My Trip to Milan

On thursday I went to an airport on my own for the first time, In the past I've been surrounded by family or a big group of people to follow so I was kinda scared, but it was a breeze. The amount of advertising at airports is extreme, there will be a massive terminal building with a 100 foot long "Emporio Armarni' sign across the top of it. Is that really necessary? Constantly along the process of getting a flight you are constantly being sold things, every spare second you are given the opportunity to shop. You have already payed for your flight, its like products within products within products until you eventually get out into the real world again. The flight back was better cos I had a window seat, I listened to Delphic while we flew over the Alps. The world looks so much more beautiful from the sky even if it made me feel really significant it also made me almost desperate to land so I could be part of it again. Foals is also really good in-flight music, I think thats because its so melodic and futuristic kinda. As the clouds because denser and greyer I knew we must be nearly at London town where the sun was definitely not shining. But anyway back to the beginning of the trip again:

Kasabian at Alcatraz, Milano 18 Feb 2010. 

The Alcatraz is a big-ish venue (tiny for stadium fillers Kasabian) near the centre of Milan. We got there at about 8pm which we didn't think was that early but it was pretty empty, except the happy hardcore clinging to the bar obviously. There was no support and a multiplying crowd eagerly gazed at the roadies as they wallow in their on-stage banter and guitar groping. Due to the early arrival I was pretty damn close to the band myself, I would have had to camp out all evening for this position at Glastonbury when I was saw them headline the Pyramid stage. (photo on the side panel of me blog). Anyway I felt a bit star struck because the cheeky grins were so clear I couldn't stop taking photos. I hope you like them. I do think though that sometimes if you are too close to the stage sometimes the vocals get a bit lost, that might be a completely false observation but still, the middle is best. The crowd was also a bit young, and a UK Kasabian crowd would have been a bit angrier and more abrasive which I welcome at a gig, who doesn't? The bad were so happy to be playing in Milan and they delivered a spot on set with tunes from all three albums, Club Foot and Where Did All the Love Go? probs being the best. I made an epic video of the silence and riff-kick-in of Fire, because it was the enchore and I was pretty certain they were going to play it first. LSF to finish, tune, epic times.  I consider this a very memorable musical evening for me. Maybe even in the same league as the homecoming Muse gig.

I found myself falling deeper and deeper in love fueled lust with this guitarist throughout the evening. Lovely voice, lovely everything else. Yes please. 

The Rest of the Trip.

I spent most of Friday sitting on the sofa watching Chuggington and Dora the Explorer in Italian with my two little cousins who I stayed with. I got so attached to this one Italian cartoon called Barabapapa, They are like these little blob dudes who can change into anything to help people out. Totally lovable. Check the link in at the bottom if you like kid's TV. I know its not just me who enjoys a bit of Charlie and Lola with their cereal in the morning. I also ate pasta and ragu, yum, and played a few games of Italy's answer to snakes and ladders. 

Saturday my aunty took me shopping in Milan in the morning. When marveling at the Dior handbags half of me wished I had a credit card and the other half was thankful from my gut that I didn't. I bought Italian Vogue from a metro stand because I could. It looks so much nicer, and you have an excuse to just gander at the pictures and make no attempt to read the editorial. Winner.

There lots of balloons, and children in fancy dress throwing confetti everywhere because it was carnival weekend, when Italian's celebrate the end of the winter. If ours ever actually ended maybe we could do the same.

Saturday night we went for drinks in the city and it was nothing like any 'drinks' I've ever been for in the UK. I would like to introduce to you, the Italian Happy Hour. Happy hour to me means cheap pints or £4 all in at pizza hut. But oh no, we went to two awesome bars and the deal is that you buy a (pretty overpriced but VERY strong) cocktail, pick up a plate and munch out on the buffet at your leisure. The first, smaller bar was all cous cous, ham bread crisps dip etc. The second had lots of little serving points spotted around the open plan bar, where you would wait to be served a selection of random food. I love little food and buffets. This was heaven for me pretty much.

Then Sunday I flew home which I've already chatted about. Highlight of the whole trip including Kasabian? My little cousin Matia telling his Mother he didn't want Abi to leave at the airport. Children are so pure and special. Couldn't live with any though!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgZzieE39p4