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Published: June 15th 2019
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It’s Saturday – parkrun day. Today we’re going to Milano Nord parkrun in Milano Nord Park. This morning’s run has pros and cons. Pros: (1) it’s a scenic route (2) it’s flat (3) the participants are of diverse ability, so I’m not on my own at the back and have someone to follow. Cons: (1) there are a lot of other park users to avoid (2) my knee hurts (3) my lack of fitness due to injury (4) it’s bloody hot. But I persevere and make it to the finish line. There was supposed to be water but the fast runners have drunk it all. I hobble off to the supermarket dehydrated and grumpy.
For breakfast I buy spoonable Gorgonzola. Cheese you can eat with a spoon! I love Italy. We return to the hotel and I have Gorgonzola and blueberry jam sandwiches. Literally the best breakfast ever.
Our hotel room has a bath. It seems like a good idea until afterwards, when I realise I don’t know how to get out one legged. But I find a way. I’m hoping to advance a few more years before I need help in the bathroom.
In the afternoon we
take the Metro into Milan. Outside, the temperature is 31 degrees. The train is like a sauna on wheels. The lady opposite keeps wiping the sweat off her face with a tissue. She started the journey with pencilled eyebrows. By the time we arrive, she looks like Harry Potter’s nan.
We arrive in the main square, next to the enormous Milan cathedral with its 135 spires and 3400 statues. You need to queue to get a ticket to join the queue to buy a ticket to queue to get in. Finally, we make it into the cathedral, which is all carved pillars and stained glass.
Back outside, there is a lot of noise in the piazza. We go and investigate – it’s the Milan Rally Show. The competitors and their vehicles are all lined up. Italian Stig appears to be among them.
We continue to the Museo del Novecento; a modern art gallery in a stone building with a large glass spiral staircase running through the centre. You work your way up the galleries. The artwork appears to have been ordered from best to worst.
It’s been a long day so we decide to head back
towards the hotel in search of pizza and beer.
Leaving Milan is complicated. We need €1.90 interurban tickets but accidentally purchase €2.00 intraurban tickets (or maybe the other way round – I’m not sure) Anyway, our tickets don’t work in the turnstiles next to the machine that dispenses them. We are sent to the office to swap tickets. After filling in some paperwork, we must pay €1.70 to change 2 x €2 tickets for 3 x €1.90 tickets. We don’t want 3 tickets, but the cashier explains that they can’t give refunds and their books must balance, so we must buy a superfluous ticket. There is a full and frank exchange of views. The old man accuses them of robbing tourists. We are asked to leave.
We return to our hotel, via a pizzeria. Our weekend in Milan has been interesting but exhausting.
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