Fancy Train + Milan
Big funny dinosaur that greeted us off the train in Bergamo
Its amazing what a difference a train makes compared to planes. There are a few differences but the ones that stand out the most to me are price, convenience, and security. The first, price, is a big deal because, well obviously, we’re all broke on some degree. The measure of that brokeness is how much you’re willing to take on as debt, how much you value comfort, and how much you just don’t care. Ever heard the term “treat yo’self?” I think those people are a little less broke in the moment and a lot more broke later on. Anyway yeah trains are super cheap. The second, convenience is actually probably the bigger one for me. Central train stations are generally closer to everything than airports so they're easier and cheaper to get to. And lastly which is security but also convenience is that they don't have security like airports which are over the top and ridiculous and you don't have to have a luggage limit. It's just so much easier to hop on a train than a stupid airplane. And trains don't smell awful like airplanes and airports and the food isn't terribly over priced and yeah I just don't like planes.
A delicious drink I had in Milan and some pigeons we caught in a serious conversation
Anyway we got a nice fancy super fast train in Economy Business Class seating and it honestly was different. The seats were nicer and farther apart with fewer per car, they were leather, we had a table, there was a luggage rack in our cabin and it was just all around nicer. There was better amenities like newspapers, free drinks and better food to buy.
In Milan we stayed in a hostel that was a bit out of the city but directly off a main subway line so really wasn't that bad. We spent a really short time there so mainly our time was spent on this really nice food street that is filled with restaurants that for 7-11 euro depending on the place you can get an all you can eat buffet and a drink. All future drinks cost more and the hope of these places is that you'll drink a ton and that's how they make their money. It was pretty darn good though and afterwards we had lots of gelato and drank wine by the river side. All of these open carry liquor countries are such a contrast to the US. And the wine is super cheap.
On our last night we decided to splurge (because we hate hostels) and get a hotel. This actually did a lot for us because our flight in the morning is our of Bergamo Milan Airport not Malpense Milan, Malpense being in the city and Bergamo being in the next city a 40 minute train ride away. Since our flight was at 10am, being close to the airport in the morning was well worth it. We mutually decided though that we're done with hostels. It really is a much cheaper way to travel, especially when alone, and again when you're alone it's a nice way to make friends, but when there's two of you an Airbnb is really not much more than a hostel (depending on a few things) and having privacy and not sharing a room with 10 people is nice. I'm glad to have made this decision, I think I'm officially over "full broke" travel and now we're onto economy travel.
Our place in Bergamo was nice but what really made the night was our best meal of the trip to that date. Grant had a burger which ended up having the best meat in a burger I've had in a while with some stellar fries and I had the gem pictured below. Asparagus risotto with goats cheese. Amazing. After Milan we took an early flight out to Porto, Portugal. The second to last stop on our journey!
And Finally we are out of Italy. I love Italy, always have, always will, but I think I've had my fill at least for now. We had some really great revelations there though especially about never staying in a hostel again and also never taking Ryan Air again which is Grants new most hated airline. We're officially on to Airbnb and only somewhat budget airlines!