SOMETHING ABOUT MILAN FIRST IMPRESSION

Having said our farewell to peaceful Hallstatt, we set off to Italian land. Next checkpoint of our journey was Milan.

We paved our way especially through the Brenner mountain pass (German Brenner, Italian Brennero) to have a chance to see steep summits of the Alps. And although, this mountain pass is the lowest one (1374 meters high) in central Alps, there’s something to see. The weather was clear with blinding sun and blue skies. The tops of the mountains shone with white snow, and the temperature overboard rose to 16 degrees above zero.

Italian Alps after the pass looked the same as the Austrian. But only in the beginning. Then there appeared what cardinally changes everything – vineyards. Endless fields – along the road and climbing up the slopes, in small patches and immense plantations, straight rows of vineyards covered all reachable ground. It’s an autonomous region Trentino-Alto Adige. The basis of its economy is growing of grapes and producing of wines. It’s also an outstanding center of skiing and alpinism.

So, the road through the Alps prolonged the magical state of relaxation and enjoyment of the surrounding world, which we experienced, when stopped in Hallstatt.

And then a surprise awaited us. Milan! The city appeared from the dark of the thickening night with lights, clamor and very active traffic. Traffic lights, people, crossroads, headlights of cars, din of the trams, cobbled streets, wriggly mopeds, dashing in centimeters from the cars, bicycles, narrow alleys and absolutely unimaginable parking lots. All this simultaneously dumbfounded and emboldened us. And we began to get to know Milan.

Milan is the second biggest city in Italy. It’s the center of its northern region and also financial and economic capital of the country. Milan is a “Mecca” for those to whom fashion is life, legislator of a good taste and style.

And although tourists begin to get to know the city with its main sights (about which we’ll certainly tell), I’d like to tell about the city’s streets and people we met on them. Because the residents and guests of this huge megalopolis never ceased to impress me and gave that certain Italian charm to it.

The evening of arrival. Navigli district. First impressions

Night life is boiling here. People are meeting and communicating…

Somebody’s hanging out in the bookshop.

Not all Italians spend their evenings in restaurants and cafes. Somebody likes bookshops better.

Everybody’s hurrying somewhere, despite the fact that the night descended upon the city.

Somedy’s lonely this evening,

somebody’s met a friend,

or only awaits for his arrival. 

And somebody doesn’t part with their big friend

There’s an impression that Italians eat only at night. The shops and vendors selling Italian street food are open. Everybody’s chomping and drinking.. And also laughing and loudly speaking. Italian language sounds very pleasantly, it brawls and flows with melodies.

Somebody’s hardworking to feed the hungry, when somebody manages to find the time for courting 

One has already gotten tired and is willing to go to bed, while other, having dressed up, sets off to seek for adventure.

We will also say “good bye” to the evening Navigli to continue our acquaintance with amazing life of Milanese in the next post (and the next day)!