MILAN, ITALY
I have the iPhone 15 and since I got it the alarm volume seems to be hit and miss. I set the hotel alarm clock for 3:55 a.m. as well. I needed to be sure to catch my 8:00 flight.
![Hilton Hotel](https://peaceonabike.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_1504-2-1024x768.jpg)
The alarms went off and I didn’t even hit snooze. I got up, grabbed my stuff, and checked out of the Hilton hotel. As I was checking out the clerk told me since I couldn’t grab breakfast at 4:00 a.m. to take something from their cooler. I grabbed a chicken and bacon sandwich which would become my dinner in Italy.
I headed for the airport. It was cold and raining. I was pretty confident I could find the airport but I had some angst about refueling. I stopped one mile short of the airport at a gas station. I pulled in and tried both credit cards and the pump did not like them. I continued on.
![](https://peaceonabike.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_1510-1024x768.jpg)
At the car rental was a gas station which could be part of the same business. I tried to insert the chip card and that did not work. I tried the tap or wave and it worked. I refilled the car.
It was windy although not as windy as yesterday. Sleet and some snow was coming down. There supposedly was a shuttle but I chose to walk the 10 minutes to the terminal rather than wait 10 minutes in the cold and sleet for a shuttle that may or may not come by.
![](https://peaceonabike.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_1514-1024x768.jpg)
Getting to and through security was a relatively quick affair. Once clear I saw a sign for the Saga Lounge. I hadn’t been thinking of lounge access and may not have thought of it on my own. I’m glad I saw the sign. I checked in and was able to have a nice Icelandic breakfast. And relax.
![](https://peaceonabike.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_1515-1024x768.jpg)
In the main terminal, the flight was on the board when I checked at 5:30. It was listed as 8:00 a.m. and “Gate Posted at 7:10 a.m.’ In the Saga lounge, the gate (C28) was posted. And when I went to the gate at 7:05 it was still stating that it would be posted at 7:10. Just a guess but the gate areas are smaller than most U.S. airports and they don’t want everyone showing up two hours earlier and milling around.
![](https://peaceonabike.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_1516-1024x768.jpg)
I monitored the status of my bike and could see that it was out at the plane when I boarded. The flight was nice. I sat in 1F and was able to connect to inflight Wifi the entire flight.
![](https://peaceonabike.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_1531-2-1024x768.jpg)
As I disembarked I went to the baggage claim area. One final check and I saw my bike was nearby. I exhaled.
![](https://peaceonabike.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_1550-1024x768.jpg)
Terminal 1 at Milan-Malpenso Airport is huge. I don’t know how far I walked but it was far.
I realized I did not know how to contact the shuttle for the hotel. Two guys from the bus company made the call for me.
![](https://peaceonabike.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_1554-1024x768.jpg)
Lodging is at the Doubletree by Hilton Milan Malpensa Solbiate Olona. When the driver picked me up he told me he would wait a couple of minutes for another passenger, Mr. Sherry. I told him that was me. He said I thought you were Mr. Barry. I assured him that somehow we got two reservations in there but just one passenger.
Recovery this morning was 8% on my Whoop band. I am very tired.