Let's go to sunny Italy and warm up!

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Leaving Dublin for the southern-most Celtic city, Milano! Yes, the Celts -we can't get away from them. Hoping for more charm than grime, Italy delivers! Mercifully we land right between Men's fashion week and Women's fashion week. Ok, Italians are beautful enough as they are, so is the language, the food, the weather, ahhh. La Dolce Vita!

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Photos

Jet view 1
Something tells me we're not in Ireland anymore. Look, there's a town down there!

Alps from above 2
Bright and clear early morning flight rewards us with stunning views over the Alps. Nice to be heading south though!

Alps from above 3
Short haul flights to 'The' continent by Aer Lingus have been fine so far - clean new jets, efficient, on-time, and named for var. Saints! Fares the same one-way or R/T so we try fling into one city and out of the other. Milan directly south of Zurich so ez train ride back.

Milano! Centrale Stazione
We actually arrive via airport bus to the station. More impressive than picture informs. Much bombed and reconstructed - work continues. Our hotel (http://www.hotelberna.com/) only 200 metres away. Nice to see dry pavement. We stand staring up at the sun until pink! We encounter communication difficulites from the start--man at booth in airport for city bus tickets does not seem to know what we want or why - we miss bus. Hotel clerk doesn't want to try English but we manage on my 10 words of Italian. Most service personnel from more exotic lands DO communicate in English. Not a pretty language.

n@ Castello Sforzesco
Our day of sightseeing begins with a long walk thru town to the castle. Mainly bank/industrial bldg.s near hotel with grande and grimy fascist porticos. Surroundings improve dramatically towards city centre. Charming cafes in Brera (main museo) area but seating competitive on a sunny Sat. aft.

Castello interior
We skip the many museums and board open air bus out front to loop around the city a few times while the sun shines.

Mussolini's lookout tower
Otherwise lovely city parco (Sempione). Would love to have seen the industrial arts museo (next time?!)

Typical apt. bldg.
All well shuttered. Sunflower mosaics tiles on upper floor. Milan not as pretty as most Italian cities but big enough to find nice nooks.

Furs crossing
A typical Milanese couple crossing a typical street -finely healed, groomed, and furred!

More shopping
Corso Buenos Aires - the busiest shopping area of the city, but not really the nicest.

Monumental
Yet another significant monument to???-just try not to get run over!

1st peek at the Duomo
Impressed already. Traffic creeps along to get there though.

Piazza in front of Duomo
We've arrived and join, what seems to be all of Milan! After touring the incredibly cold, dark yet grande interior we climb the many, many steps to the roof.

Dolphin gargoyle
Now that's some carvery! Not even at the top yet, whew.

N on 'the' roof.
Up close and personal and high with the High Renaissance. N immitates the gargoyles.

Duomo roof 2 and Rinascente
Looking down, down and across to the fabulous Queen of department stores - Rinascente, with rooftop cafe.

Duomo roof 3 and e
Catching breath with all the other many tourists. Room for all and endless details to view.

Duomo rooftop crest
The place to be on a sunny day! Just realizing it's a little slippery, no guard rails, only gargoyles to cling to.

E and BB on roof
Now put that Blackberry away!

Basilica of San Satiro
Bramante's small church was the subject of a graduate school lecture in situ back in 1988 - can't remember all that much now!

San Satiro Birro
Stopped for much needed refreshment. First drooled @ Peck deli windows nearby but food too beautiful to eat! Realizing we've been on the road since Dublin (in the early a.m.). Birra grosso is twenty dollero tho!

Comments

[Hakan Karaagac]

Milan in all its beauty
Hey Nirkeen, Milan truly is a fabulous city as made apparent by the pictures that you have on your blog! The Duomo is magnificent isn’t it? We were lucky enough to wonder around in the evening and found that the Duomo looked even better in the dark as you can see on my blog. Did u spend much time in Milan? Hakan

[Julie]

Grand Travels in Europe
Looks like fun times and a few adventures...the bonus of a year abroad. California has been rainy recently..perhaps not unlike life in Dublin. We need the rain..but it would have been better during Nov-Jan when it was cold..cold..cold. get it over with. We're off to Cancun tomorrow for a week...with our friends Pam and Ted..not nearly as exotic as your travels..oh..well ..the margaritias should be good.. Thanks for sharing Julie