My administrivial task for today is to reload my ATM card... This is not my bank card for taking cash from the machine (here, called a bancomat), but is instead my Azienda Trasporti Milanesi card -- which grants me unlimited access to subways, trams (think SFO street cars), and city buses for a whopping 35 Euro per month. (For another 10 Euro per month I could take bicycles from point to point, but I haven't gathered the courage to bike yet.)
ATM has a fabulous app, which allows you to check the status of the transit system (very handy in a country where a transit strike is threatened once per month, and often doesn't materialize). You can find the closest transit option to you, plan routes, etc.
The absolute best feature, from my perspective, is the ability to check the status of the various transit offices throughout the city, see how many people are in line, and TAKE A TICKET on your phone!!! You don't even need to be there to take the ticket!!!!! This is very handy if you see there are already 100 people in line, and it will take you 15 minutes to get there. Additionally, you can refresh know the ticket number being called RIGHT NOW. You can pop out, have a caffe or gelato, and still be in line!!!!!
The only downside to the app, imho, is that while you can reload daily passes via the app, you cannot reload the monthly pass. For that you must go to the transit office, or -- and this is really interesting! -- you can reload from the bancomat machine of UniCredit bank! Wow.
So, there was no one in line... I took a paper ticket when I got there, I was third... and within 5 minutes, I'm on the road again for another month!
