Saturday 17th June 2023

Monza Mimo Motor Show: Navigli District

It is our wedding anniversary today and believe it or not, last night I persuaded my husband to take advantage of the chance to visit the Monza Grand Prix Circuit today for a motor show that was taking place.

Promoters in the Duomo Square yesterday spoke of various events at the show including cars parading around the track. It sounded like an excellent opportunity.

Buses were leaving from Milan direct to Monza, but unfortunately there was only one seat left on the 11am bus (at least Dave didn’t take it!).

One of the helpful young guys checked the internet and advised us to go to Garibaldi rail station where trains would run every 10 minutes and then a bus from Monza station to the circuit.

Setting off early, it took us 45 minutes to walk to the station.  The walk took us through long tree lined avenues and a large and pretty park. There were lots of folk with dogs; some were walking 4 or 5, dog walkers perhaps or maybe just dog lovers.

Joggers were doing laps of the park and a few young guys were working out on the gym equipment with a chained angry dog looking on (a pedigree of course).

 

I commented that we hadn’t seen any ‘Heinz 57’ dogs, just pedigrees with their designer dressed walkers.

There are lots of smart houses and apartment blocks, many of which have greenery trailing along them. Balconies have pots of beautiful flowers and roof gardens seem to be popular here. Some roof top gardens have fully grown trees on them.

 

A few classic cars passed us; on their way to their final stop in Bressia.  They beeped and waved, some backfiring and leaving a trail of black smoke and a toxic smell behind them.

One driver gave us a thumbs up as he raced through a pedestrian crossing that we were waiting at, even though the lights were against him, somehow I think he knew we wanted to see him pass.

After reaching the railway station, the day became full of minor difficulties.

It took us quite a while to find where to buy tickets for Monza; we finally purchased them in a small newsagents. After finally working out which train went to Monza, we reached the platform just as the train was departing. Luckily, we didn’t have too long to wait before the next one.

Leaving the station in Monza, we saw the ‘Monza Mimo Information Tent’.  They informed us that the most convenient way to reach the Grand Prix Circuit was to purchase tickets with them for the buses that would depart every 30 minutes to and from the ‘Mimo Motor Show’.

Our bank card failed on the first attempt and Dave offered to pay cash. The guy said it would cost more than double the price as it was inconvenient for them to take cash! I was pleased when my card worked.

With wristband attached, we boarded the 11am bus.

The town of Monza appears to be a beautiful place.  However, we were just passing through on the bus to the Grand Prix Circuit.

After arriving at the famous circuit, we walked around the paddock where the cars on display were offered for  test drive  opportunities.

 

 

 

 

 

The variety included super cars like Dallaras, Ferraris, Lotuses, Masaratis as well as top of the range of the more familiar cars.

Dave was like a kid in a candy store and by the time he had decided which car he wanted to test drive all the time slots were taken up.  We tried two or three other companies but they all said the same.

I persuaded Dave to try the ‘super car’ companies like Dallaras. Some of these companies were offering ‘four laps’ of the circuit, driven by one of their drivers for a cost.

Unfortunately, no one knew what time they would have time slots on the circuit and one company suggested we try again after 5.30pm.

By this time, we were in need of a drink and we joined a very long queue at a café bar, only to find out a while later that the place was accessible only to pass holders.

At the Milan Mimo information stand, they had boasted self drives/test drives all day, food courts and concerts!

Finding another food stand, we queued for almost an hour (it was now time for lunch too) to place our order.  We were then given a bleeper that would ring when our order was ready.  Unfortunately, the customers outnumbered the chairs and folk  were standing around trying to balance their plates and drinks.

After lunch, we attempted to find out what was happening on the circuit and at what time, unfortunately no one seemed to know. When we asked at the car stands, they replied that it was nothing to do with them or that they had no idea.

Seeing a marshal we asked him, he informed us that the qualifiers for the Indy Challenge would be on the circuit at 2pm.  After more than half an hour sat waiting, just two cars had passed at an extremely slow speed.

Both disappointed and feeling that we had wasted a day we decided to leave and headed back to the ‘Mimo’ bus stop.  Unfortunately, the 3pm bus didn’t arrive, we stood with others in 35degrees Celsius with no shade.  As you can imagine everyone was overheated and rather disgruntled.

Thankfully, the 3.30pm bus did arrive. As we went through the small town centre of Monza again we commented that we should have spent the day there or of course stayed in Milan, where we had things on our list to do which we sacrificed for Monza!

Early evening, we took a tram to the Navigli District. It is a popular neighbourhood where both locals and tourists flock to, traditionally for a pre dinner aperitif

 

 

 

 

 

Bars and restaurants line the surviving man made canals of Milan.  Many years ago these canals transported goods, people and even the building materials for the city’s most renowned building, the Duomo.

After wandering for a while, we stopped at a bar for an aperitif which was accompanied with a complimentary small plate, soy beans with salt served in a brown paper bag and a dish of tacos.

It was lovely sat at the canal side, people watching.

Sauntering along again, we crossed a bridge over one of the canals and walked down one of the side streets.  The side street was also lined with tempting eateries and bars.

 

For dinner we chose a restaurant and ordered osso bucco for Dave and chicken fillet for me.  Again we watched the world go by, one or two hen parties passed by and also a couple of  stag parties, heterosexual and gay.

Locals walked their designer dogs.

The tram ride back was heaving  with folk, youngsters on their way home or perhaps going on somewhere to party.  Everyone was smiling or laughing and generally having fun.  I confess we were probably the oldest on the tram!

 

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