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Turin ISU study abrd 24 trip
  • arka ghosh

Turin ISU study abrd 24 trip

Arka's adventures with himself 😂 Read more
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  • Trip start
    May 12, 2024
    arka ghoshTurin ISU study abrd 24 tripTraveler

    WARNING: TYPOS TYSPO TYPOS

    May 12, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    I have no idea who you are and why you are reading this. Or if anyone IS actually reading this. It's my public journal (I will explain, whether you like it or not) soon.

    BTW, I am writing this on May 20 around 930 am ish time sitting on a bench looking at the view in this post. You can find more about it 'future" posts

    Point of this post is to explain what to expect from reading this (if you are reading this, that is). It will have typos. all over. This includes grammatical errors spelling errors etc. fragmented sentences like grammarly calls it 🙄This is how I THINK. so it's the only way I know how to type.e. So ehow even after trying to add words in the keyboard dictionary and correcting them for years, it feels like it has gotten worse for me. So I decided to leave them as is. It's part of the experience. Started telling friends recently that if you can't figure out what I am trying to say fro the typos, they're not really my friends (well that sounded better in my head). Not sure if it's something to do with Android or me.

    I am not a writer. I am not trying to make the rwder happy .. well maybe a little, if you get happy that's bonus .. but it's mostly to make myself happy. I don't have the skills, patience time or money to do a better job! 😜 Maybe think of it as a new odd literary style maybe, if that helps

    Oh also it will have a free flowing steam of consciousness style .. kinda like in Trump rallies. 🤣 I will be jumping around from topic to topic, time to time. E g. This post. It should be read at the beginning, but I am writing it later (in the "future" 😳)

    Why am I doing this? Well as I explained in a message to my friend a couple of days back ... Well, don't feel like typing all that now. Attaching it as a screenshot. So not posting on social directly. And writing my thoughts down has been REALLY helpful for me. So that's the idea ... Kinda like local-social media .. not open to the bigger group of followers. I used to write "diaries" (journals) as a kid ... Maybe stopped when I was a teenager. When I started writing this it felt like that. Things got sorted out in MY head while writing. So that's why ...

    And please please please 🙏 don't click like or ❤️ without reading it. Do t feel pressured to comment either. I am trying not to track/increase any user "engagement" her3    Read more

  • arka ghoshTurin ISU study abrd 24 tripTraveler

    The start (Dugga Dugga)

    May 12, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Packed my bike in the suitcase, packed biking supply etc. put printouts in the suitcase for TSA people to explain that it's just a normal bike, disassembled, packed in a normal size suitcase. I think I took everything I need for living alone for 2 weeks in Turin Italy and "work" there 😜. Also practiced Italian for 100 days straight ... Activated Verizon for phone, even packed a new hotspot device (Solis) with a global plan as a backup! It's going to be good!

    Went to airport in a taxi/Uber. Driver was new to Iowa ... But got me there. Bag weighed 49.5 lbs (50lbs limit) .. yaay! Almost feel bad not putting something small like shoes there...

    Flight was ok. Watched American Fiction that I wanted to see. It was ok. Tried taking some homeopathic tablets from Amazon that reviewers said work for jetlags (it didn't). Detroit. Amsterdam. Turin. All went ok. Bags came intact and my bike was ok.    Read more

  • arka ghoshTurin ISU study abrd 24 tripTraveler

    Arrivo a Torino

    May 13, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    Reached Turin. Took a cab to the B&B I booked. It's called Gianduja B&B. Really nice. Super friendly host .. older single lady lives alone and makes money doing B&Bs ... She was an architect before .. now just does that. All this I leanred in next few days. Also Gianduja (g=j, j=y) is like a mascot of the Piedmont region (where Turin is, North East Italy) apparently .. he's a cartoon character .. chocolate maker or something. Famous in this area.

    Took a nap. Set up my new 360 camera and left to get food etc. the camera took a gorgeous timelapse of the mountain. Later the owner lady told me that its just a basic hill .. the great Alps is on the other side of the house - can be seen only from her kitchen balcony. Took me there to show - couldn't see much because of the cloud but got an impression of its big-ness compared to the tiny hill I videod.

    Ate at some gyro place (Kebaps and Pizza? Or something like that) ... Got a stamp/punch card. Maybe I will come again during the trip. Watched TV a little. It was a variety show like Kapil Sharma show. Looked fun and simple. Tried to use the closed captions feature and got some error messages on TV saying "check page 796" or something. Gave up. Slept off. Only to get up at 3 pm next day.

    Missed breakfast .. host lady got worried. Told her don't wait up ... I don't eat much breakfast .. even if I look fat 😂.

    And that Amazon jetlag pill didn't work. For me.

    By the way the "older" host lady might even be my age. I need to update the way I look at people, especially their age.    Read more

  • arka ghoshTurin ISU study abrd 24 tripTraveler

    Program starts tomorrow!

    May 14, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Got up late today .. 3pm ... raining outside .. didn't do anything. Got a gyro again (got second stamp). I tend to lean towards safe choices when I get to decide my food options, fyi.

    Wasted the whole day .. should have been roaming around sight seeing.

    Or maybe not. I need to slow down. Kichhu paliye jachhe na. Dont need to rush all the time. Don't know why I do that. I might even come back next year for the same thing to Turin. It's ok. To not be rushed.

    Class start tomorrow. I think first day will be orientation with students. I have 24 for my class. Other class had 14. With 2 professor and staff member, Andrea (she has been doing this every summer for a while), it's 41 of us. I need to prepare a little for my class.

    But if it's just orientation, I should be ok, na? Just chill Arka!

    I also told the Math dept faculty that I will meet with them separately. The idea was to make friends in the politechnic, so it might help with my research activities too. Separate from this teaching program. I was very proud to think of that.

    I need to prepare that too .. they want me to give a talk explaining my work etc. Shit! But chill... Breathe.

    And it's raining outside. I hate rains. Makes me sad. Slept off early so I can get up early for breakfast (so Gabriella, the host , is happy) and meet students for orientation at 9 am! I haven't woken up at a normal time so far. 🤞

    Oh, I found a bike shop .. got my bike ready to ride. Inflated tires a little with my small pump to ride. Found a bike shop that Inflate tired nicely later. The guy didn't take money for the help with pumping air. So I bought a nice cute red bell for €3. And gave him my my other new bell that I got but didn't like. His name is Georgio. Chill young guy with a cool pointy mustache. Hipster types.

    Also had dinner with the 3 leaders. Me, Matt (Prof for other course), Andrea and Aa local faculty member who helps this program, Stefania Specchia. Ate dinner at Capannina. Fancy place. The dishes were amazing. But that I mean the shape of the plates mainly. Very unique styles of pottery. Good was good too. Stefania had raw meat dish .. that I tasted 😳. Like raw fish in sushi .. but beefs etc. Was ok. She also told me to go to St Maritz. It's in Swiss border and the train ride through Alps is very scenic. Will try going there this weekend from Milan. Tentatively that's the plan for weekend.

    Didn't plan anything for the weekend. No booking etc and no clear idea where to go or maybe not go anywhere. But that's least of my worries. Just prep for class today!    Read more

  • arka ghoshTurin ISU study abrd 24 tripTraveler

    First day of the program

    May 15, 2024 in Italy ⋅ 🌧 12 °C

    Got up late! 9:15 am. Supposed to meet the group at 9. Rushed to change and got bike to rush at the meeting point. Gabriela said just walk - it's faster. So I ran sorta. Managed to be there barely on time.. kinda .. some other people were late too. So... Phew!

    Whole day was orientation. They talked about their institute, Turin as a city, Piedmont as a region, and this program. It was good, since this is my first time here.

    There was a guy from International office here who had a talk about hand gestures in Italy. How the Italians would use their hands to express feelings a lot. And how it can be confusing. So he told us some of the common geatures and which ones are ok, which ones are vulger etc

    Then had a grand lunch at a restaurant with the whole group. 41 of us! It was a mess. . waiters didn't speak English, we barely had Italian speakers with us. 39 of us are 20 year old kids. But went well. Ate some stuff that I didn't know existed.

    Other faculty member , Matt, and Andrea went to see some exhibition of Leonardo da Vinci's self portrait. Apparently it is a big deal. Since it is shown for a couple of weeks under some special light (so the paintings don't go bad) once in a few years.. going on now. Everyone suggested I should go. I didn't. Not today at least.

    Came home and prepared class and slept off early hoping I can get up on time for my class at 930am next day    Read more

  • arka ghoshTurin ISU study abrd 24 tripTraveler

    1st day class and trip to a grand palace

    May 16, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    Got up on time!

    Showed up at 9:15am to meet with 24 students outside of the classroom building to go to class at 930. Saved wore nicer clothes 😜

    Italy has a lot of old fashioned bureaucracy like India. To get to the building I need a card (students can't get in) and to get to a classroom, I need keys. Which I have to check out every day, but sighing a book and return and all that.

    All students were there, except 1. Told the other leaders about it, started class, got message that his alarm didn't work - so he's late - went out to get him in the middle of the class.

    But the class went well. Students were good. Covered everything I wanted to cover. Their exam is next week - so I had to cover those topics. So it was a success.

    Got to know that there is some day trip planned right after class. So grabbed a little to eat and went to train station. Spent the rest of the day with students exploring an old fancy palace .. used by the Savoy family (big deal in Italy history... Kind of like the last king family until WWII) .. it was their palace to chill out and have fun on weekends. Its called La Vaneria Reale ( means something like royal hinting palace .. where they will come for entertainment, hunting, "fun" stuff 😀)

    Took a lot of 360 videos with my camera. Some of the students were curious to see the video. So when I came back, I spent about 4 hours editing those and made a 9 minute long video.

    Asked myself why. Answered: why not .. I enjoy learning how to edit 360 videos, that's new to me. So I did it. Until 4am. Ate some of the breakfast that Gabriella set up the night before.

    Can't post the whole video here, but here's the link.

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/KjckuKgNeQrRhP546

    Ended the day with gelatos for everyone in the group. I got a mango+pistachio 2 scoop gelato. Mango was amazing. Pistachio had a burnt flavor that was new to me. Was disturbed but a map of India on. the wall of the gelato shop.

    Came home. Real tired. Raining outside. Should get a kebap sandwich.    Read more

  • arka ghoshTurin ISU study abrd 24 tripTraveler

    Desi connection!

    May 16, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    After the long day in rain with 38 kids, train rides where we didn't know which train to take which stop to get down at ... Making sure one over-excited kid doesn't do anything stupid or get lost etc... decided to go eat my kebap sandwich and maybe a beer from outside before the next round of pouring rain starts again!

    Ordered a chicken panini and got my 3rd stamp from the shop (10th sandwich is free, .. maybe the 11th one). It's cheap, fresh and something that's non-italian. More like Mediterranean/Middle Eastern food ... Gyros type. I am tired already of eating things I have never seen or tasted before. I had veal with salmon and anchovy paste. It tasted good, but not like anything I tasted before!

    Placed order for a chicken panini today... while waiting decided to walk to a tabacchi (? tobacco store ... basically a convenience store) and pick up beer. Owner was Bangladeshi - I was only 55% certain but decided to mumble in bangla "Card cholbe?" ("do you take credit cards?") His face lit up and said aapni (you're) bangali?

    Told him I'm a teacher and visiting the politechnic to teach a class. His first reaction was ' campus ta ki sundor na?' ("isn't this a pretty campus?").

    I thought it's kinda cute. He lives here, I don't. But his first reaction was to assume that being a desi I am sure to be impressed by the "beauty" of the campus. Vigorously agreed and left.

     Managed to be back with my dinner just before it started pouring again.    Read more

  • arka ghoshTurin ISU study abrd 24 tripTraveler

    Going to Milan

    May 17, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    Class got cancelled because of pro-Palestine protests planned at the university where my classes are (politecnico di turino). Had the option to leave early for sight seeing but decided to sleep late (4am) get up at noon ... Then decide to leave for Milan by train with my bike.

    After packing, hotel tickets etc decided to catch the 530 pm direct train with my bike. Arrived half and hour early at train station. Started to get ready by folding the bike for travel.

    That's when I realized the hard way that the bike (which is almost new to me, got it just for this trip) has a design flaw. While folding, the handlebar can get stuck between the pedals .. and being a single speed, I could not move the pedal backwards ... And I was about to freak out.

    Asked maybe 50 people .. some on bikes to see if they have a spanner .. figured if I can get the chain off, I can back pedal and unstuck my half-folded bike. No luck. Asked police, some soldier looking people with big guns, maintenance people at the station. No luck. The fact that after my 100 day streak with Duolingo Italian didnt help me AT ALL so far is another story 😜. It not completely the apps fault - I freeze up right before I have to say something in Italian and all that comes out of my mouth is 'hola'!

    Finally found a desi looking guy - seemed like a food delivery guy on an electric bike (with a food delivery bag on his back) .. he had a tool. Helped me get it unstuck. Even did part of it himself since he said 'aap bohut time laga rahe ho' 😂. Became friends. Offered him some money 'for beer' (I always get awkward doing this .. never know if it's offensive, how much .. which hand, fold the notes? ... Anyways offered €20 for the record) .. he said 'paisa is not very important to me' or something like that. Amjed Ali, from Gujarat in Pakistan (?) - told him I knew there is a Punjabi but didn't know a gujarat there .. he said Gujarat is in Punjab (in Pakistan, I guess),... I wanted to ask so many questions at that point. But he was helping me with the bike, so I didn't.

     Then I met another guy from Bangladesh .. he wanted to make a local phone call - Amjed helped him too. Took a photo all 3 of us and laughed that we are having a fun India-pakistan-bangladesh reunion in Turino Porta Susa station! Amjed told me he'll show me the best coffee place around (I was suggesting beer, but he said he doesn't drink while at work!) . .. but then he got a call to deliver food. So he left.

    Talked to Pooja on video for a long time. I had some food.. didn't eat since late night's "pre-toasted" bread and Nutella at 4am. Managed to change the ticket to a 735 train (for free! 15 minutes before the train). Now finally in the train typing this. My bike is in an overhead compartment of the train .. kinda precariously hanging over my head .. hope it doesn't fall on anyone during the train.    Read more

  • arka ghoshTurin ISU study abrd 24 tripTraveler

    Angry Dinner!

    May 17, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Guess what .. wanted a hotel close to the train station .. but being cheap, sorted by price on hotels com and found a good hotel 8/10 rating and costs only $60ish for a small single room. Figured that's all I need. Don't care for fancy hotels. Just want to stay close to the station in general.

    Just found out it's 1+ hour bike ride from the station!!!! 😂😂😂. Now thinking if I should get another hotel here ... Or just take a taxi to that one. I think I will do the latter. Will eat now. Found a restaurant that seems to have good ratings.    Read more

  • arka ghoshTurin ISU study abrd 24 tripTraveler

    Make your own dip!

    May 17, 2024 in Italy ⋅ 🌙 17 °C

    Asked for some olive oil and vinegar for the bread for the table, he brought a large bucket/Tin - full of the necessary ingredients and put it on the table. After 5 minutes got a plate for me to mix and make my own dip

    Pasta carbonara was good though!    Read more

  • arka ghoshTurin ISU study abrd 24 tripTraveler

    In search of Madaripur!

    May 17, 2024 in Italy ⋅ 🌙 16 °C

    Well .. after a nice tasty dinner and dessert, during which I watched the extra time to some soccer match (ended in a draw 2-2) at baldassarria and enjoyed heavenly tiramisu with beer and cigarettes (good combo for me I realized), I decided to call a taxi to go to my hotel far far away.

    First I thought I will get some groceries, cigarettes etc for the night. Searched for a local tabacchi.. searched Google and got a store called Madaripur Mini market (or something like that). Hmm ... The Bangladeshi guy at the station said he's from Madaripur - to which I nodded as if I know the place. Madaripur again? Googled. It's a place/region in Bangladesh as expected. Maybe the guy was in a train with me from Turin to Milan to come to this store to work, or maybe family of the owner of the shop! Had to find out.

    Biked around at 1130pm in central Milan to find the shop. Found it. Got to speak in bangla with the owners and bought my stuff.

    BTW, I'm confidently speaking bangla to anyone who seems 40%+ desi to me now. No misfires yet. Saying to hawkers selling knickknacks "na dada .. chai na" (no brother, I don't need it) etc and getting very good response so far.

    No, that random guy at station has nothing to do with the shop owners. But I got my closure (and groceries)!

    Called a taxi. It showed something like $70 to go there. 40 minutes by car! Hotels.com 🤬🤬🤬🤬!!! That means I have to spend something similar to come to the city center again tomorrow. So much for biking around the city center for me. Will try to call and fight with hotels.com but Pooja advised not to since I didn't check the distance ... they won't refund.

    After talking to Pooja decided to check in to a hotel nearby. Saw this one called hotel Paradiso. Seemed nice to look at ... At least the signs were all properly lit (no missing letters or flickering neon sign). Walked in, he said $70 a night and found myself the tiniest hotel room I've been in. Very happy so far (it's been 5 minutes in the room). It even has breakfast and has 4 stars!!! I should have checked all this before I paid for the room, but still .. I checked (after paying)! So that's the end of my adventure tonight.

    Maybe I open a beer (Ceres pronounced CHeres, my new fav beer here), plan tomorrow's activities, smoke and sleep off. Gnite!    Read more

  • arka ghoshTurin ISU study abrd 24 tripTraveler

    Milan day 1 or 2?

    May 18, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    Finally updated every important event in my journal. It's 5:15 am now. Didn't plan much of my day. Will sleep now.

    Sure to miss my paid breakfast that is from 7-10 am. More worried about my snoring since my room seems very close to the breakfast area. I will be happy if I get up before noon and don't have to pay for next day.

    What can I do? It's costly to be lazy!

    Gnite? I hear the birds chirping. But my journal is all updated. Tomorrow is a blank slate! Gnite 😘    Read more

  • arka ghoshTurin ISU study abrd 24 tripTraveler

    Coffee with Kavish, kid from Colombo!

    May 18, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Managed to get up before noon! 11 am! Not bad.

    Got a call from the front desk .. saying I have to get out of the room by 1130 because other "clients" are waiting!

    Missed the bfast. Which was the plan. My room is right next to breakfast place. I was more worried about disturbing other guests with my loud snoring.

    The morning guy at the front desk looked desi again. Kavish. From Colombo, Sri Lanka. Young kid. After a little chat he let me take my time until the cleaning lady gets here.

    Oh BTW, Duolingo is mad at me for breaking my 100+day streak. Gave me second third chance to get back. But I am madder at that app. So no!

    Asked if I can get coffee. Kavish made me a fresh cup ... I guess coffee is not to be taken lightly in Italy. It's not like there's a coffee pot over there .... Every cup has to be made fresh and consumed immediately. Had coffee, did my morning rituals and got out of the room!

    Question for myself: what now. I see a farmers market going on outside the hotel in the Piazza (city square, open area between streets?). Last night (anything before I sleep is last night) I decided to do the hop-on hop-off bus tour for Milan today.

    Not sure if I feel like hopping now!

    Also met Kavish's co-worker, from Bangladesh again. His name is Sakhawat, but people call him Arjoo (not Arzoo! He corrected) .. from Feni - near Chattagram. Impessed him too just by speaking bangla.    Read more

  • arka ghoshTurin ISU study abrd 24 tripTraveler

    Farmers market looks interesting!

    May 18, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Ok ... Was debating whether or not to go out and meet the world. But farmers market looks interesting. I'm convinced - it's nicer outside. Not that I have an option to stay in my room - the cleaning lady is here. I can only stall so long in the breakfast area. So going out.... Good luck to myself!Read more

  • arka ghoshTurin ISU study abrd 24 tripTraveler

    Ok Milan, here comes Arka Hopping!

    May 18, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    After stalling for 2 hours at the breakfast area, I'm ready to go out and face the world. I think.

    Got myself a ticket to hop on/off bus ride. Have to see where the closest stop is. I think it's 15 minutes by bike. I should plan better.

    Or maybe not.

    During this time, I met the cleaning lady. Saw fire alarm go off (don't worry, someone was cooking in the basement of the hotel. (Why??? ... Ignored the urge to ask.). Kavish and Arjoo gave me a cup of Sri Lankan Tea that they made for themselves. I even saw an older man (he's at least 60, ok?) get into my room.

    Weird feeling seeing someone else gettlng in the room that you were sleeping in a few hours back. I guess it's a reminder that we don't own anything. Just using the stuff for a short time. Not just hotel rooms, our houses etc too. We are just passing by. Those things will be there even after we are gone. Others will live there. We were just TEMPORARY occupants.

    You think I am thinking too much? Pretending to be philosophical/intellectual ("antel")? Well, you are not alone - I think so too. Can't help though .....

    Downloaded a lot of my podcasts while I still have wifi. It's only barely faster than mobile data for me. Noticed some cool lights in the breakfast area... All this while sitting at the table for 2+ hours inside the hotel... Can you imagine? So much happening outside the hotel ... A few feet away from where I'm sitting. Took me that long to convince that I want to participate in all that!

    Ok ... Our the door ... Into Milan!    Read more

  • arka ghoshTurin ISU study abrd 24 tripTraveler

    Halal Mahatma!

    May 18, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    Walked around the farmers market. Lots of fresh food, fish, fruits etc. and cheap Chinese stuff everywhere... Temu/Alibaba quality. Nothing against it - I buy those all the time. Good for me because I don't feel pressured to buy anything here.

    Pooja told me to get "made in Italian" fashion stuff .. will see...

    Everyone looks good. Especially the ladies - all made up! Must have taken a long time to get ready and get out to a farmers market. But most of them don't look happy. Is getting attention worth the time spent doing the makeup?

    Is the time spent writing this somewhat similar?

    Is being happy the ultimate personal goal? What is?

    They say stop and smell the flowers. They don't say don't do it all day in a touristy place ... So, .. will look for my hop on/off bus stop.    Read more

  • arka ghoshTurin ISU study abrd 24 tripTraveler

    Hop off is an option!

    May 18, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    Was biking to the starting point of the hop on/off bus. But I saw the bus at a previous stop. Decided to get on it.

    Before that I saw a hawker selling lighters. For a change, it was an Italian guy, not Bangladeshi. I told him I don't need a lighter .. I think I am carrying 4 .. in case I start losing. But he made some gesture that he's hungry needs money type. Bought 2 lighters from him. He said €2.** .. didn't get the centa part. So gave him all the change I had .. maybe $4 ish? Took a selfie though with him.

    The ticket lady was genuinely confused about my bike. Showed her it folds.. and the driver said it's ok ... So I'm in.

    Liking the sitting in the second "floor" of the double-decker bus. Now they are talking about architecture of the Lombardi region and which one used to be the tallest building in Milan until recently blah blah. I think I will just stay on the bus until I see something that interests me!    Read more

  • arka ghoshTurin ISU study abrd 24 tripTraveler

    Controlling the urge to hop off!

    May 18, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Fir stop for me is this grand church/cathedral. Looks super crowded.

    It must be one of the top 1000 beautiful structures in Europe! With a long story etc...

    But while we were waiting here, took a selfie with the cute ticket lady! Asked her thinking it's a creepy request, but she seemed happy. Should have asked her name.

    Tempted to get down, but no! I'm better than that!!

    Not hopping off!

    (Well, the wifi on the bus is not working.. so that's not ok .. maybe I will get off at the next stop)    Read more

  • arka ghoshTurin ISU study abrd 24 tripTraveler

    Bus ride ... Had to hop off!

    May 18, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Still in bus. Recorded a video of the cathedral I didn't see in person... from Google Earth. Looks cool. No need to stand in line!

    Just saw a building called vertical garden. Artist/architects "vision" is to show that you can create green space without expanding horizontally ....

    That reminds me, in the Veneria palace we visited last time, there was a square platform in the middle of the garden. Looked like a place to sit if you are tired of walking in the garden. The guide told us it's contemporary art called "now you are a step closer to the stars" .. you are supposed to step up on it and feel that!

    Wow!

    Saw more churches, first city square in Milan, something something Napoleon ... Some pro-Palestine protests...

    That reminds me, I had an idea recently (oh o ... ): Israel should just kill EVERYONE in Palestine QUICKLY.. and be like oops! Bibi should do it before the rest of the world decides what to do with the conflict. ... So the weird idea of taking land from the locals and creating the state of Israel can be complete with no more hiccups!

    Anyways, why do I care ... Doesn't affect me, right? Right?

    Anyways ...

    The bus came back to the impressive church again .. it's a circular route. So had to get down. Was hungry .. forgot to eat. So got into a decent looking restaurant. Ordered zaffran rice (local specialty it seems) and a beer.

    Narmin! Her name. Asked to to leave a positive review on TripAdvisor for her and the driver Isabella. Also learned it one of the 4 routes. My €27 ticket covers all 4 of them .. I just did the blue route. Should I do red green yellow? Dont know ...

    Maybe I should get ticket to go to lake Como instead. Don't feel like doing tourist giri today. Sorry Milan (big loss for the city!). Next time maybe.    Read more

  • arka ghoshTurin ISU study abrd 24 tripTraveler

    Afganistan. Covered!

    May 18, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Met this nice couple at lunch .. Shahim (Dilzada) and his girlfriend Beau. She's originally from Indonesia, he from Afghanistan.

    His grandfather's name was 'dil'-something (dil =heart) so his dad assumed dilzada as his surname for his government job. They don't have surnames ... Normally they follow some tribal naming convention .... Both of them live in Netherlands .. he talked about Bollywood .. shahrukh Khan Deepika Padukone ... He really likes deepika ... When I teased him he said that he chose Beau because she looks like her.

    Talked to ma. Do it every Saturday for last 24 years ... Was going to skip today .. but decided to video call and show her the church ... She likes to travel. She was very happy. She shared her serial scene on whataspp.

    Anyways ... Got tickets to lake Como. Put the right stop (there are like 5 stops around the huge lake) .. but the app (trainline) got me the wrong stop. Not my fault at all 😜

    But the same train goes closer to the lake. I'm thinking I will pretend to miss my stop and go further. Everyone is very chill here ... No one checks tickets ... If I get caught, I will pay fines etc maybe.

    The ticket was like 5 euros (in Italian it's pronounced Aaoro .. same spelling). So maybe I will just let it go and buy a fresh ticket to the right stop.

    Or not.

    Don't know yet.

    Thinking I will try the green line for hop on/off bus ... Looks a slightly interesting. Then maybe get down at a train station and buy a new ticket to como in person at the station.

    This sound better. Sensible. A man can try.    Read more

  • arka ghoshTurin ISU study abrd 24 tripTraveler

    Failed to escape Milan 😞

    May 18, 2024 in Italy ⋅ 🌙 18 °C

    After lunch, I thought maybe take the green line that is included in my ticket.
    But ended up not doing that.

    Then I got a hotel in Varenna (station is varenna esino) ... Which is in the middle of the y-shaped lake Como.

    The general idea was to see some part of the lake then somehow got to tirano, take a famous scenic train ride through the Alps. It's called Bernina Express .. operated by a swiss train company .. trains have huge windows spanning the roof for great viewing. Looked amazing in the pics. Even Stefania (a local faculty in Turin) highly recommended it.

    So I need a train ticket to go to Varenna tonight. Maybe do dinner .. see the lake in the night and sleep in my hotel. Did all that planning in another restaurant while sipping beer. Met Shamim Bhai from Kumilla!

    But that didn't happen. Train was full so the ticket checker guy refused to let me (and many more) in and that was the last train (something I found out the hard way since I bought a ticket for the next train and realized later that it's 10 am nextday and not 10 pm today. Another rain ticket wasted (no refunds .. but these are like $10). The other people who got refused entry in the train seemed to have some choice words for the ticket checker. But those were in Italian. Duolingo failed me again! But they were punching the train - I think they expect better from Trenitalia ( or Italo or TrenOrd or ... Too many train companies here).

    Came out of the station and it's pouring ... No taxi .. can't bike in the rain. I mean I can .. I have a poncho and all that. But dont feel like. Feeling drained walking around all day.

    Finally snatched a taxi and went back to the same hotel as last night. It was easy last night - walked in and got a room. No such luck this time. No room there. Not even one in "The Best Hotel" next door. Biked around and found a room in another 1/2 star hotel. Hotel Eden. Owner seemed Chinese - he warned me that the rooms are more expensive than other hotels .. it's €120! Jumped at it .. since all other decent hotels for the night were 300-600 euros! I guess it's weekend traffic ...

    Finally came to room and crashed.

    Oh the hotel I booked earlier? Tried cancelling it on booking.com. Nonrefundable booking but says cancelled. Don't know what that means .. will I get the money back? Too tired to worry about that now. Gnite.    Read more

  • arka ghoshTurin ISU study abrd 24 tripTraveler

    In Train to Tirano. Not Torino.

    May 19, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    Got up early. Made a careful plan. I can do this. Lake como and fancy train ride. I still have until end of Monday (tomorrow) to pull it off.

    I even wrote down my plans on paper, made bookings, trains, fancy train, hotel in como. Triple checked the times, am/pm all corect. Will reach Tirano at 12:52 by regular train. Fancy train at 130 or so .. it's a round trip .. so will come back to tirano (Tirano-St Moritz-Tireno). Then somehow get back to lake Como and stay in the hotel there. Stay overnight and then tomorrow maybe go back to Torino (Turin)

    Torino is where I am "stationed". Tireno is where I am trying to go. By Train. Any questtions? No? Good.

    Was very proud of my detailed planning. But the first train got stuck at Monza - first station after we started. They said it's estimated that it will take 14 minutes to fix whatever problem they had with the tracks. It was there for 1.5 hours. So I will miss my fancy train for sure!

    Train was super crowded first .. with my bike dangling over peoples head. But at Varenna almost everyone got down and I could sit comfortably. Still on that ride. Still going to Tireno. Thought of getting down at Como but decided to continue with the original plan. Let's see.

    Ciao.

    Ciao is hello and goodbye. Like aloha. Some people say ciao-ciao for goodbye.

    Well, spoke too soon .. just about to upload this and they announced that this train will NOT go to Tireno any more. We have to get down at another station and change to a different train!

    Back to the drawing board, I guess.

    At least the views are nice.    Read more

  • arka ghoshTurin ISU study abrd 24 tripTraveler

    Journey is the important part, right?

    May 19, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Destination? It's totally overrated!

    That's what I'm telling myself, while having some lunch in a tiny waiting room at stazione Sondrio.

    It looks like a nice quaint Italian town. Little tourists ... Most of them were on my train to Tireno .. all 6 of us are waiting here.

    The train that we are supposed to take now is delayed. So .. let's see. Maybe I will bike around the small town. Good thing I got my bike!    Read more

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