5 things I heart about Milan

context: Tenjiwe Moyana (me) is a 29-year old who lives in Milan (for a year). She will be studying Interior Design at IED (Istituto Europeo di Design). She is excited to be here – enthralled by everything. She is broke (for now).

1:     Aperitivo

At about 6/7ish PM a swarm of Milanese nine-to-fivers invades the city’s collection of small bars/cafes/lounges for free unlimited snacks (pizza, bruschetta, hors d’oeuvres & dessert) and a sip of vino (or a famous, stiff Negroni.) These run from about 6-9pm & are the Milanese equivalent of an almost daily Happy Hour. Last Thursday, I found myself at Pandenus at Corsa Corsica, 11 with one lovely girl from school and her 3 friends. I drank some wine and then a Spritz (the Negroni’s sweeter cousin). The lights were low, the music vibey, and the crowd relaxed/relieved. #YesICan!

NEGRONI

SPITZ 

2:     Toilets that flush using buttons… pedals… etc

These are curious affairs. Yesterday at IED the toilet and basin were operated with a button in the floor! A dream, for a germaphobe like me; a nightmare for the poor person who has to clean all the grime from our shoes deposited there daily (people’s feet frequent the nastiest places!) The other day I went to a little café (after locking myself out of my apartment) and their basin had a PEDAL! You stepped on this red little lever (that I thought was the handle of a screwdriver forgotten by a handyman) and ecco (voilà) – hot water! (and yes, there was also a blue one).

3:     Vino (wine)

This is my broke month, having just moved into my apartment and kitted it out almost exclusively in IKEA (Lord, end this poverty soon!). Therefore, I haven’t much to say about how delicious the wine is. BUT, I love that supermarkets have rows and rows of wine from all regions and I can get a decent-ish bottle for €5. My student budget likes this. Very much. (Incidentally, one of the first phrases I learned is Vorrai una bicciere di vino (rosso/bianco) = I would like a glass of (red/white) wine)

4:     ATM BikeMi

BIKEMI STATION, VIA GUSTAVO MODENA

So, my first day in Milan, I emerge from my hotel room onto Via Gustavo Modena to find row upon row of bikes just chilling there waiting for someone to ride them. Anywhere! I discover from the little credit card reading station that for €2.50 I can take one of these for a day and ride around the city to my heart’s content. Brilliant. AND, the best part of this is that the bikes are provided by the government (ATM - Azienda Trasporti Milanesi – the public transport authority). This ish would *never* happen in Zimbabwe because obviously the bikes would grow feet. This was when I realized I was absolutely no longer in Africa!

5:     Vespas

IED, VIA SCIESA

Ok, so everyone rides these things. And by “everyone” I mean mainly men weaving dangerously through traffic to get to work. However, they are everywhere. There are rows and rows of these parked outside IED. I die to hire one for a day. And, the best thing I saw on Thursday was a woman on Via Durini waiting for the traffic light to change – balancing the entire weight of herself+bike on one elegant, nude high-heeled pump! #bawse

SHE'S A BOSS