Out and About in Europe

Milan Pisa CQB Rostock Antwerp Amsterdam Brugges Paris

Milan, Italy - the plane really wasn't so bad... I had an exit seat to New York so lots of leg room.  I had a little trouble trying to find the terminal for my connecting flight... but I made it so no worries.  Unfortunately, I didn't have an exit seat on the way to Milan so I was a little cramped.  While mom was watching my flight go over the Atlantic, I was trying to find a way to stretch out without knocking the guy out next to me, who liked to talk A LOT.

Once there, I had no problem finding the train to get into Milan or finding the Metro (Subway) and tickets.  That's not to say I mastered it  - but I'm not too shabby.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 First thing I did in Milan was the Duomo and Duomo Square (Historic Center part of city).  The Duomo (pictured on left and below) was spectacular!  I walked up out of the Metro station and there's this HUGE old, gothic cathedral right there.... kinda crazy - but a wonderful way to start my trip.  I took my own little tour inside and went up onto the Terraces (great view of the Historic Area).

The Duomo was more than 500 years in the making (1386 to 1887) and dominates Milan’s central square. It is Italy’s largest and most intricate example of Gothic architecture and a tribute to five centuries of artists, artisans, architects, builders, engineers, wealthy and ordinary citizens who contributed to its construction.

I also went to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuelle II (inside and out pictured on Right).  It has a lot of cafes, restaurants and shops... and the building is very cool.

Painting (pictured on Left) is from the Brera Art Museum  which has a ton of Religious paintings.  It's said to be Milan's most outstanding museum and  is recognized as one of the major art collections in the world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

Then I headed to the Southeast part of the city where I got lost for a little bit (don't tell but I walked up and down one street 4 times  ;)  But I eventually made it to  the Ca' Granda which used to be a huge hospital but is now the State University.  It was closed so I couldn't go in but I was able to check out the sculptures on the building and the outside garden.

Day 2 of Milan started in a Castle - Castello Sforzesco - which is a Renaissance style Castle constructed by Francesco Sforza as his residence and fortress in 1450.  It houses many museums and collections - anything from sculptures and other works of art to swords to chalices they used to use.

Back of Castello Sforzesco

Front of Castello Sforzesco

The tower of Castello Sforzesco

Work by Michelangelo in Castello Sforzesco

Museum inside Castello Sforzesco

Smart Car - these can be found all over Europe in all different colors.  They are 2 seater cars that look tooo little to be real?!?!

Then it was time to get back on the Metro (the Metro pass I got really comes in handy since I'm on the thing all the time)  I headed to the Soouthwest part of town to the Basilica di Sant Ambrogio - v. rustic looking more so than gaudy like a lot of the churches... and it's got a few dead bodies in it - got to love those  ;) 

Basilica di Sant Ambrogio

 

There were 3 Mummies inside Sant Ambrogio

- Sant Ambogio himself and 2 other martyrs.

Basilica di Sant Ambrogio

Tempio della Vittoria -

memorial to the 10,000 Milanese who died in WWI (I think it was WWI?!)

Santa Maria della Grazi - famous for it's Leonardo da Vinci's painting of The Last Supper.  Unfortunately they were booked for the day... I went all that way and all I got was a couple of lousy postcards...

Central Station Milan - I was here alot since it's near my hotel and this is where you have to buy any major traveling tickets for the train.

 

Good Story:  The morning I was to leave for Pisa ended up being one crazy morning!  I woke up, got dressed and packed and went downstairs to eat breakfast at my hotel - nothing out of the ordinary UNTIL I go back up to get my things. 

It's about 7:50 when I went up and @%&*@!?!?!?!  I can't get my key into the door.  Luckily one of the staff walked down the hall and saw me struggling so stopped and started to PICK the lock?!?!  They just carry around tools to pick the doors around here - crazy!  When she couldn't get it after about 10 minutes, she tells me to stay there while she goes to get the guy at the front desk. 

He comes up with a number of different tools... tries... nothing.  At this point it's a little after 8:00 and he knows I have to check out and a cab is picking me up at 8:15  So, he takes off his overcoat and runs away to come back with more tools and a DRILL?!?!?  He starts drilling into the keyhole.  This still doesn't work so he goes to desperate measures - he starts breaking the door down.

There are 2 panels in the door - a taller one on top and one on bottom that have molding all around them.  He starts tearing the molding off the door to the lower panel.  After hurting his hand with a screwdriver and breaking into a sweat, he finally gets all the molding off and takes out the panel.  He reaches in... jiggles one of the knobs and viola!  I'm in just in time - now that's what I call customer service!  Apparently, there is a way to extra lock your door from the inside - oops... who knew?

 

So that was Milan.  I must say, I had to ask for help a couple (ok, a few times) and everyone has been really nice - even while breaking down doors.  I've tried speaking Italian but it's hard when all you know how to say is Ciao (hello / goodbye), scussi (scuse me), Ingleise? (do you speak English), Uscita (Exit - I learned that one fast for the Metro - aka their subway system), per favore (please), vino rosso (red wine), la birra (beer)... you know, all the OTHER important words.

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