Monday, June 27, 2011

The first three days

Day 1
Travel, travel and more travel. Plane, train and foot but we made it after missing a night's sleep. We are getting too old for all-nighters and Doreen made up for it the next day by sleeping the sleep of the dead.
Sunwing and a full plane but we did get the outside pair of seats on the right side. Worth the extra payment for the pre-booking. This plane was on loan from TransEuropean Airways and the crew was Italian. Couldn't see the movie but the meals were timely and adequate. Arrival at Rome, was on the cheap side - down the aircraft stairs and into buses took us into the passport control, one look at the passport and no stamp lead us into baggage claim and a long wait. Walking through the customs hall we declared nothing and hit the outside. Walking for miles we found the train station and the place to buy the tickets. One ticket took us to Milan via Rome. We had been to the Rome station before and knew the drill. Find the departures board and see which platform the train is at. This time the Milan train was a little late in getting on the board so a quick transfer was need but we did find seats 21 and 22 in car 9. being Italy one of the seats was already occupied by a person who just shrugged when hints were given out that she was in my seat, I sat in hers - no big deal. Arriving in Milan the hotel was found and we checked in, unpacked and then looked for food. Finding it across the square we ate a most expensive meal - the first meal is always the most expensive - the usual tourist mistake.
Day 2
Sleeping in on Sunday meant a late breakfast - good all the same. Buffet and the same stuff every day means that we will get the same for five days. Out of the hotel and off to explore. Back to the main station and a slow explore (we are here for a leisurely trip not a fast rush). A nice man at the bookstore told us how to navigate the transit system and we set off to find an automatic ticket machine for the subway. BUT this is where one learns. do not listen to anybody who tries to help you. One guy came up as we were navigating the automatic ticket machine. Proceeded to show us what we had figured out ansd said "money here" and ppointed to the coin slot, as soon as the money was in he rushed in and grabed the tickets out of the slot, gave them to us. He then had his hand in for the change and slipped a two euro piece of the two coin change into his hand and gave us the remaining one euro and said "change". Fast but efficient and an easy ripoff.
Downtown at the main square the tourist office was our destination. Signing up for a trip on Tuesday for the usual sights that included the impossible - a visit to the "Last Supper". This sight, the fresco painted by Leonardo DeVinci, has to be booked many weeks in advance as the authorities only allow a limited number of visitors in the room at any one time, "Can we see the Last Supper?" "Guaranteed" was the answer. We shall see, we still remain sceptical. Receiving advice that the Grand Canal was a good start for a days touristing we were told how to get there. "Take a #3 tram to Porrta Genova."


The number 3 tram took us to the place we wanted to go - a boat ride on the Grand Naviglia, one of the two remaining canals left in Milan. Walking to the boat place wenoticed a huge Flea market, one KM each side of the canal. It was the last Sunday of the month and that's when the vendors come out to sell antiques - interesting. The boat turned up after we had waited in the sun for 20 minutes, it was crammed when we all got on. Up and down the canal and then back to the start and another turn into the smaller canal. Reaching the lock Leonardo had designed we came back - 45 minutes in all and a hot and sweaty 40 minutes it was. Entering the first Cafe we saw a white wine and cold beer were in order. One cookie to go with it and no change from a 20 euro bill ($30.00).  Walking back to the tram stop Doreen mentioned that she was hungry, we had only eaten b'fast, so we looked around, came across a bar selling 'happy hour" - aperitivo and first drink 8 euro - a bloody bargain at the price. Friendly owner and a good time was had by all. With Dire Straits serenading us, and with cheap food and drink what could be better to finish off the day.

Day 3
After the same breakfast yesterday and the same as tomorrow, we set out for the "hopon hopoff" bus stops. These tours, and they have them in every major tourist town, are the best ways to get the lay of the land and identify what you may want to go back and see - at your leisure. In Milan ther are two loops -red and blue. The first one was blue so we got on. Ninety minutes later we had half the town scoped out. As the two lines intersected at the main square - the Duomo, we left the bus one side of theduomo and set off to meet the other bus. But there were major sights to be seen between the buses. Firstlly a coffee stop. Two Cafe Lattes and a sit down did the trick and perked us up. On the way back to the bus we stopped at the Cathedral, bought a couple of tickets, entered the lift and whizzed to the top of the building where we were allowed to walk on the roof: impressive. back down, some 30 minutes later we had to wait for the bus and a McDonalds sundae was the snack. Entered the bus and finished the red loop. This time there was a breeze blowing across the bus and it was not so uncomfortable, did we tell you Milan is having a heat-wave! Back to another McDonalds for a burger supper and then home for a shower. Tomorrow is the walking tour.

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