Milan for the Weekend
The main motivation to go to Milan this weekend was born approx. 3 weeks ago when I ve read a feature on Indymedia Germany about the student protest in Italy.
Since there were new protests announced for the 14 of November I ve bought a train ticket from Milan to Freiburg (to be sure to get back in time to attend my seminars) and searched a host on BeWelcome for this time.
On Thursday morning I stood on the ramp to the A5 direction south. Hitchhiking was easier this time then on my last experience to Paris. I ve got picked up by a guy who brought me to the next gas station on the Highway within 5 minutes.
There I ve searched for around 15 min and then had a truck which was going to Varese (25 km from Milan). Even though it was a truck and it cost me hours o nthe borders I wasn t worried. Rather a safe, slow ride with panoramic views then getting lost somewhere on the way. I was supposed to read some texts for University anyway.
At around 7 pm I was arriving in Milan a guy from the Philippines helped me to find the address of my host.
I was again very lucky. Since I ve wrote already in my messages to the BeWelcome members why I was visiting Milan I found a politically active guy in his early 40s who helped me a lot with understanding Italy. We had very nice discussion and awesome food!
On Friday morning I went into the city to participate in the Protests against the educational reforms of the Berlusconi government and worte my article for Indymedia in the evening.
On Saturday we went to a strange concert of electro-music and had dinner late at night with some other friends.
On Sunday morning I was already on my way back “home”.
It was amazing to ride the train through the alps. Before the Gotthard tunnel we had amazing wheater and I was chatting with to Argentinian women for two hours until they left the train. Afterwards I studied in my textbooks and listened to the people around me in the EuroCity. It was a real Eurocity. I ve heared at least 5 languages in the seats around me. It was a very nice but in the end a little bit too long (6,5 hours) trip.
I spend in total 70 € on this weekend (45 € for the trai nand 25 € food and local transport) and I had a very beautiful and sunny weekend in Milan with wonderful people. Even though I enjoyed it very much I want to stay here in Freiburg for a while now… let s see if this is going to work out!