My next stop after Castello di Serravalle was in a suburb of Milan called Rho. It has 2 train stops, but only one of them is totally complete. Rho Fiero is surrounded by construction and makes it virtually impossible to figure out how to enter or exit the premises.
We could NOT escape from the Rho Fiera/o train station
I arrived on a dreary day in June and it remained dreary for an entire week. But I did discover the town center which is actually really cute. There’s a bar near the square called Al Traffic that has an excellent aperitivo at around happy hour time. For only about 2 euros, you can get a large glass of vino and a small but delicious all you can eat mini-buffet of tiny pizzas, paninis, olives, cheeses and chips. So delicious and so affordable! After work each day, the other tutors and I would head over for a drink and some snacks because the staff is super friendly and accommodating. I was only in Rho for two weeks, but managed to go to Al Traffic about eight times.
super dreary
Beautiful building in the square
The town square is pretty small, but it’s basically the highlight of the area. There is only one exception to that, and it’s because there is an old water mansion fun-house place about 10 minutes away. I’m not sure what the name of it is, but one of the local families wanted to take me and a couple of my friends. You have to view the mansion as a tour, but they do it in a few languages and English isn’t a problem. The problem is getting shot up between your legs or in the face with a random water spout here or there and not seeing it coming.
One of my favorite parts of Rho was leaving Rho to go into Milan for Italy’s first World Cup match against Paraguay in the center square. It was incredible being surrounded by so many paint covered, drunk Italians and tourists rooting for Italy. I’m sure there are a million great places in the world to see World Cup matches (obviously AT the World Cup) but I would highly recommend viewing an Italian match in the square in Milan because it’s free, fun and you can bring your own alcohol to the square and drink in public (Catch up, America!).
You should always be walking around Milan pretending to be a model. Or stopping on light posts and posing.
Oh and because you might just run into 15 of the most sought after male models who are in town casting for Milan Fashion Week. Seriously? Seriously. Eric Anderson, it was a pleasure meeting you and sneaking swigs of vodka from your water bottle. Traveling can be so surreal sometimes.
wow. beauty surrounded by beauty.
My time in Milan was pretty limited besides that night and having to go to the Milan train station about 12 times throughout my 7 weeks in Italy, but the other times it was basically just expensive, grey and steamy.
although it looks really nice around sunset time.
After my first week in Rho, 5 of my friends and I decided to head to Cinque Terre for the weekend and get away from Rho and Milan. Unfortunately upon arrival to the Deiva Marina at about 11:00 pm on Friday night, it started to drizzle. Then it started to pour. So if you don’t have any idea where you are walking to in that area (which is only a train stop or so away from Cinque Terre), you’re probably going to be as screwed as we were. While we waited on a park bench along the road heading in what we hoped was the way to our camping site, La Sfinge, our friend who came on the train after us pulled up with some Italian stranger in a car and gave us a ride. We stopped about 1 minute away from our site earlier and were about to turn around. Thank goodness for that helpful stranger who spoke zero English.
Looking for La Sfinge
If you plan to stay at La Sfinge, remember a couple things. First of all, the camp’s bed time is like 10 or 10:30 pm. Don’t plan on partying in your tent or the snack area with the benches after those hours. People WILL complain and tell on you. This happened to us three separate times in an hour period. The second piece of advice might be the most valuable. If you have no where else to party because it’s raining (or any other reason) and it’s after camp curfew, we found the laundry room was quite sufficient. It kept us warm from the cold rain (even though it was the middle of June), kept the sound from escaping and had enough seats for 7 (washing machines). Obviously we eventually got kicked out of there too, but that wasn’t until at least 3 am.
The 2 man tent rental option.
The beach in this area was really beautiful and there’s a nice seaside boardwalk.
even nice in the cold rain.
Along the boardwalk and near the train station, you will find a large apple core. This apple core is empty and sad by day.
By evening, it turns into a ride for children (weather depending). By late night, it became a home base and hide out for the seven of us since we checked out (slash got kicked out) of La Sfinge. Underneath the apple core, down the stairs is this tiny little room that I probably shouldn’t tell you about in order to keep the secret.
But we were able to leave all of our baggage down there and head to one of the only bars open along the street and then take a little nap in it before our 6 am train back to Rho. I’ll remember that giant apple core and the big beach ball we found next to it forever, even though the weekend turned out to be a disaster as far as actually making it to Cinque Terre.
But it was the most fun disaster ever. And we saw an emu.
a freaking emu.
