This past Wednesday, I departed on an adventure - namely, on a little excursion to Milan, Italy to visit my friend Matteo and his family. Summed up simply, the experience was phenomenal, but I'd surmise that you all might like to know a bit more about what all Matteo and I undertook while I was on the other side of the Alps!
Adventure it was! I flew for the first and the last time with Ryanair...it's a discount airline based in Dublin, Ireland, and it's not known for it's customer service. I had a lot of stress predeparture (in Marburg!) that I had already made up my mind before even setting foot in the airport that I wasn't going to fly with Ryanair again. But anyhow...my flight was scheduled to depart at 8:35 PM from Frankfurt-Hahn, which isn't Frankfurt International Airport. From Marburg, I have to take the train to Frankfurt and then take a bus from the main train station to Frankfurt-Hahn. The bus ride is scheduled to take only one hour and forty-five minutes (That's longer than the flight from Hahn to Milano...), but I'm getting ahead of myself.
The first problem happened pre-train-departure in Marburg. I left my room - after having a comfortable morning with friends in Marburg - with plenty of time to buy a stamp and put a postcard in the mailbox at the train station. I was strolling along thinking about what Italy might be like when it hit me - I had forgotten my camera. I thought, "Well, I guess I won't have pictures of Milano," but then I thought how much I'd hate myself for that in the end, and - more importantly - how much my father would wring my neck if I didn't document every moment. So...I turned around and bolted (This I really did...) back to Studentendorf. This means something because I had already descended the Pasternakstraße - a street that goes maybe a tenth of a mile at a 90-degree angle (okay...I exaggerate a bit there, but it is very, very steep...), and I did this all carrying my backpack and pull-along suitcase...My heart felt like it was going to explode when I got to the top of the hill, and then I had to climb up the six flights of stairs to my room, grab the camera, and get back to the train station...even when I'm going quickly and am unencumbered by luggage, it takes about 20 minutes to get to the train station from my room. I had 15 minutes left...God was with me though, and at the gate to Studentendorf there was a Minicar - a sort of taxi. I jumped in and made it to the train station in time...and the train was even 5 minutes late.
Everything went smashingly to Frankfurt. I found the bus to Frankfurt-Hahn, paid my €12 ticket, and boarded. Traffic was horrible - we were already late when we picked up the remaining passengers at the second stop in Frankfurt, and the traffic only got worse as we headed toward Hahn. And then things went still farther south...the driver takes the the bus into a rest stop, gets out, and doesn't tell us on the bus what's going on. We're all already worried we're going to miss flights because of traffic, but now we're stopped for no apparent reason - at least to us, that is. Someone gets out and asks what's going on and is told that the bus ran out of water...a replacement bus came about 20 minutes later, and we made it to Hahn just as the gates were closing for my flight...there were people who were on the bus for flights whose gates had already closed, and I don't know what happened with them. I was so shook up from the excitement about being almost late that the plane ride was making me sick - the interior of a Ryanair plane is a bright yellow, and it wasn't helping things either. And then we when we were starting our initial descent into Bergamo, the plane started to hit turbulence...and I was happy I hadn't had anything to eat for a couple of hours because I was really feeling sick. I'd never felt so happy to be out of a plane as I did that day. I normally like to fly...
After that series of mishaps, I met Matteo at the airport, and he took me to his home to meet his family and drop of my stuff. We went for pizza - original Italian pizza. It was great just to talk to him again, and his family was more than gracious. I can confirm that the stereotype about Italians being gracious hosts.
The following day, Matteo and I explored the city of Bergamo, the city where Matteo actually lives. In the evening we went for a walk (taking the opportunity to eat gelato..!) around the city at night. It's quite a site from the citta alta, which translates into Oberstadt, or "upper city."
The citta alta in Bergamo, Italy
I point out what it's called in German because Marburg has an Oberstadt, which makes it somewhat special in the whole scheme of German cities. The citta alta does the same for Bergamo.
On Friday, we took the train to Milan to see Matteo's university and to see the cathedral there. The cathedral is much nicer from the outside - inside it's actually rather drab, dark, and - for a Catholic church - barren.
The cathedral in Milano, Italy
I had gelato again while in Milano before heading home to have dinner a fresco with Matteo's family and his cousin who brought - guess... - gelato(!) for dessert.
On Saturday, Matteo and I took it easy in the morning, having exhausted ourselves in Milano the day before. In the afternoon, we went to the mall in Bergamo. People come from all over Europe to go shopping in the this particular mall. While I was there, I found some nice shoes with the stamp "Made in Italy" that I might have to look up online to get myself. It'd be nice to have something "classy" for my wardrobe "Made in Italy."
Sunday was my departure and return for Germany. The flight home was uneventful - Thanks be to God! The bus trip to Frankfurt main train station and the train trip back to Marburg were as well. When I got back to my room, I was so exhausted, I took a nap for about 2 hours...(Such isn't really much of a deviation from my normal Sunday activities, but this time I really needed it!)
You can see more pictures of the trip here. Just click on the image and the next one should come up automatically!!
Having spent time staying with Matteo and his family, I can say that I have a better idea of how Italians really live. A much better idea than I would have had I stayed in a hotel or hostel. I'm blessed to have had this opportunity, and I thank Matteo and his family for their kind hospitality in welcoming me into their home!
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