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Published: February 18th 2011
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7.2.2011 - Levanto
View of Levanto from bicycle ride to next village Monday 7th February to Sunday 13th February 2011.
Monday 7th February 2011.
Levanto.
Lazy day – borrowed a bicycle from Paul and Louise – too big for us girls so Tom rode it, Nearly got a nose bleed !! We rode to the next village and went into a local tourist restaurant.
Tuesday 8th February 2011
Levanto
Tom stayed in bed all day to try and break his sore throat and nose cold he has. Us girls went shopping. Megan bought a shawl/throw over – looking more European each day.
Wednesday 9th February 2011.
Levanto
Up early and off to station to get 8.27am train to Viareggio and then onto another train to Lucca. Well the train was 20 minutes late, so we missed the connection. Had to wait another 2 hours for next one. Aarghhh. So we walked into Viareggio to look around until the next train arrived. Tom bought new boots and sun glasses and Megan bought more clothing. Back to station to get the next train to Lucca. As we got there at lunch time nearly everything was closed. Went into a bicycle rental shop and they gave us a map and then we went
9.2.2011 - Lucca
Megan in one of the Plazas looking for tourist information. They were shut for lunch or winter – not sure which. So changed plans and went to the Koine school of Italian Language. Talked to Isabella and all good. She said the local barber is the man to see for bicycle riding and she will introduce Tom to him when we return April.
Did some more walking and Tom found 2 bikes shops – one said every Sunday at 9am they do a 70km ride with around 50 riders – so Tom a happy chappy.
It was starting to get late so we headed back to the station. Had to get train to La Spezia and then onto intercity train – it was not what we had ticket for – but who cares as it was high speed and only one stop for us. Next thing along comes ticket inspector and asks for tickets. She tells us we were on wrong train and we plead innocent and tell her the lady in ticket office said to get this one – she smiles (like a ‘I don’t believe you’) and leaves , so we finally get home about 7.15pm. A long day but a great outcome with
10.2.2011 - Levanto
Megan getting stuck into a chocolate mousse - her chocolate fix the Koine school.
Thursday 10th February 2011.
Levanto / Milan.
Packed up and headed out for Milan. An easy drive as we went along the toll road and through some nice mountain scenery.
We found campsite OK, called Citta di Milan, and set up on a dirt patch with steps onto a concrete paver so that if it rains it is not in mud. The normal is to park on pavers and walk in dirt which is NTB.
So next in comes another motorhome – up on concrete behind us (note there about 75 other free camping sites around), they parked so close that we cannot even remove the bikes from the back of the van – so will wait and see. Tom will get the management to move them, but probably will not need to get bikes off as the weather is cold and next to a garbage tip and we also think an abattoir – so it stinks.
Friday 11th February 2011.
Milan.
Into town and got off at the station ‘Duomo’, as the tourist map showed that was where the tourist information office was supposed to be. We couldn’t find it and asked around. It
11.2.2011 - Milan
Galleria Vittoria Emanuele II has moved about ¾ km away. The Piazza del Duomo is very large with many tourists and people just hanging around. Right at the Piazza is the Cathedral Duomo, the 3rd largest church in the world after St. Peter’s and the Cathedral of Seville. We went in for a look around. The sun shining through the magnificent stained glass windows was very beautiful. We then went for a stroll through the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Many elegant and fashionable shops and cafes. We then headed for the tourist information and bought the bus tour tickets. We will use them tomorrow. Megan bought 2 shopping tour bus tickets for her and Gaye for Monday. After lots of walking and looking around and then lunch, we went to the National Museum of Science and Technology. As the museum was closing in 1¼ hours and they said we would need 2 hours for the visit, they sold us the tickets for €4 instead of €10, so we headed straight for The Leonardo Da Vinci Gallery to see the models of his machines etc. He did sketches in 1500’s of a loom for weaving – 300 years before it became reality. Who knows why
they never looked into his drawings.
We then headed to The La Scala Opera House to see if we could get tickets for the ballet – no luck as they had been sold in advance, so home for dinner and a movie on the computer.
Saturday 12th February 2011.
Milan.
Into town late and did the bus tour of Milan with a visit to La Triennale di Milano – the Design Museum. They had a gallery of sections of movies playing portraying the significance of hats and how they are used and the emotions related to them. They played quite a few old movies of which Megan was fascinated. Tom and I already knew the movies – must be getting older !!
We walked over to the Sforzesco Castle, which is now divided into many museums. We were going to do a tour, but as it was so big, we felt there would not be enough time, so decided to do it tomorrow. There was a fun fair next to the castle, and Megan stayed there to go on some rides, but changed her mind. Off home we go.
Sunday 13th February 2011.
Milan
Tom and I (Gaye)
headed into town to go to the Sforzesco Castle. Megan stayed at home to catch up on things she needed to do. Not too many people at the castle as it was raining lightly. We spent 3 hours looking at the different museums within it – very interesting.
So, when we finished we headed to the piazza Metro to meet Megan. The piazza was jammed with people. The local women had organized a rally against the Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, due to the girls, under 18 years of age, he has bedded. One local said ‘the Prime Minister has made Italy the laughing stock of the EU and the world.’
We were meant to meet Megan at the Metro, but they ended up closing the station for safety reasons. Her train is stopped by emergency, so she is lost. Luckily a gentleman – who had worked for Hardy’s in Australia, spoke English and escorted her to the tram and through the crowd to us. She looked a little frazzled and then relieved to see us. We were so grateful to the gentleman. We got his business card to keep in touch with him.
Off to the Metro to get train
13.2.2011 - Milan
The Sforzesco Castle Fountain with Castle in the background to another station and then walk to the church of Santa Marie Della Passione to listen to an organ recital. These are free on the 2nd Sunday of each month. It was good acoustics, but so cold sitting listening. The church was large with a massive dome over the organ and seat. The recital only went for an hour. Luckily, as if it went any longer we would have frozen.
So home we head. Too tired to cook tea so into Pizza Restaurant for basic and local food.
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