Milan


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Europe » Italy » Lombardy » Milan
March 20th 2010
Published: March 21st 2010
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We REALLY enjoyed our time in Venice and could have stayed longer, but the end of our trip was quickly approaching and we still wanted to see Milan before catching our flight out. The train ride to Milan wasn't very long -- maybe about 2 1/2 hours or so on the high speed train.

When we got to Milan we had our usual argument about how we would get from the train station to the hotel -- I wanted to take the metro and Michelle wanted to take a cab. We took a cab.

For the first time on our whole trip we questioned the Rick Steeves' guide. All of the recommendations in the guide have been great so far. However, the Hotel Vecchia Milano is a total dump! The place was dark, dingy, dusty and smelled awful. There were dead spiders in the shower. They tried to mask the smell in the room with even grosser-smelling air fresheners. The first thing Michelle did was throw the air fresheners out the window. The circa-1975 television had 4 channels and only one volume level (full blast). We spent 20 minutes trying to figure out how to turn the tv off
Venice Train StationVenice Train StationVenice Train Station

Bags packed and waiting for our train at the Venice train station.
and just couldn't do it. Eventually we unplugged it. What up Rick? Your guide needs an update.

We planned to be at Hotel Vecchia for two nights. However, after one night of hell with the light from the hotel sign blazing into our window we were done with the Vecchia. We quickly packed our bags in the a.m. and headed to the lobby to cancel the second night. They wouldn't give us a refund (apparently they had already paid the parent company. Really? There's a PARENT company that owns this disaster?). Whatever. We paid them the full rate for both nights and ran out of there -- that's how bad it was. We found another very lovely hotel -- the Hotel Regina -- right down the street and are MUCH happier here. The Hotel Regina has a pillow menu from which you can choose 5 different kinds of pillows!!! ahhhhh....

It's rainy here in Milan so we've done very little sightseeing. We did get a chance to check out the Duomo and the Galleria. Both were pretty neat to see. We made a stop at Zucca's in the Galleria to have their world-famous Campari drinks - I had
The DumpThe DumpThe Dump

This was the view from our window at the smelly hotel.
Campari and soda. It was very good, though sort of an aquired taste and just something you have to try when at Zucca's. Also, I twirled my heel on the pig mosaic for good luck.

One more day in Italy then off to London for one night before heading home...fingers are crossed that our BA flight home will not be cancelled!


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Window shoppingWindow shopping
Window shopping

Michelle drooling over the LV handbag in the window.
CampariCampari
Campari

Campari drinks at Zucca's. Yummy!
Piazza DuomoPiazza Duomo
Piazza Duomo

The square in front of the Duomo. Huge screen showing the paralympics.


24th March 2010

Can't wait to hear more!
Loved reading all about your adventures and seeing pictures. Made me want to go back to Venice, my favorite Italian city! Looking forward to getting together in person to hear more. Welcome home!

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