What Aiste Loves about Milan. Part One

Milan is my love affair. Period. Men have come&go in my life, most beautiful dresses were on my wish-list, food that took me to other galaxies, yet Milan will forever be the winner of my heart. The beginning was not easy, yet please correct me if I am mistaken, but no relationship can be truthful without few rocks here and there. Same goes here. It started simply by “not being London” – an important reason not to love when you are a student eager to be in more places than you are capable of absorbing and meeting more people than you can remember the names of. It offered language I could not understand, pretentiousness and rain – who loves this combination definitely has some issues with the concept of “happy life balance”. And so I did not love it. Or even more – I was eager to run away, yet was feeling trapped. Fortunately, my life was not about letting go, but all about letting in, always. And so I had my first proper date with Milan. Sat on my bike and we took a long drive around the city. First, it was the size. Such a beautiful and convenient size of the city. No corner is too far, yet nothing is so close, that makes you feel trapped. Second, the boldness of the architecture. So rigid and strict from the outside, yet so sensitive to detail and touch on the inside. It speaks calmly, yet definitely of its beauty. No one has attracted your attention for longer than a minute, only using its high volumes, yet how many things bring back the shivers when you remember all the whispers it has shared with you. And third, the chance of unexpected that follows you throughout. Milan is not a show off, it shares only with the chosen, so it is only in your hands if you choose or not to take the map and offer your services to Milan. It is not an easy cookie, but if you show you care, it will open the doors.

Peacefulness of Milan

TO GO:

I love Giardini Pubblici. With no take away coffee, only with the company of oneself. It has a certain atmosphere that prepares you for the day. When I used to work not far from Porta Venezia, this was the tram stop to take and the extra 15 minutes were dedicated to the walk around the park. No reason to feel the rush, people around me jogging or smoking and talking on the phone (usually the two always come together). If I had time, would grab a coffee from around the corner Princi and gaze at the windows of the Fornasetti showroom – surrealism is a good way to start the day. And yes, Princi was never for the coffee and always for the brioche integrale. On winter days I would make it a two. Otherwise, I would change my route and head for a coffee with a view to via montenapoleone – where “instagramable” is the first word in their dictionary – Marchesi 1824 (if You wish to see how the oldest one looks head to via S. Maria alla Porta).

When it comes to evenings, my attention was drawn to Piazza Gae Aulenti, however, make it a weekday visit – in the weekends it gets very busy with all the new places that opened there. After my pilates workout with Milky at Virgin Active in Corso Como, before heading back home I would visit my silent retreat – the fountains of Gae Aulenti. Surrounded by skyscrapers it gave me a sensation of protection and calm. It usually had very little people and a lot of sound from the fountains. It takes only one second to hide into the calmness from the noise of Corso Como.

Nourish to Flourish

TO EAT:

Milan can be easy or difficult with food. All depends how you look at it and what is that You are trying to achieve – quality, emotion, view, vibe or authenticity. Be honest with yourself and do not require it all. If you require all of the mentioned, You might hit the rock bottom and end up being in a very touristic place. Obviously, never overlook quality, yet trust my word – it can become a difficult journey – almost every place has something delicious to offer. My list of favorites is long and can always be discussed in further detail, yet I will only share with you, what has stayed in my mind and sometimes I find myself wondering how I would love to transport myself there, this very instant.

I love my lunch in Tipografia Alimentare – they offer slow food philosophy toward their cuisine and a non pretentious atmosphere – simple at its best. With elements of vintage typography objects. Is there anything else that could be added to my dream list? Poporoya will forever stay my favorite for Japanese, and yes, it might be my love affair with the long history and a never changing interior. Yet am I to blame for being sentimental? I transfer myself to a fairytale for my evenings in Milan and try to visit Carlo e Camilla in Segheria every time I am in Milan. Please tell me that the warehouse does have the scent of magic. I feel it every single time I step into that place. One, two, three – I am on my way to milky way. When it come to weekend I only trust Cascina Cuccagna – the organic, the easy going, the family oriented and always filled with smiles and fresh market choices. It is slightly hidden, like all the best things in Milan.

Direction to Wellness

TO DO:

I always used to say that Milan is 2 hours away from everything nice – sea, mountains and home. You only have to choose the vehicle to travel with – train, car or plane. Yet if you are not willing to leave, all the rest that is nice is 2 Italian minutes away. My personal favorite is – Terme di Milano (QC terme). When I first realized that an outdoor spa can be two minutes away from your favorite aperitivo place and offer an outdoor swimming pool that is facing the Roman ruins – I was hitting the point of  the Stendhal Syndrom – I did want to cry from the beauty of it. And so I had my addcition – on warm weekdays after hours in university, I would go there if only for few hours. Having this time of complete serenity and beauty in the middle of the buzzing city was such a romantic thing, if I may say. All the rest is history that shall remain in my memory till the end of time. When it comes to my individual workout – Milan was always a place that offered different approach to how a gym or studio should look like. The favorite of mine has always been MOT studios – spacious, light, with a hint of heritage and quality teachers. I still try to go there when in Milan. 

My little secret to the “feeling well, doing well” in Milan has always been the good balance between being healthy and going for that aperitivo, between jogging in the morning and dancing the couple extra hours in the nighclub, working hard before deadlines yet jumping into that train for the beautiful coast of Cinque Terre after. Dolce vita, they say, and I can now tell you – I know what they mean. To be continued.