner. We check another bar. Before we know it, we are bar hopping. We then decide to check out some clubs next door. Gate fee, 70 euro. I guess when you are called Hollywood, you can charge anything. NOT!!. So we go back to the Mexican restaurant. Who do we run into, my friends italian dates. Wow so much for being sick. I told them, if you can chill, cool just have fun you are leaving anyways, but if you cant with them there, then lets go. One was cool, the other couldn't relax. Then i cant really have fun. What stronzos "aholes"!! I also think that restaurant was popular among basketball players. There where at least 15 guys in there who where at least 6'5' and most americans. Did i tell you it was snowing outside. Great. So we are bar hopping in the snow. Just what my night should be. We go to another bar. One takes off to the bathroom while the two of us, get explicitly proposition. WTF. Do we look like stupid Americans. At this point, our only other option is to pay 35 euros to enter another club. i am indifferent as i will be here for a while. one wants to have fun, the other wants to go home. What the hell, lets go home. We are not having fun anyways, we are bar hopping in the snow (wet). We catch a cab. I break out the little Italian I know giving the directions. We get to the hotel and crash the kitchen. Why do we find croissants just sitting there. Of course we indulge. We said our goodbye and went to bed at 4am. I set a wake up call for 8:30am. I couldn't miss breakfast this time.
Friday, January 02, 2009
Day 2 in Milan
I got up at 10:30am. Breakfast ended at 10am. I am starving and i have eaten very little in the past two days. Fortunately, i didn't leave my snack back home. I munch on them. I met some American girls the night before and we had planned to meet up the next morning. I missed breakfast, so i doubt i will see them. I chill in the room and finally go down at about 2pm. I see one of them who just got back from shopping and we decide to meet up at 3pm. I go window shopping and make it back to the hotel at 3pm. They want to go the shop first before heading to the Duomo. They had dates with some Italian men they met they night before. Since we were running out of time, we decide to cut short shopping and head to the duomo. We look around for a bit and then continue to shop. They area is expensive. My new friend wanted to look good for the night so i help her shop. She purchases something at some cute boutique shop and then we go to get a snack.
We get back on the train and as soon as we exit the metro, SNOW!!!. We start looking for a supermarket, which after asking so many we still couldnt find. We then come across this liquor shop. The sales guy seemed very rude like we were bothering. My friend wanted champagne to take to the party but the least cost 40 euros. She resorted to a sparkling wine for much less.
I never realised that to open doors in America, you pull, in Italy you had to push. So cause several shop doors to get stuck because we kept pulling. Now we know.
We get back on the train and as soon as we exit the metro, SNOW!!!. We start looking for a supermarket, which after asking so many we still couldnt find. We then come across this liquor shop. The sales guy seemed very rude like we were bothering. My friend wanted champagne to take to the party but the least cost 40 euros. She resorted to a sparkling wine for much less.
I never realised that to open doors in America, you pull, in Italy you had to push. So cause several shop doors to get stuck because we kept pulling. Now we know.
First Day in Milan
What a ride! I made it to the Malpensa airport, which looked pretty deal. I had heard bad things about the italian police at customs but things moved smoothly. Wait but why do i keep getting cut off. I go to baggage claim but i only get one bag. I checked in two suitcases. I start to panick. I calm down and then go to lost and found to complain where the tell me, my other case is still in London and wouldn't arrive till 5pm. It's now only 12:45pm. I only have the address to a hotel which i will be staying at for 1-2 days, the city is about 1 hour away and i dont know my way. I initially decide to wait (not that great a choice). I now go on a hunt for a sim card, phone card and cash. I buy the phone card (10 euros) and get cash. Making a call in Italy is another challenge on its own. Why does it have to be so complicated. Maybe its just me. So it takes me about 1 hour to finally get through my friend who gives me his address. Why did i only talk to him for about 7 mins. Did i just spend 10 euros for 7 mins!!!!!
I go back to lost and found and give them an address for the suitcase. Good thing, i had all my clothes and basic needs in the suitcase in hand. I get on the bus to Central Station which and as soon as i arrive, this guys approaches with this cart to get my bag. Not knowing that there is a difference between the train and metro, we begin to argue about the fact that there is no train to my destination and that i should take a cab which will cost my 15 euro. Mind you my destination is walking distance if i didn't have heavy luggage and i wasn't going to pay that much for 2km. So he pushes my suitcase to the metro where i tip him 2 euros. He tells me its 4 euros. I tell him to get lost. It was literally 100 metres away. Va bene he says.
Why don't they have escalators and really where do i think i am DC? Good thing i have some bicceps. I carry this 50+ pound case up and down stair and after about 1 hour and asking people in the little Italian i know (which is not much) i made it to the hotel. I was so burnt out, i couldnt even lift this suitcase up 5 stairs. I mean, I felt like i had to go up 5 flights of stairs. First question at the front desk when he tells me i'm on the 4th FLOOR, is do you have an escalator. YES!!! i'm glad i pick a hotel and not a hostel this time. I go up, drop my stuff, take a look at the bed and think to myself, i'm back in college. That was the last time i slept in a twin bed. Hey it will do. Best part, the bathroom. Nice, clean and very big. I love bathrooms.
I go back down, use the computer to tells my sisters i made it. I talk to my sister back in the room for an hour and as soon as i hang up, i get a call that my friend is downstairs. Since the phone got cut off in the airport, i hadn't called him. I had decided to try to find my wait to the hotel. He just showed up right on time. He takes me to dinner at this KING size pizza joint in the Navigli. I really do wish my camera was working (charger was in my other suitcase). As soon as i get back from dinner, i crash!!!
I go back to lost and found and give them an address for the suitcase. Good thing, i had all my clothes and basic needs in the suitcase in hand. I get on the bus to Central Station which and as soon as i arrive, this guys approaches with this cart to get my bag. Not knowing that there is a difference between the train and metro, we begin to argue about the fact that there is no train to my destination and that i should take a cab which will cost my 15 euro. Mind you my destination is walking distance if i didn't have heavy luggage and i wasn't going to pay that much for 2km. So he pushes my suitcase to the metro where i tip him 2 euros. He tells me its 4 euros. I tell him to get lost. It was literally 100 metres away. Va bene he says.
Why don't they have escalators and really where do i think i am DC? Good thing i have some bicceps. I carry this 50+ pound case up and down stair and after about 1 hour and asking people in the little Italian i know (which is not much) i made it to the hotel. I was so burnt out, i couldnt even lift this suitcase up 5 stairs. I mean, I felt like i had to go up 5 flights of stairs. First question at the front desk when he tells me i'm on the 4th FLOOR, is do you have an escalator. YES!!! i'm glad i pick a hotel and not a hostel this time. I go up, drop my stuff, take a look at the bed and think to myself, i'm back in college. That was the last time i slept in a twin bed. Hey it will do. Best part, the bathroom. Nice, clean and very big. I love bathrooms.
I go back down, use the computer to tells my sisters i made it. I talk to my sister back in the room for an hour and as soon as i hang up, i get a call that my friend is downstairs. Since the phone got cut off in the airport, i hadn't called him. I had decided to try to find my wait to the hotel. He just showed up right on time. He takes me to dinner at this KING size pizza joint in the Navigli. I really do wish my camera was working (charger was in my other suitcase). As soon as i get back from dinner, i crash!!!
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