The Day Milano Stood Still and Other Tingling Tales

June 3rd.

Although I wanted to talk about the two weird coincidences today, I would like to just say that nothing really fascinated me in Milan today until I went and got what could possibly be the best shawarma I ever had.

Every country puts their own little twist on it but Milan's was the best. Fresh baked wrapper from pizza dough and the meat tasted like rotisserie chicken. That’s actually not the story. I was walking and eating and drinking a Fanta while holding a bag so it was quite awkward. I turned to the first street I saw that looked like it had a park because I didn’t want to eat at the hostel. As I grab a seat on the bench in the park, I noticed something. Everyone was a minority. When I say minority, I mean non-Italian. There were A LOT of Indians, some Chinese and Filipinos, and maybe a just a few Spaniards. There was less Italians than I could count on one hand. I was somewhat fascinated. I didn’t know why and I wanted to know why. I started walking around this park. There were plaques strategically placed all around this park in front of objects or buildings that seem to be in use at one point. It was a school. A school by day, but a park by end of school and weekends. Originally it was a horse track up until the early 1900’s. It was then built into an outdoor school. Then of course the war happened in the 1940’s and it was bombed and then at some point it was rebuilt into a normal school. The children once learned outdoors making it a great place for science and geography according to the plaques. There are many school buildings and if you ever been jogged around a racetrack (I have at the Hippodrome in Bamako, Mali), it is MASSIVE. Although it is no longer an outdoor school, just the magnitude of standing there during a break in school must be amazing. So serene and peaceful. What is interesting is how this neighborhood seems to be the FOB/FOA (fresh off the boat/fresh off the airplane) area. I hear everyone speaking their native languages. Alot of history here and alot more history still being added.

Ok, so back to the two coincidences this morning. I walk about 5km to this famous area called Piazza Duomo. There is a lot of high end shopping. Think of a mall only made for runway designers. It was hard to beat the model agencies off with a stick. They just wouldn’t stop harassing me to join their agency. Just kidding. Outside, I walked around the area a bit and there were police, army dudes, fluorescent vested people and everything was blocked off. So I was tired of trying to figure out what was going on and sat at the foot of the massive Milan Cathedral (Duomo di Milano). It is the largest gothic cathedral in the world which I did not know at that point. I was just there to sit! I turned my head to the right and there is a jumbotron showing clips of the Pope. I had no idea what they were talking about. Since I have been in Italy, I have been speaking Spench. I’m sure it’s not a real word. It is a combination of my bad French and the few words of Spanish I know. Amazingly, I haven’t got a “huh?” yet from the locals. They somehow can interpret what I say. I add a few “o” and “I” endings to some French and Spanish words to somewhat make it sound Italian plus I picked up a few words from the signs I scan as I walk the streets. It might be bad but if they don’t get mad I don’t care! Anyway, I turn around and contemplate if I want to wait in another long never ending line to see my 86^th castle in Europe. I’m exaggerating but I have seen way too many and it gets less interesting each time. I get tired of sitting and walk around the square this time. There is even more people and I decide I am going to stand on the barricades just like everyone else. I turn to one guy who looks like he speaks English and ask what was going on. He said the “Papa Mobile” was coming. I was like “Papa” what a funny word. Then I realized it’s the Pope. I am not religious but it was the Pope. The guy was kind of funny and said he was going to kiss his guy friend as the Pope drives by hoping to get a reaction. Then he decides to tell me that the Pope has a shoe fetish. I crack up and don’t know if I should believe him. Well the time had finally come after about 10 motos and a bunch of BMWs race down the street. The Pope had arrived. I whip out my camera and get a video clip of it as people on the street clap as his “Papa Mobile” slowly rolls by. I joke to the guy next to me that the road must be blocked off from Milan to the Vatican City. Then I said it would be funny if the Pope actually walked the whole way but that might take him a century or two. After about 10 seconds, the people are done and scatter away. Supposedly, this is going to help restore religion because the younger generations are not as “churchy” as the old. Well if that is the case, they need to chain the pope to the cathedral in Milan. I go back and sit on the steps and look back at the line once again. Since I saw the Pope, I thought I’d give him a point for showing up to Milan and decided to go in. It is one of the most beautiful churches I have seen but creepy at the same time. There are so many bodies of past Cardinals in there. They are showcased in glass caskets with lighting that reminds me of the Swarovski stores. You can see their bony fingers but their faces are covered with a silver mask. I’m not sure how many bodies are in there but it was sort of cool but sort of creepy. People were snapping photos and videos. I guess they want to show it on their next family reunion slideshow. I go and eat a seafood salad at a nearby restaurant and decided I shall not enter another church again. I look at my map to see what there is to do. Everything was religious so I was bored. Then I found the ONE. It was random.

Off I go to the WOW Spazio Fumetto. It’s a comic book museum! Just another 4km out of my way. I wasn’t meeting the Armani family or anything. Halfway there, I hear a pitter patter above me. It was the same pitter patter I heard during at the Duomo area. It was walking flying at the same exact path as me like I was a fugitive. Then it went away. It could just mean one thing. The Pope obviously wants my autograph. Just kidding. I had a feeling the helicopter was scoping out the area to be clear.  I make it to the museum but up ahead on the street I see it is blocked again with people crowding around. I decided the museum could wait a few minutes. Who could usually say they saw the Pope twice in one day? Me! I stood there once again. This was more of a residential neighborhood so I thought it was quite the coincidence. The first coincidence was that I always complain I miss awesome events after I get to that city and then this event is one I don’t think I would have ever imagined wishing to be at but I was there. I look around the street and the people come out of their apartments onto their old fashion balconies. It felt like a movie. I’m pretty sure most of these residents don’t hang out on the balcony all at once. Well, today was sure the day. Everyone with their cameras ready and mine again. Why not get a second clip? It’s a different feeling for sure. I see the teenagers next to me miming what it was like shaking the Pope’s hand and I chuckle. Same thing happens again. A bunch of motos and cars and then the Pope. The people clap and snap photos. Then back to their lives as usual.

The Pope has restored religion. Not really but for a moment, Milano stood still.

Let me briefly talk about the comic museum though! It happened to be featuring Spider-man this month. It was pretty cool. It focused mostly on Italian pencilers and I knew all the artists since I grew up reading them. I’m not sure if they are from Italy but they were definitely Italian-American. Everything was in Italian but it’s kind of like English so I understood parts of it. There had toys, games, comics, club memorabilia, 80’s TV clips, etc. Its weird how in the golden days, they had clubs with presidents and members for comic books. Some fans had sent their childhood IDs and newsletters from their official clubs and showcased them. How dorky but how cool. I thought I would be the only loser in the museum but I refused to go see anything else related to churches. I couldn’t help smiling when I walked in. Fathers, who once loved the comics had brought their kids to share what they loved, took their kids there. Mothers, who knew how big of a fan their kids were of Spider-man, took their kids there. Grandmothers, who wanted to spoil their grandchildren because the parents were too busy and knew that this would definitely light up the child, took them there. Me by myself but so happy for all the kids jumping up and down seeing how awesome Spider-man was or still is. I saw one kid who came through the doors with his Spider-man shirt on. I thought it was adorable and hope I could one day bring one of my kids to something I loved. Sharing is caring, be it what you love or just the time to spend with them on something they love.

Last 5km home, which is where the park story begins.

Best events of June 3^rd?

1.       Casa del Sole (once Trotter Park) (arg no pics!)

2.       Spidey and kids!

3.       Pope - Round 1 & 2...

I’m sorry Pope Ratzinger. You were number 1 until all the other things. Better luck next time!