My mom, brother, and uncle were going to be flying into Italy as soon as school ended. We were going to travel a little around Florence and then spend Christmas in Rome before heading back to England. It would be a pleasant conclusion to an unforgettable semester.
Yet, misfortune struck once more. Everything crumbled, I mean EVERYTHING.
One of the hardest and most fearsome blizzards struck through Europe on the eve of everyone's departure. All flights were cancelled indefinitely, with countless travelers, students, and my family stranded in airports with absolutely no clue when they would be able to leave.
The snowy atmosphere throughout Florence was sublime, though:
The deadline to leave my apartment was exactly one day after school got out, so we decided that the best option would be to wait in a hotel until my family arrived.
It was impossible calling a taxi to come to my apartment, since almost everyone was trying to get a hold of one in the snow madness. So in the bitter snow, I hiked to the train station and waited in a humungous line for the taxis. Finally, I was provided with one and soon returned to the street where my apartment was. I told the taxi driver I'd quickly grab my luggage, so I quickly ran up to my apartment and lugged down 3 colossus suitcases down those evil stairs.
After nestling all the suitcases into the taxi, we then proceeded to the hotel.
What came next was the most absurd decision in all the history of taxi-drivers. The driver decided that he could only go a block away from the hotel. For some reason or another he refused to drive any further.
So I was forced to handle my 3 suitcases and 2 backpacks up a snow-covered, slushy, traffic-jammed street. This ordeal was crushing, annoying, and downright absurd!
After executing the complex formula of: Step a few feet, pull 2 suitcases, stop, get the other suitcase, I slowly arrived at the entrance of the hotel. This ridiculous maneuvering provided me numerous onlookers thinking I was either mad or just plain handicapped.
I checked into the hotel, found my room, and immediately collapsed into a dazed state.
The initial plan had been for my family to arrive during this period and for my brother and I to attend a Serie A football match in Milano. You see, my brother's favorite team is Roma, so getting a chance to watch A.C. Milan vs. Roma live would obviously be a rare and absolutely delightful opportunity.
Since the blizzard had crushed any hope of my family arriving in time, I was left to attend the match in Milano by my lonesome. :(
I arrived in Milano at around 6pm. I first traveled to the hotel that held my tickets, picked them up and jetted straight to the San Siro stadium.
While I didn't know exactly how to get from the closet metro stop to the stadium, I immediately recognized other A.C. Milan dressed fans rushing towards a certain direction. I knew whatever direction they were heading was probably the right one.
We rushed through a couple of blocks at full speed. I noticed by my watch that the match had already started. I accelerated.
Soon, I heard booming cheers in the distance coming closer. We suddenly turned into the San Siro Stadium. The giant arena stood boldly us. We quickly rushed to the gates, scanned our tickets, and proceeded to find the correct entrance to our seats.
I hurriedly spiraled to my seat location and entered into the inner stadium. The game was in motion. The entire Milan and Roma squad were suddenly playing before my very eyes. The sight was quite shocking. I quickly found my seat number and nestled in to fully absorb the bursting atmosphere.
The stadium, akin to my previous football adventure in Rome, was full of cheering, whistling, and mad enthusiasm from all fans.
The game turned out to be quite an eventful affair. Getting a chance to see the likes of Ronaldinho, Ibrahimovic, Pirlo (who was injured and subbed early), and Robinho was an extraordinary experience. Having followed these players through countless championships and tournaments, I was fully sucked into the game.
I recorded some glorious HD footage of the striking ambiance within the San Siro:
Milan vs. Roma
I also have to say, while Adriano may be in the final stages of his career, at one point he pulled off an incredible move that allowed him to maneuver through three Milan players. A shocking piece of skill that silenced the entire stadium.
The game ended with, Milan 0-1 Roma, a tap-in goal from Boriello. Although the game was nowhere near the sheer excitement of the thrilling Champions League match back in November, it was still thoroughly enjoyable and sincerely memorable.
I should also mention that the weather in Milan during the game was downright horrible. I spent the entire match covering my nose with my scarf, shivering from the bitter cold. It was practically sub-zero. No matter how many layers of clothing I wear, the coldness always seems to slice right through me.
After the game, I picked up an A.C Milan scarf for my brother and boarded a packed bus back to the hotel.
While I'd be spending the night in Milan, by tomorrow evening I'd back in Florence. My brother and I had initially planned this following day to see the Last Supper by Leonardo Da Vinci. Since this seminal work is one of the most popular attractions in all of Italy, booking waaay in advance was imperative. This was going to be a riveting experience!
Yet the atmosphere of the trip remained somewhat awkward. It had originally been coordinated with my brother in attendance, so the trip felt half-empty without him. Such is life, have to make the best out of the worst situation...
Wait a second! I just realized, my birthday's tomorrow! Going to see Da Vinci while in Milan is surely not the worst way to spend my 21st, right?
