Milano, Italy

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Milano.... The world fashion capital and capital of shit food! It is quite ironic that people in $3,000.00 Versace suits queue up in McDonalds because the cuisine here is limited and tasteless if you can even find it! Oh well, it gives some relief to our ever-increasing waist lines!

Our accommodation was very central in apartments overlooking the main pedestrian shopping mall. A bit like Hay Street but a great deal nicer! From our balcony, the imposing Gothic Duomo (cathedral), with over 3,000 statues, was only a stone's throw away. It was great in that everything was accessible and within walking distance. The highlight of our stay in Milan was going to see Da Vinci's "The Last Supper", made even more famous by Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code. You have to book months in advance to have a 15 min guided tour (in groups of 20) of the painting. At first we tried the internet, no luck. Next we tried phoning, and couldn't get through, no luck. So instead we thought we would go in person and try our luck! On the thirty min walk there, in blistering heat, I practiced my acting skills, ready to put on some waterworks should we be refused entry, even resorting to dribbling if that would help my cause!!! But alas, none of that was needed, because for some reason, apparently I am very special and can wing these things. We didn't even have to pay, we were just ushered in straight away! And it was amazing. We had to go through numerous climate controlled chambers before entering the main room which was vast and empty except for this incredible huge deteriorating painting across one end of the room. We were surprised to see that the painting was not on a canvas as we had expected but instead was simply painted straight on to this large wall. The guide explained every detail of the painting in full, every facial expression, hand position, body movement - it all had meaning even if you are not into that sort of thing! It was incredibly interesting. So far we have conquered great works of art and sculpture such as The Mona Lisa, Statue of David, Sistine Chapel and numerous others but this took the cake!

I made a day trip to Verona, the setting of Romeo and Juliet and it was a beautiful, romantic little place. We also went across the border into Switzerland one day for some shopping at factory outlets.

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Photos

Verona - Juliet's Balcony
"Romeo, oh Romeo. Where for art thou Romeo?"