Travel Reflection | 02 Travel Alone in North Italy | Venice & Milan, Italy
My Very First Time Traveling Alone
Venice, how romantic. Milan, how fashionable. When it comes to these two cities, there may be a lot of pictures showing in your brain. I had the same feelings. Therefore, I decided to explore north Italy alone. My first “travel-alone” trip was about to start.
I had only 3 days, but I found that 3 days were quite enough. I spent 1.5 days in each city. I visited every place, island, and museum that the majority of the tourists visit.
Is north Italy a good destination for a single traveler? I would say yes! I’m a young female with an Asian appearance. I didn’t encounter any accidents. As long as you pay attention to people and the environment, there is no reason to say no.
Venice
01/ Venice before Sunrise
Have you ever walked on the streets in Venice at 5 am? I did. The bus arrived in Venice at 5 am.
Fida, a girl I met on the bus, and I sneaked in the cities to find the way from the bus station to San Marco Square. If I walked alone, it would be very scary. We spent 1.5 hours finding the roads in the darkness.
Before people wake up, the city is relaxing. It is just like a small but fancy small town. Few people walk on the streets. Some are busy with their businesses. It was opposite Venice to the touristy one.
02/ Coffee in Italy
Before I visited Italy, I heard that you couldn’t find Starbucks in Italy since Italian don’t believe in its quality. (It’s a lie. You can find Starbucks in Italy.) So I definitely have to give Italian coffee a try!
I’m not a coffeeholic. I don’t really drink coffee. Therefore, I cannot tell you how special it tasted.
The special thing perhaps was the environment. The café is small but cozy. People just stood by the bar and had a sip of coffee. It’s the local’s lives.
Sitting by the window, I saw the streets turn bright. The sun was hanging in the sky. I started my journey in Venice with coffee and a croissant. It was the only moment I felt that I wasn’t a tourist.
03/ Worst Pasta Ever… it’s in Italy!
Okay. It was in Venice. I just randomly bought something to eat on the street. The one I ordered was cuttlefish pasta with mozzarella cheese. The taste was absolutely below average. It was just a dish preventing you from starving. Hope you won’t find this restaurant in Venice.
04/ Burano & Murano
To be honest, I could do nothing but take pictures on the two islands. They are touristy but not as touristy as the main Venice island. If you wish to have a walk and enjoy the view. It is a great place for you.
My only thought about the two islands is that I came to the place where Louis XIV found the best craftsmen for his Palace of Versailles. Centuries ago, Venice gathered all the cool things from other countries (worlds) via trade. The skilled workers for glasses, clothes, fabric, etc. were here to seek the opportunities. It is quite an interesting story.
05/ Scary Gondola Ride
Was really special? Not really. I felt that I was about to fall into the water, for the wave in the more open area made the boat so unstable. However, the sunshine, the boat, and the water are a really good combination for photos.
06/ Most touristy area in Venice
Around San Marco Square, this is the most touristy part of Venice. The majority of the must-visit museums are there.
I won't explain here. There are a lot of travel introduction articles online. I just want to show you that the coastline is so beautiful and breathtaking.
I think it is better to consider Venice a “capital” rather than a “city” when traveling. Although it is not a capital now, I can understand the history if you view it as a capital. Some criticize it for being too touristy. Indeed, it is. Simultaneously, you also can find how people co-live with water and how trade flourished in Venice.
Milan
07/ Transport Strike… Seriously?!
Well-known and famous Italian strike… I didn’t expect to experience it!
On the second (aka my last day) in Milan, all the entrances of the metro were closed. It was on Friday. It was on the fashion week. What the…?
Because of that, I walked from the cathedral to the train station (about 3 km) twice. My feet wanted to go on strike as well…
Fortunately, the service was back temporarily from 15:00 to 18:00. I could take the metro to the train station and go to the airport, or I had to walk to the train station for the third time.
08/ Real Italian Food
I was in Italy. It’s impossible to miss the LOCAL food. Although you can have Italian food everywhere, the most classic one must be in Italy, right?
The food in Milan was much better than in Venice. There were more options, and the prices were more affordable. Most importantly, it was sooo delicious!
Let me introduce them one by one.
Gelato (Italian ice cream)
I chose three flavors, lemon, latte (milk), and yogurt. That was the reason why my gelato looked so white. It was not as sweet as general ice cream. For me, the sweetness was just right. I loved the lemon flavor most. Probably it was because latte and yogurt belonged to the same flavor category.
Tiramisu
It was good, definitely. However, it’s hard to tell the differences from what I ate elsewhere (not in Italy).
Pizza (Store: Spontini)
This is the best pizza I’ve ever eaten. It was crispy and well-seasoned. The store is touristy, but I’m sure that the pizza is not “touristy”. I ordered one of the most classic flavors. Others flavors suppose to be good as well!
Panzerotto (Panzerotti)
Another touristy store. It is really close to Spontini, the pizza store I mentioned. I mean it’s about 15 seconds on foot. It was good and quite affordable. It is great to have it during teatime. There are considerable flavors. If I remembered correctly, I ate the ham panzarotti. According to online articles, savory things are more recommended.
09/ 1 EUR for 1 Min… Authentic The Last Supper
I had never appreciated my student identity that much before. The ticket is 2 EUR for students, and 16 EUR for adults. Only 15 mins are granted for each visitor. In other words, you spend over 1 EUR for each min in the museum if you are over 25.
I had never known that the Last Supper is a wall painting. Since the pigments Da Vinci used are natural, The colors fade over time. Thanks to Da Vinci’s sustainability awareness, the Italian government has to put a lot of effort (and money) to make the masterpiece sustain. It’s probably the only place people don’t pursue sustainability 😂.
10/ Stunning Duomo di Milano (Milan Cathedral)
Most touristy and famous, the cathedral is the heart of the city.
To be honest, it is the most stunning cathedral I have ever visited. All the details are well-designed. Absolutely a masterpiece. You must pay a visit! It’s not necessary to introduce the cathedral. You can find a lot of information on the Internet. Therefore, I would like to spotlight the museum.
I bought the student Doumo pass stairs. This ticket grants access to the Duomo Museum and Church of San Gottardo as well. The entrance is next to the ticket center.
In the museum, you can have a closer look at the sculptures, pillars, and paintings. I would say the museum explains how the amazing environment and atmosphere in the cathedral are created.
Among all the collections, the picture below is my favorite one. Now I can understand why Jean Valjean takes away the candlestick in Les Misérables. Look at these! What the gorgeous candlesticks!
Thanks to the stike, I walked in the city for a long time. I found some similarity between Taipei and Milan. There are scooters on the streets, and the metro is croweded.
Someone says Milan is boring. I somewhat agreed with it. I’m not a fan of luxury brands. After visiting the cathedral and the Last Supper, I actually had nothing to do. If it is not a business or a shopping trip, 1 or 1.5 days is definitely enough.
Conclusion
In these 3 days, I truly felt the difference in lifestyles in the north and south Europe. For example, Italians are not that willing to speak English.
The climate shapes the local’s attitudes and cultures. Indeed, you should pay Milan and Venice a visit. However, one time is enough. I spent about 2 hours roaming in each city and had nothing to do.
Fortunately, nothing bad or accidental happened to me!
As for the attitude to Provide-19, I found the relative policies somewhat annoying. (Sorry. Denmark has lifted all the restrictions.) You have to show your “green pass” as long as you are not staying outdoors. FFP2 masks are required everywhere. Hope we can return to “old” normal life soon.
