Blogs from Lombardy, Italy, Europe - page 7

Yesterday was the travelling day. We stayed near Heathrow overnight so it only took a few minutes to get to the terminal. The trip through to Milan was easy and we collected our baggage and headed for the espresso machine in the arrivals area. We were delayed leaving the airport as some of the party we were travelling with had lost their luggage so we did not get to the hotel until after 6pm. Then it was a rush to get the ski equipment for JJ before dinner and bed. The morning came with sunshine and a light dusting of snow and the mountains dominated the view from the bedroom window. The ski lifts opened at 8.30 and we were on the slopes, all breakfasted, by 9.00. The nearest lift is behind the hotel opposite so ... read more

The excitement is now growing as it is one week before we fly off to ski. Okay, so the picture is wrong but we have never been to Aprica before so it will be a new experience for all. The skis are down from the loft and we are beginning to plan the packing.... read more

The snow of Sunday had turned to heavy rain. We walked swiftly to the metro to keep dry and set sail for Bergamo. Napoleon would have had no bother flooding the Arena Civica today - it was that wet. We were getting to be regulars at Porto Garibaldi railway station and headed upstairs to the main ticket office area, where we knew there were a vast array of train ticket machines to choose from. We bought our single tickets to Bergamo for 5.50 Euros. Despite the slight delay in venturing to the upper area of the station to get the tickets, we still managed to catch the regional express. The train was delayed marginally and the platform inexplicably changed about 2 minutes before departure. The passengers rapidly relocated to avoid disappointment - queue lots of similar ... read more

I put forward a series of options to the Man in the Middle. As always, there is a wild card. He often likes the wild card. The prospect of a trip to the San Siro loomed. The Queen of the East Midlands is now well used to groups of Italians paying homage. Juventus fans make much of their famous black and white stripes - stripes inspired by and borrowed from the Meadow Lane gang. They even chose the said NG2 residents to play in their centenary match. Champions of Serie A versus a sub standard Football League team - and the cannon fodder guests even had the audacity to pinch a late equaliser. However, the more plentiful recent visitors have been from Milan. A C Milan to be precise. A local Mansfield Road lad left his ... read more

Early start to Manchester airport for flight to Milan, good flight chatting to lots of nice people, one man and his son were on there way there for one night to see the Milan football match. About a 25 minute bus journey into the city and then a 20 minute walk to hotel, literally dumped our bags and went site seeing. Found the Duomo what a beautiful building can never understand how they could build buildings like that all those years ago without the machines we have now and yet today it takes us months to build a big standard house????? Walked round the square there had been a charity run on for cancer so lots of ladies in pink t shirts. Stopped for ..... quess what???? Pizza! Was really nice then just wondered through the ... read more