30-Day Solo Travel in Europe | Day 18: From Nice to Milan – A Journey Full of Twists
5/26/2023
(Previous chapter of my journey: 30-Day Solo Travel in Europe | Day 17: Blue is the Warmest Colour - My Search for Yves Klein Blue)
My last night in Nice wasn’t exactly restful. The thought of an early flight had me tossing and turning in that narrow bed. By around five in the morning, while the sky was still dark, I was up, washing quickly, checking out, and hauling my luggage onto the metro to Nice airport.
My flight to Milan was not a direct one due to budget constraints so I had to choose flying with budget airlines. The route involved flying to Barcelona first, collecting my bags, re-checking in, and catching a connecting flight. The transit was tight. After dropping my luggage at check-in in Nice, I grabbed a quick, simple breakfast at a café in the terminal. I made it to the gate on time, only to wait… and wait. Boarding didn’t start, and we ended up departing half an hour late. My first real taste of European low-cost ‘flexibility’. My stomach knotted tighter with every passing minute, convinced I’d miss the Milan connection.
The moment we landed in Barcelona, I hurried to baggage reclaim. Those minutes felt endless. By some small miracle, I reached the check-in counter for the Milan flight with about only an hour to spare. The ground staff waved me into the last-minute queue. I dashed through security and practically ran to the gate. I made it – just to learn that this flight was delayed too.
This arrival in Milan marked the end of my solo travel. A friend was flying in from Hong Kong to join me. (Yes, the title of my post now seems misleading. But I still want to record special moments of my trip anyway.) I felt a mix of excitement and nerves, worried my delays might leave her waiting. Because of the late check-in, I was seated right at the back, the engine’s low rumble my companion for the whole flight.
When we finally touched down in Milan and I switched on my phone, her message popped up instantly. That wave of relief washed away the day’s stress and rushing in one gentle sweep. We took the train into the city and checked into a comfortable four-star hotel right in the city centre. It was easily the nicest place I’ve stayed on this trip.
We’d planned to visit the Duomo on day one, but the transit had left us both drained. After freshening up, we decided on an early dinner. My friend had even spent her birthday on a plane just to meet me here so we both agreed a really good meal was the least we could do to make up for it.
Following a Google recommendation, we found a cosy little restaurant nearby. We started with two plates of pasta, but the pasta were simply divine! The sauce was rich and delicious. We looked at each other, smiled, and ordered another. As she tasted it, she laughed softly and said, ‘Italy really is something special!’
Yes – the day had begun with tense nerves, continued through frantic rushing and delays, yet here we were, in a warm little trattoria, sharing delicious food. Every moment of the chaos in the day now felt worthwhile. My first day in Italy ended quietly, contentedly, over that second plate of pasta. Tomorrow, our journey in Milan begins!
