Milanese do it better

When I first came to Milan I thought all the men were gay – and then I realised it was just the accent.  What is it with that strange nasal twang that they have here?  I lived in Rome before and I thought Rome was Italy but now after a year here I realise that Milan is Italy, Rome is just the tourist part.

There are a lot of things that I like about Milan.  The first is the aperitivo habit.  It seems outrageous to pay 8 euros for a drink until you realise that this sum also includes food and all around you are hungry Milanese hoovering up bits on trays like whales eating krill. Very svelte whales of course because being slim and lovely is important for the Milanese.  Still aperitivo spots are nomadic.  The reason for this is that when a bar first starts up on the aperitivo scene it has to really make an effort to attract the notoriously demanding Milanese "aperitivers".  The dishes of food on the evening of those first two weeks are exquisite, saucy little pizzas, lobster claws, raw tuna etc and the place is soon full.  Then months pass and sooner or later the crowd realises that they are being fed on rice with slices of tinned wurstel again and begin to drift off to the next exciting new opening.

The other thing I immediately noticed about Milan is that prostitution is very much a day time thing.  In other parts of this kinky boot peninsular one gawps at ladies standing by the side of the road in places that in Britain that would be the beginning of public bridleways, but in cities these sex workers tend to appear at night.  In Milan, no.  You can be idly sauntering down the road at ten in the morning and be overtaken by three malodorous transsexuals rushing off to an urgent appointment.  Who are they visiting?  Any ideas?

The Milanese are different in so many ways – they love new trends and ideas, which makes it very easy to be creative here.  They also have an attractive confidence, especially in business.  I am also amazed at how little they demand from their government and the state in general.  In Milan you get up, put up and shut up, expressing all your frustrations at the Friday night cocktail and sushi scrabble and in the car driving out for the weekend.