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{The Ordinary Moments} #12 - Escape!

4/7/2014

8 Comments

 
When people ask me what it's like to live in Milan, I usually say "well, it's easy to escape". They normally giggle in response, often nervously. 

I'm not trying to be funny though. Milan is not a terrible city to live in, but it does have its downsides. It's overcrowded, flats are small and expensive (the three of us live in a one-bedroom flat), noise and traffic are ever-present, and smog levels are often dangerously high. 

Granted, the historical centre is impressive. It's the kind of place that has an enormous amount to offer for students and young professionals: architecture, shopping, art galleries, restaurants and bars trying to out-gimmick eachother, furniture design fairs, concerts. 

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As a family with a small child, however? A little trickier. Even the Milanese themselves think so: they escape. In winter they go skiing, in spring they go to the Ligurian coast. Many people have second homes for the purpose of escaping and on Friday evening the big stations are awash with about-to-be escapees and their little wheelie suitcases. In summer they leave for Puglia, Sicily or Sardinia in droves, turning Milan into a baking-hot ghost town. 

Who, then, are we to do differently? When in Rome/Milan, and all that...

During our first, pre-Bean years we went somewhere new as often as we could afford. We didn't (and don't) have a car, but the Italian rail network is extensive and reasonably priced. You can even *gasp* rock up on the day to buy a ticket and not feel like you should have taken out a bank loan first (though you can of course book in advance and get better prices for long-distance travel). 

So this, to me, is how Milan comes into its own. We're within an hour or so of the big lakes. Two hours down to the coast or up to decent ski-slopes. Two hours from Verona, two-and-a-half from Venice. Three by fast train to Rome (six by slow-train). It's fabulous. It's fun. It makes for perfect facebook fodder. 

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Lake Como
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Verona, of Romeo & Juliet fame
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The Vatican
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Rome
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The ultimate facebook profile picture

Since the Bean's arrival we've been able to get out of the city far less frequently, and for various reasons we've been pretty much quarantined since September. But no longer: Spring has finally sprung so last Sunday we slung the Bean on a train and went to Parco Monza (of Formula 1 fame), and this weekend we hired a car and drove up to a farm north of Bergamo (for which I have no photo-evidence aaaaaargh).

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This. This is what expat life is all about. We may live in a shoebox during the week. We may not own a swanky apartment by Lake Como, or even our own car. But we can turn a weekend in the Alps into an ordinary activity in our own way. And that, dear readers, is pretty damn cool. 

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8 Comments
Merlinda Little link
4/7/2014 05:07:41 am

I so love your building photos. I am an archi graduate and this photos are like a tickle to my senses! Thanks for sharing! #ordinarymoments

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Eline @ Pasta & Patchwork link
4/8/2014 03:05:14 am

Thanks for your lovely comment! I adore architecture so am completely spoiled here. x

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Katie @mummydaddyme link
4/7/2014 08:17:46 am

Oh wow so beautiful, especially that Lake Como photo. I guess its like all thing the grass is greener on the other side, but I have always wanted to go to Italy, it is the one place (bar Japan) that I would absolutely love to go to but have never been. x

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Eline @ Pasta link
4/8/2014 03:09:34 am

Funnily enough I didn't know Italy at all before we moved here. The north has its own, very particular character, but I have come to love it. I can definitely recommend a visit!

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mirari link
4/7/2014 12:46:51 pm

i loved verona's pic, i'm sure the whole city has to be beautiful

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Eline @ Pasta & Patchwork link
4/8/2014 03:14:32 am

Verona is indeed really lovely, it's been one of my favourite cities so far. Thanks for commenting! x

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Daniel
4/8/2014 01:03:19 am

I LOVE the photos, lake Como being my fav but they're all brilliant - what camera do you use?
Keep having fun & hopefully we'll see you on your next visit to SLE!
:-D

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Eline @ Pasta & Patchwork link
4/8/2014 03:17:01 am

Thanks for your lovely comment! I used a Canon IXUS 85 for all the photos. The same little point-and-shoot I've had for six years! It seems to do the job... x

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