Blogs from Milan, Lombardy, Italy, Europe - page 13

Rest day today, enough said!... read more

After 34 hours of total traveling time...we have arrived in Milan a city where even the coke tins are tall and skinny. We staggered out of the airport and tackled our first attempt at communicating with the locals where it became apparent I should have studied some Italian!!! However, the Italian man quickly adapted to our technology ways and read the address of our hotel off our iPhone. Problem sorted. At least he didn't lock the doors as expienced in my last big adventure overseas to Peru. He did make full use of the autobahn set your own speed limit rule and hurtled along at 140+ most of the way to Marcus' delight. Having freshened up, we headed out to check out our surrounds. More encounters with the locals, my first ristreto a traditional pizza and ... read more

I arrive in Milan eager to achieve the agenda I have set forth for this city. I have a couple of very important things I wish to accomplish while here. I want to visit and view the painting of The Last Supper which was painted by Leonardo Da Vinci, and I want to tour the Duomo di Milano. I make my way from the train station to try to find the hostel that I have booked. As it always seems, I get a little crossed up with the directions, but after a fifteen minute or so walk (the directions say short walk - I suppose this is short), I find the hostel. Of course I was early, and after a pretty long wait to check in, I was told that I couldn't go to my room ... read more

Milan was simply an entry point. It just happened to be the closest city to Trieste into which Icelandair flies. Before I landed I had, I must admit, little intrinsic interest in seeing Milan. In my head it was associated with snobbish fashionista types – so very unlike me. Of course, I knew there were sights to be seen, just as in any Italian city. Indeed, Italy seems to have a surfeit outstanding urban centers to explore; it can be overwhelming just to think about it. But Milan wasn’t high on my list of Italian urban centers to see. I should have known, then, that it would surprise me. By this point in my traveling career, I know, if not always put into practice, that I should not approach a new place with preconceived notions of ... read more

July 12: Wow! Last night made the night of fire alarms at the Heathrow (so called) comfort Inn seem like paradise. My stomach cramps came back with a fury! They'd get worse and worse till eventually I'd be woken by them and have to go and do... something unpleasant toilet-wise. Then at one point when I was well asleep (no easy task with people partying loudly through the night, even to the point where the rubbish trucks and street sweepers had started up) I got a phone call at about 4am from the NZ blood service asking if I was free to donate plasma... obviously not their fault because (a) they didn't know I was on the other side of the world and (b) I do usually turn my phone off at night, but still grrr. ... read more