Is it worth it? Hell yes!

There are 3 main ways in which I can get to school each morning. Each of them is rather different and is appealing in its own way:

1. Take the 61 (which is a bus) directly from front of my house to the front of school (Duration of journey: 45-50 mins with traffic)
2. Take the 54 (another bus) for about 5 stops, then take the metro (aka the underground or the subway in most normal countries) for 3 stops and then take the 50 (another bus) directly to school (Duration of journey: 40-45 mins with traffic)
3. Take the 54 for 5 stops, then take the metro for the whole way and then the 95 (another bus) for 3 stops directly to school (Duration of journey: 30-35 mins)

Now for the advantages and the disadvantages of each route. From the above description surely route 1 seems like the most viable option for most people and it was the same to me for the last 3 years). But I have realized that as people get older, they become more and more complacent and it is those 5 mins that make the biggest difference between getting to school on time or getting a black cross in the late register (Btw, the rule is that if you have more than 2 unjustified lates you're supposed to be in detention but exceptions are made for us nerds where teachers turn a blind eye to our forged notes with feeble excuses that say 'My daughter is late because she was not feeling well and got up later than usual')

So route 1 became out of question this year when I realized that my nerd status has certain limitations to the amount of time one can use the same excuse. The next most viable option definitely is route 3, in fact it is much better than route 1 because it really gets you to school on time with hardly any traffic. One of the only disadvantages of this route apart from changing public transport 3 times is that the 95 is the MOST unreliable form of public transport one can ever come across. Trudging early in the morning from the metro station to school is definitely out of question because of my laziness.

That brings me to route 2. I love route 2. I know, it sounds rather weird because the time taken for me to get to school is hardly any different from route 1. But its those vital 5 mins that make a difference everyday. Its just 3 stops by the metro, and then the 50. I think the 50 is the only reason why I love route 2. I get to sit in the bus most of the times and the 50 passes throughout the old city centre of Milan. Whatever qualms I have against Italy and Milan in general, one thing I have agree is that it has a beautiful, old city centre. This bus even passes across some of the big, ancient churches in the city. The buildings are so old, European and just beautiful. I always love to see the juxtaposition between the old buildings and the modern shops with neon lights like Nike, Footlocker, Benetton or even McDonald's. Its not just Milan actually, most of the European cities are exactly like this. Some people find it rather ugly how globalisation has encroached upon the European culture and ruined the beauty of the old buildings there. I like to think that both neon lights and old buildings coexist harmoniouly alongside each other, each with its own allure. But that's just my poetic self I guess, I even think skyscrapers are imposing and beautiful rather than blocks of concrete as most people think of them. But, as usual I digress.

So therefore, I think that route 2 is the most favourable option even if it involves me getting to school almost late but not that late everyday. Its totally worth it!