Good morning and welcome aboard this Faster Lane around-the-world journey, an intensive global transit expedition that takes travelers by rail from Zürich to Milan, by air across to Paris, back onto the rails to London, and subsequently onward by air to Austin, Hong Kong, Manila, back through Hong Kong, and up to Fukuoka. From there, the itinerary continues via the shinkansen network to Kobe, Osaka, and Tokyo, before transitioning from the glittering lights of Ginza straight to the plane bound for Bangkok. After a brief return leg heading back up to Hong Kong, across to Paris, and finally back to Zürich, the entire loop spans a compressed 24-day schedule.
Operating entirely on a carry-on-only basis, this voyage leaves no room for baggage carousels or lost luggage complications, while factoring in four nights spent entirely in-flight.
Milan Part One
On Monday evening, the journey pulled into Milano Centrale following a swift and efficient Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) transit through the mountains, across valleys, and alongside the lakes of Ticino. For three decades, the arrival protocol in Milan has remained entirely consistent. Whether traveling by rail or air, a dedicated driver named Mario has unfailingly been on hand to greet travelers, navigating the streets of Milan, crossing Lombardy, heading down to Forte dei Marmi, or climbing up to St Moritz.
When arriving by train, the established drill requires hanging a right after the platforms, descending the stairs, making a left, crossing the street, and scanning for the waiting Mercedes-Benz E-Class. On Monday, the routine played out precisely as it had for thirty years—until the rear door was pulled open to reveal Enzo rather than Mario.
"Signor Tyler," he began, "I’m so sorry that it’s me driving you today, but Mario has retired. I’m going to be driving you from now on."
As Enzo stowed the luggage in the boot and the vehicle merged into the evening traffic bound for the Four Seasons, the moment provided an instant flash-forward to the summer of 1996. It prompted immediate reflection on the countless times that identical journey had been repeated. How many times had Mario inquired about family members like Mama and Nonna? How many times had they pulled up in front of high-end fashion houses including Armani, Prada, Gucci, and Moncler for a fashion show, industry party, or corporate meeting? Most importantly, the transition underscored a profound sense of gratitude to Signor Mario for ensuring safe passage to early morning flights out of Malpensa, for bending every conceivable rule of the Codice della Strada, and for consistently delivering passengers, family members, and colleagues safely, comfortably, and precisely on schedule.
Milan Part Two
The shifting landscape of Milan extends far beyond personnel changes in private transport services. The structural realities of high-end retail are also undergoing a dramatic recalibration.
"In three to four years, we will no longer be in the e-commerce business," revealed the chief executive officer of a major Italian luxury group during discussions in the city. "Our focus will be fully on physical retail and hospitality."
This strategic pivot underscores a broader retreat from digital storefronts among elite legacy brands, emphasizing the irreplaceable value of brick-and-mortar flagships and immersive physical experiences in sustaining luxury consumer loyalty.
Milan Part Three
Culinary developments in the Lombardy capital are similarly reflecting international influences. Indochine, a dining institution originally famed in New York, has officially thrown open its doors within Giorgio Armani’s building on Via Manzoni, establishing an immediate and welcome addition to the city’s restaurant scene. While Milan’s traditional culinary institutions remain foundational, after four consecutive nights of rich risotto, heavy pasta dishes, and assorted local classics, a refreshing plate of Vietnamese spring rolls offers a remarkably welcome change of pace.
Milan Part Four
Yet, beneath the polished surface of fashion showcases and new restaurant launches, deeper societal fractures remain visible across the urban landscape. The images of widespread protests and civil unrest that swept across Europe weeks prior told only a fraction of the broader story. While international media coverage remained intensely focused on the unfolding events in Paris, the sheer scale of mindless destruction visible in Milan came as a profound shock.
Across various commercial corners of the city, retail shops and financial institutions remained heavily boarded up. Construction crews were actively installing new steel shutters, large replacement walls of glass were being fitted into place, and elderly shopkeepers could be seen scrubbing stubborn graffiti from their facades. Everywhere, tangible signs suggested that something had gone fundamentally wrong, not only within Italy but across Europe more broadly.
Milan Part Five
Turning on the television offered further insight into the social friction, capturing an investigative report on a rolling news channel that focused on rioters and looters injured by tear-gas canisters, water cannons, and rubber bullets. The overarching editorial tone suggested that modern crowd and riot control methods deployed by authorities were excessively heavy-handed.
Such framing invites critical perspective. Independent business owners, tax-paying citizens, and residents who prioritize baseline law and order are likely to view the situation entirely differently, harboring zero sympathy for individuals engaged in looting who sustained injuries while ransacking commercial retail establishments.
Paris
The visual legacy of civil disruption is equally striking upon arriving in the French capital. Reflecting on the journey into Paris from Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) over the past decade, the logistics warehouses and outer suburbs have historically never presented an aesthetically pleasing welcome. Today, however, the approach has transformed into an endless corridor of defaced surfaces.
In the wake of the recent riots, that corridor now snakes deeply into the interior of the city. Landing in Paris prompted an inescapable sense of frustration regarding the extensive damage inflicted, alongside lingering questions regarding the timeline required for the city to recover from shattered streetscapes, derelict shop spaces, scorched architectural cavities, and broken public infrastructure.
While substantial portions of the French capital appear completely normal and remain entirely unscathed, the plight of small businesses across the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd arrondissements that will never reopen remains a pressing concern. One potential solution frequently debated involves asking France’s largest corporate entities and affluent family dynasties to pitch in and assist with the immense cleanup and rebuilding efforts. Yet critics quickly and rightly point out that these corporations already contribute substantial sums in state taxes, placing the ultimate responsibility squarely on lawmakers to establish a firmer grip on public order and civic stability.
London
By contrast, arriving in London provides an overwhelming sense of calm compared to the turbulence experienced on the Continent. The atmosphere inside a busy Midori House reflects standard pre-holiday efficiency as the December and January issue heads steadily toward the printing press. The city itself is steadily getting gussied up for the Christmas season, offering seasonal bites and Basque bubbles at Maset, alongside a super-comfortable stay at the St Clement. Further local engagement continues with the upcoming Christmas market weekend scheduled to begin on December 12.
