Thursday, March 29, 2012

Happy Thanksgiving from Milan - Ready to Vogue!


Milano



The definition of Italian Men’s Fashion is MILAN! I was very excited to have scored  great tickets at 19.99 Euro one way from Rome on the  Milan’s Malpensa airport www.easyjet.com they are way better than both wizzair.com and ryanair.com.  I purchased the tickets very early.  The train is too long and too expensive to get here compared to this 55 min flight.  Karon came back to visit me for Thanksgiving since its my favorite holiday and we thought that we should have this getaway since we both love fashion and exploring new places.  We stayed at The Hotel Spadari www.spadarihotel.com right near the Duomo.  We took advantage of this great location by going out as soon as we arrived in the city.  After marveling over the Duomo’s grand size which was meant to compete with the Vatican and other large signature of major cities it was diffidently a sight to see.  Right next to the Duomo is the Gallery of Vittorio Emmanuelle where the first Prada store is located. This gallery was a retail and restaurant filled glass domed piazza. As we walked around we ran the small city into a very trend bar that just start on of my favorite Italian past time - APPERTIVO!! Its basically Italian Happy Hour but soooo much better. We checked out the bar called NOON, had great cocktails and wine and little bits like small sandwiches, olives, shrimps, bread, cheese etc endless with your one drink.  I know Great, Right!.  

I felt like this city was very different from Rome.  The people felt different than the ones in Rome.  Everyone had on bold clothes, very trendy but still uniform.  Everyone seemed like they can be a designer or artist.  It was weird  and cold feeling to observe.  On our way back to the hotel we decided to walk some more into a local area of the hotel and ended up in a neighbor that seemed more like what I am use to in Rome.  Outside over crowded pubs and wine bars, loud Italians everywhere with either 1 or 2 drinks in hand. We did not know what was going on but it just looked like a large “winter block party”.  Everyone just hanging around drinking cheap 3 Euro Beers and Wine Spritzers.  The Milanese at this location, didn’t seem so well put together as the place we just left. 
On our full day there we visited the main spots of Milan which ended up not being much. Lol  I like learning about the areas I visited so I made sure that I signed up for a tour through www.viator.com We toured the Duomo and I conquered walking all the way to the top just like Florence but not as bad.  Then from here we walked through the city for about 3 hours. Piazza della Scala, La Scala Opera, and the grand Piazza Castello, you know the usual.  After walking around the city and learning about the people, history and the love Milanese have for Leonardo Da Vinci we ended the tour at Cenacolo Vinciano where “The LAST SUPPER” painting resides on a plaster wall.  This room is closed off and you have to obtain special viewing request.  The tour guide was very knowledgeable. Explained what Leonardo Da Vinci decided to do differently in his painting that was particularly different than the recording what was in the Bible.

For dinner we walked along the River and found a good seafood restaurant.  Milan is known for seafood, they are big meat eaters. (Just a heads up for those of you traveling there with dietary restrictions) This area was another town hideaway.  The River seemed very far from the inner city center and was very dirty and had no attractive highlights in the area at all.  You can tell from areas like this and the one we ran into yesterday that places where city  do not spend its funding.  We decided to check out the Bar strip Corso Sempione, where supposedly all the Models and Actors get cocktails.  All the décor for most of these places were very posh and chic.  I didn’t feel as connected to the city even though I thought that my passion for fashion would entice me to. I would not come to Milan to visit again unless I was here for work or heading to somewhere else.  It’s a city that you have to be in the “know” to know what’s going on.  As I was told when I was there, things are just publicized to the general public you have to find out.

While on this trip I was excited for the possibility to be able to visit a new area of Italy.  I didn’t make it there but I think its totally worth a visit if you are in this region of Italy.  The Lakes that border Switzerland and Italy are said to very picture perfect towns with low amount of tourist and little quaint cities.  In Milan you connect to the main towns of the lakes by trenatlia.com and the tickets are only around 7 Euro for an 1 hour train ride to this off the beaten path locations (my favorite and bet they have great seafood)  There is the 2 main Italian lakes: Lake Maggiore, this one is closest to the airport (Malpensa) and has 3 islands.  The second is Lake Como which has 3 main cities to visit Bellagio, Varenna, and Menaggio.  There is also a lake near by that is in Switzerland, Lake Lugano.  I think its worth a day at one of these lakes taking a ferry around the towns and relaxing, but that’s just me. 

 One of my professional shots of the Gallery.  

 Ciao!

Survived Reverse Culture Shock (I think?)

Hello, Ciao, Hola

I am still alive had to take a moment to get my life situated here in NYC.  Just writing to say that I went on a few Ahhmazing trips as most of you may know from my post on Facebook.  I tried to write something everyday to everyone everywhere since I knew I was visiting many places that my friends and family may never see.  I conducted that trip with my BFF and you will see her throughout my photos as well.  However, I am not here today to talk about my Euro-trip,  I am here to tell you that I am Surviving!

As the title states this is to give you all an outlook of my impression of America as an American who lived abroad and have now returned. You might not think this at first, but returning home was not easy Emotionally (and of course physically - 4 suitcases #killme).  So many of family and friends especially my mother ask WHY?  So here it is, after being home for 3 months I recognize what I felt after my immediate return.  While abroad you train yourself to get accustomed to the lifestyle abroad (or some people do) you never forget what is to be home, but whatever it is that keeps that country in your heart and mind you realize you are no longer have the same understanding or "way of being" as you did before you left.  It is a difficult to understand if you have never been away from where or what you call home longer than about a month. 

Here was my timeline in Italy (living in Europe):
 Departed Januaray 2011
Probably was homesick up until my Bday pasted in March
Then I started to enjoy the differences in what I sought out for entiretainment in Italy vs. Home: For instance wine and cheese, Apertivo in the park, actually traveling, learning a new language, making new friends, beer feast - chocolate feast,  and just simply enjoying some of the best views and food, EVER
(therefore stop complaining about what I would do at home)
 Traveled as much as I can (the most traveling I have done in my whole life happened all in 1 year lol)
Came to US to visit (still knowing that I had a returened to ticket to Italy Kept me statified)
Around Noveember I realize it was going to be ending soon (and began to feel homesick for Italy while there)
Traveled some more
Returned home to the US in January 2012

Simply a lot of time away from what I knew and who I knew and trusted... The monotony of my life was broken by this experience.

When I was abroad I began enjoy and look forward to the common things in Italy as well as the mentality of Italians.  I learned a lot about the differences between "us" and "them" and how we think - whether its about careers, morals, race vs. nationality, family values, religion, Romance, or the joys of food (pizza specifically).  There are things that I can not change the views of all Americans but it is hard when you have returned to your "home" you notice that no one Gets You... And that you are not willing to conform back

So I have survived I have found a way to cope with being an American Foreigner lol (for lack of a better term). I recognized the difference in my beliefs from those people whom I would  consider close to me and realized how seperated I am now,  even though I have returned. 

I have been coping with this reverse culture shock by trying to keep myself engaged with a mixture of like minded people (s/o to The Tribe), and my lovely family and friends.  I signed up for Italian language classes in NYC. I have also taken a hint from others, who have in their own way been in the same position, and started researching ... Where to NEXT! will keep you all posted with that and I will make sure I will fill you in on my wonderful excursion through Western Europe.

Ciao Belli!

Budapest, Hungary

Budapest, Hungary
Statute of Liberty - Budapest, Hungary

Florence, Italy

Florence, Italy
The Duomo - Florence, Italy

London, UK

London, UK
Famous Phone Booth

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