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Well, for the past few weeks, I have been doing castings every day and going out every night.
A couple of weekends ago, I had a nice break from Milan when I went to visit my good friend Janos in Switzerland. In complete contrast to the dirty, noisy, and perfectly flat landscape of Milan, I spent my time in picturesque Swiss perfection. Trees, mountains, rivers, cleanliness and quiet.
Switzerland felt like one of those Star Trek episodes where the crew stumbles into a seemingly Utopian society. Twenty minutes into the episode, you discover the planet's dirty little secret. Either I was not in Switzerland long enough, or there really is no dirty secret.
I visited an exhibition from Janos' design school on the first night. The next morning we went to his friend's thirtieth birthday barbecue. Apparently the Swiss have a talent for organization. This was the best barbecue I have ever experienced and probably the best I will ever experience. The food was delicious, the drinks bottomless, the company delightful, and even the weather was perfect.
The following day I visited Bern with Janos and his wife. After walking through the storybook town, we relaxed in the manicured grass between the trimmed rose beds in a park overlooking the mountains and river surrounding the historic architecture of the capital.
The train ride back through the rugged peaks and luscious valleys of Southern Switzerland completed the surreal transition back into the life I knew.
The present days are filled with gay dinners, interminable castings, agency parties, 40 degree heat, insatiable mosquitoes, lies, gossip, dehydration, insomnia, sexual tension, and the bipolar excitement and despair of the modelling world. I would love to describe it all in detail, but through lack of time and the regrettable fact that some of the stories are not-so-publishable, I will post some photos instead.
Will and Janos (missing Jeff), menace to Japan, reunited on Swiss soil
On set for Joe Taft catalogue shoot
I cooked up some plantain, pelau, curry cabbage and mince, and a few other dishes for a party at my place. Ostensibly a going away party for Charlotte.
Le Plaisir
Waiting in Romano for the first train home
Me and Nicklas at the Gasoline "finish all the alcohol" party
Chilling on the steps near Compagnoni 37
Spontaneous sparring in parco Sempione
Chad at the Riccardo Gay agency party
As you might have guessed from the silence, I have been too busy to keep you updated with my progress. Another thing happens as you travel somewhere and adjust to a new lifestyle: it becomes less exotic. Therefore, stories that would stand out in my early weeks seem perfectly normal and unworthy of reporting.
I am also becoming increasingly busy and taking time off to go to the Internet cafe or write entries becomes increasingly difficult.
There have been a few gems over the past couple of weeks for which I will give you a brief summary.
(One or two weeks ago) Thursday we started the evening by crashing a Gigli party, held in the courtyard behind the store on the aristocratic Via Della Spiga. The doormen tend not to ask questions if you are beautiful. We enjoyed free wine, champagne, strawberries, and bread with the exclusive olive oil you find not on store shelves but by special request from the back. We name-dropped our way for free into Armani Club where, thanks to the previous party, we obviated the need to purchase one of the drinks starting at 20 euros a piece.
Moving on, we hit Gasoline's winter location "Eyes Wide Shut" party. Knowing the owner and PR, we bypassed the line and, of course, admission and made our way straight for the VIP area where we could continue drinking to our hearts content without yet a dent in our wallets. True to the theme, we were required to don a silver mask before entering and speak the password to the imposing doorman. Before long, like the girls on the tables, silver masks were our only clothing from the waist up.
As the insanity wound down and as we did not, our next destination was Hollywood. Though hardly appealing in style or decor, this Milanese institution lets all models in free and in return, all models wind up going there, especially around 3 am as the other parties disperse. I walked half and bussed half of the journey home, the early sunlight strange and not so comforting.
Friday, my friend Carmelina came to visit and stay the weekend. Friday was gasoline again, preceded by a big dinner at the owner's place. Saturday I had some people over for drinks and hors d'oeurves at my apartment before going to an outdoor disco Chaval in a beautiful setting shared with Leonardo Da Vinci's Horse sculpture.
Sunday there was a free concert in Piazza Duomo with Avril Lavigne and Black Eyed Peas. We got pretty close for Black Eyed Peas who put on an amazing show.
Last Thursday I met one of my friends at his apartment as he was being met by two squad cars and four police officers to remove him from the roof. He was apparently up there to lie down and relax, but it did not stop him earning the nickname "Batman di Milano". Apparently ongoing noise and trouble at the apartment led one of the neighbours to gather 20 signatures on a petition to have them kicked out. The next day the owner installed bars on the balcony and all the windows.
This Monday we went for a drink at a Moroccan restaurant. Dan and Dean, designers of the Canadian D Squared label showed up. Most of my friends went home, but I stayed around with one and we ended up invited over to someones apartment for drinks.
I could write forever, and perhaps I will some day, but that is all I can cover for now. I will leave you with a few photos and this observation. All the hustling, cocaine, eccentric wealthy people, hyper-sexuality, exploitation, fantasies made and broken dreams you see on the movies exists. It's all true.
Eyes Wide Shut Party (More photos - Warning: Not Safe For Work!)
Free concert at Duomo - Avril Lavigne and Black Eyed Peas
Beautiful girls at Cavalli club
Going to castings