Backpacking through Europe in 1994

Day 79 • November 24, 1994
Milan, Italy

With each passing day I was growing more confident, feeling more in control of my destiny and less like a rolling stone, rolling here and there around Europe. Thirty years ago today I arrived in Milan, and there to welcome me was Julie.

Julie was my sister Tracy’s college roommate. They both shared a love of travel and studying abroad. Julie also had a passion for art, and would eventually get her degree in Art History from Texas Christian University (TCU), and go on to have a successful career working at several prestigious art museums in Texas.

I had met Julie while visiting my sister in Texas and had a good rapport with her. In fact, I had seen her in August and I knew she was studying in Milan so, even before I left on this adventure back in September, I knew I would eventually make it to visit her. So this stop was part of my very loose plan, and thirty years ago today it happened! I made it to Milan and reunited with Julie.

It was fantastic being with Julie and her friends, other American students studying in Milan. We all spoke English, we all were having fun in our lives, and Julie had some special plans that she included me on: an American-style Thanksgiving celebration with her friends in her apartment, complete with a home-made oven-baked turkey, followed by a day-trip to Venice!

Hanging out with Julie, my sister Tracy’s college roommate from Texas Christian University who was studying in Milan.

My Photographs from today Milan, Italy

DAY 79 / 11-24-94
Milan, Italy

My train arrived on schedule at 8:30 [am], and Julie was there waiting for me. I planned my trip this way, that is, to finish with Italy and Spain last, because if for some reason something went wrong or I ran out of money or had to go home early for some reason, I knew I would see Julie and Jeff again. (And I have seen them both recently. Julie in August.)

And I’m glad I did it this way too. Because starting yesterday, I’m being surrounded by more & more Americans, both other tourists & friends. And it is so fucking nice to hear American cliché’s and phrases again. “Oh my gawd”, “No waay”, & “No shit Sherlock” are ones that come to mind immediately.

Julie had class, so we went straight from the station there. It was awesome, she had metro tickets for me, she gave me money for a Coke, & had a book “The Hunt for Red October” for me to read. That was the best, since the only things I’ve been reading in English have been tourist guides & maps.

Important safety tip for Italy: Don’t put your feet up on chairs. And never, NEVER do it with your shoes off. I was doing both, right outside Julie’s classroom, waiting for her to finish, when I was severely scolded by an administrator.

After class we went back to Julie’s place where I ate pasta & bathed for the first time in three days. It’s amazing what a warm meal & shower will do for a person.

Next we took my stuff to a friend of hers named Evan where I’ll be sleeping. Then we took off to see the Duomo & the Castle Sforzesco. The castle was closed, but that’s ok, I saw it with my family three years ago [when we visited my sister Tracy during her Rotary exchange student year in Belgium and took our own trip to Milan]. But the Duomo, that was magnificent. It houses all of these religious paintings (HUGE religious paintings) that are hundreds of years old, and the building itself dates from the 1300’s.

When we got home I took a much needed nap, then Evan came over & we had hamburgers and Mom’s beer-battered onion rings (Julie had the recipe). At midnight, Evan & I left for his home.

Today was Thanksgiving, and although I was a little sad I wasn’t back home in Detroit with Skratch & Curt*, I felt extremely Thankful that I was in ITALY, fulfilling my dream.

And I realize now, more than ever, how much I really have to be thankful for, and how lucky, how very very fortunate I am.

* The previous two years, 1992 & 1993,  the Dome Crew had made a 15 hour road trip from Kearney, Nebraska, to Detroit, Michigan, where Skratch’s parent’s lived, for the express purpose of attending the NFL Detroit Lions Thanksgiving Day game. We witnessed many amazing things on those trips, and at the top was seeing legendary broadcasters John Madden & Pat Summerall, and the great running back Barry Sanders.

Our Christmas Card from Me, Kyle and Tim (Skratch) in 1993. This picture was taken at the Detroit, Michigan, Silverdome on Thanksgiving, 1993.

Doug, Tim’s Dad Igor, and Tim (Skratch) at his parent’s house, Thanksgiving 1992.