It takes about 24 hours to travel by bus from Magdeburg to Milan via bus. I can recommend using a FlixBus to voyage throughout Europe. They are comfortable and mostly reliable. All the ones I used were never sold out, which means I had plenty of space. We passed Innsbruck early morning to the rising sun over the European Alps, which offered a breathtaking view. The sun and blue skies followed me to Southern Europe just as I hoped for. 

It is the first time in my life that I will spend a considerable amount of time in Italy, now that I have friends here. We all met in 2018 in Zambia and four years on we meet again.

It’s a fabulous concept that keeps me moving around the globe. Alora Italia, I was intrigued by what was to come. 

Jasmine grew up in Rome but moved to Milan 3 years ago.

Her dream to work in the fashion industry Milan is famous for hasn’t transpired yet.

For now, she helps Italian passports to travel visa versa.

Jasmine took the afternoon off and guided me to what most tourists come here for.

There’s a lot of history,

a lot of fashion,

and even more people.

The pumpkin gelato was just to my liking and most definitely the highlight of downtown Milano.

Like many Italian metropolitan areas, the city center is cut off from outsiders to reduce air- and verbal pollution.

That’s all people that don’t reside in the city center.

If you get caught, and you will get caught, a hefty fine might spoil your day.

‘The amount of police here is insane’, Jasmine mentions lightly.

We have the traffic police, the local police, the federal police, and the carrabenjierie.

These were used to keep the royal family safe, but the last Italian blue blood was politically executed after the Second World War.

There are as many police on the highways as there are toll booths. This is mind-blowing. On each and every highway is a toll booth to either enter or exit the city you visited. These booths generate millions of euros a year. To drive from Milan to Rome costs you about 100 Euro one way. Pray and pay your highway tax instantly. Presto presto. Do so with a smile as all booths are loaded with cameras, just to be sure, to be sure, to be sure.  

Old mate Obelix already knew in B.C.

I guess it’s just what you’re used to, Jasmine says. I wouldn’t be. 

I was happy to get out of this narrow-minded city center and relocate to the local areas of Milan. We traveled in true Italian style on Jasmine’s scooter.

The scooter is to Milan what the bike is to Amsterdam and it’s fabulous to get around. This is where the locals sit out with vino to discuss football or politics, reflecting on life.

I settled for a relaxed atmosphere with Spritz.

Mhh, sweet Spritz. It was a perfect day in Milan, I couldn’t have asked for a better day.

We finished the evening off with traditional pizza. ‘When the moon meets the eye like a cold pizza pie, that’s amore’.  The pizza wasn’t bad, but not fantastico either. Spending the day in Milan with a fabulous friend was wonderful. And that’s all that matters. 

Claudio had some preparations to do in Milan the next day. The upcoming trip to and through the Sahara Desert in Tunisia is only a few days away. Jasmine was so kind to drop me off somewhere in Milan early afternoon. She didn’t have time to stay around, she had a busy afternoon ahead. Thankfully we farewelled for the next time. Mille Grazie, Jasmine.

A happy face I haven’t seen for four years greeted me in the ferry office. ‘Ben! How are you?’ Tutto Ben.

To be continued