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Published: July 19th 2006
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Room
My awesomely tiny room! Blog 2
I’ve made it to Milan! I spent my first evening here (and en route) surrounded by what appeared to be an Italian high school adventure to Ireland. It was amazing. They all looked alike, and they were all SO loud. Some things do not change from country to country. However, once I reached Milan, I realized that most Italians really are that loud, all the time. And I don’t just mean the ones who shout ‘Ciao bella, salve!’ from their windows or scooters. Most, in general could be heard across the continent. And that hasn’t helped me feel more confident speaking their language.
However, I did get some good use of French in. I thought I would just die when Luca, the guy who offered to help me find my hotel, didn’t speak english well at all. But, then he said “Tu parle français?” and I said ‘Yes, indeedy- do!’ and we were off. We found my hotel in pretty good time and I got checked in. After agreeing to at least take his phone number, I thanked him, in French, and went to Room 1. There are some photos of my room here. It’s tiny (Maybe, MAYBE
Duomo Facade
This was impressive, to say the least. 10 feet wide) but is plenty of room for me and my stuff. It was so lovely to sit on something other than an airport chair. For 9 hours.
I should back up.
In Shannon Airport there are no lockers. None. Not for small bags, and certainly not for big ones. So, rather than lug both of my bags around the replica of a 15th century town, I opted to do a bunch of emailing and updating of the blog. A good thing, since I am finding less and less internet availability as I go along here. Shannon airport was fascinating. The people watching was awesome. Also, i think I saw someone I know. Like, from America. Weird. So, i watched people and cars from the windows and wandered around a good deal before almost missing my flight due to unreadability of the flight ticket assigner’s handwriting.
I spent my second day wandering around the city. It is STUNNING. The most amazing thing, really, is the scale of the buildings in proportion to the amount of open space. It is almost equal. Truly this citta is a sight to behold. Even though I spent the day sleeping
Street
Walking in Milan. Yeah, they have streets of marble. WAY in (I rolled out of bed around noon), I managed to get to both the Duomo and the Castello Sforzesco today. I didn’t wander into the Parco Sempione, but I got into the Egyptian wing of the Museo d’Arta Anticain the Castello. Really amazing stuff. I ate a delicous hot sandwich from a vender. Also, prior to the castle, but after the Duomo, I wandered around the town with a palm reading hermaphrodite. Yes, you read correctly. Not only was a he a palm reader (for 10 euro. . .) but he was a crazy man. . .woman? However, he was very kind and very funny and he showed me many of the sights of the town. He took me to a wishing well, and to the castle and told me I should visit the man made mountain that over looks the entire citta. I’m supposed to meet him at the well at 1:00 pm tomorrow to go to the mountain. We’ll see. If I don’t show up, he says, he will still love me and keep my smile in his heart forever. Right. I left the Castello, got some gelato and headed home.
So, things are going well,
Duomo inside
It just got better and better! I think. I am going to take a bus tour tomorrow and get my train ticket to Ravenna. I cannot wait to see Park and the show!
Day 2 in Milan
I could not sleep last night! I think I finally dozed off around 3:30 AM. Not good when I had a tour booked for the morning. I woke up at 6 to get ready, thinking I would have breakfast, but could not figure out where breakfast was served. Strange. And tomorrow I leave too early. Ah, well. There’s always Ravenna. Speaking of which, buying a ticket for Ravenna was pretty fun. Why don’t we have bright yellow machinas with interactive ticket screens for our train stations? Oh, right. . .
So, my tour was great. I booked it mainly because when Park got here, one of the first things he told me was that The Last Supper had been sold out for months, and was for months from now, as well. But while in the Ufficio Turistico, I read a brochure for a tour with ‘Guaranteed Admission to the Last Supper.’ I said, SIGN ME UP. Not to mention a guided tour of the Duomo, Theatre alla Scala, and the Castello Sforzesca. I saw the Duomo and the Castello yesterday, but seeing them with information being introduced in a whole new world. For instance, did you know that the Duomo is the third largest church in the world (only after the Vaican and a basilica in Spain)? Or perhaps that there is only one part of the structure that appears to be made of marble which is not? The ceiling of one of the aisles is painted to look like carved marble, but the rest is imported marble, built over five centuries of additions. Incredible. Or perhaps, did you know that Giuseppe Verdi was so valued by the people of Milano and the patrons of L Scala, that they kept the last menu he ate before his death?? That’s love. The Last Supper looks like crap. I mean that lovingly. It’s been through a lot: bombings, weather, a door being cut through by monks who didn’t know any better. . . But it is incredible. For those of you who don’t know, The Last Supper is not on canvas, nor is it actually a painting. It is a fresco, on the wall of a church, Santa Maria delle Grazie. It’s a faux fresco, actually, which is why it looks like crap. The colors don’t stick. And Jesus has no feet because some monks wanted better access to their kitchen. Seriously.
Gotta get packed and get to sleep. Early morning ahead of me. More once I reach Ravenna!
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john h pilling
non-member comment
here in boston enjoying your comments
Your dad turned me onto your blog. I'm not a regular fan. Still can't figure out why you did Italy by way of Ireland. Was the air fare that much better? Sadly, I think the era of lockers in public places is in the past for us now.