Memorable Moments From Milan 2019

The 102nd International Convention of Lions Clubs was held at Milan in July

The 102nd International Convention of Lions Clubs International (LCI) was held at Milan, Italy, on July 5 to 9 this year. Milan is the leading financial centre and the most prosperous manufacturing and commercial city of Italy. Along with London, Paris and New York, it is one of the four fashion capitals of the world, home to iconic brands such as Prada, Versace and Dolce & Gabbana. Celebrated artist and polymath, Leonardo Da Vinci, spent 17 years of his life in this city and some of his best works were created here. Not surprisingly, Milan is a very smart city with a mix of well-preserved old buildings and contemporary architecture, narrow cobbled streets and broad tree-lined avenues. Coming from India, one of the first things that strikes your attention is the preponderance of small cars on the roads, almost like what you would see in India. Indeed, I have never seen more of tiny, two-door cars than what I saw in Italy.

I was in Milan for ten days from July 3 to 13 because, as a candidate standing for election to the position of International Director of Lions Clubs International, there was a lot of work to be done in meeting leaders and delegates, and campaigning for votes. With Europe going through an unprecedented heatwave, Milan, unfortunately, was no exception. Day time temperatures were quite high and hotter than even Kerala, something we had not looked forward to. However, visiting to Italy in the peak of summer also has advantages as we discovered soon. The day dawns early and you get daylight extending up to nearly ten o'clock in the night, a boon to tourists on a short trip trying to take in as many sights as possible.