Much Maligned Milan

So many people asked us why we wanted to go to Milan. Most say that it is just a big city that doesn't have much character, others say only go if you are interested in fashion. MW and I decided to go because...we could. Milan a was a mere 4 hours or so from Zurich and honestly we both needed some Italian food. Potatoes, gravy's and beer was getting very old, I needed pasta, sauce and wine. The early morning train from Zurich to Milan provided me with my first real views of the Alps on this trip and we couldn't have known that the beautiful snow covered scenery would take us all the way to Milan. Our first stop upon arrival was a restaurant recommended by PDP, so into the metro we went, emerging into 3 feet of wet snow and rain. Not a good combination. We easily found the restaurant though and were seated in the mostly empty dining room. The food was good and we were happy to relax and beat the lunch cutoff time since it was almost 2pm. We both had pasta but MW was the smart one and got a dish with the homemade pasta as opposed to me going for the sauce that sounded the best. No matter, the food and wine were still good. From lunch we headed out to see the heart of Milan, the piazza at the Duomo. The Christmas tree was still standing, at least for another 24 hours, and there was an exhibit on the Beatles in the piazza but it certainly didn't detract from the glory of the Duomo. For the rest of the day, MW and I did what we do best and wandered even though the wandering wasn't easy. Snow was piled up in the cutters and on top of the cars but it was sloushy due to the warming weather and the rain. After checking into our hotel, Hotel Ariosto, we headed back out to find some of the famous free food. Many Milan bars have free snacks during happy hour, we intended to make a meal of this but we never found anything that wonderful and we were visiting Milan for the food after all. Back near our hotel we found what we were looking for but you never would have known from the outside. We just happened to stop in front of a very unobvious restaurant that from what we could tell was empty. However, the proprietor was standing in the entryway and opened the door, we could tell then that this would be good. The restaurant was almost full and it seemed that everyone in there was a local, as the owner walked around and talked to each table. We tried about 4 different dishes that were all phenomenal and we left there truly happy.

The next day we packed up and headed to the train station to lock

up our luggage. We noticed that the earlier version of the train we would take later in the day was cancelled. We hoped that was not going to impact our trip later on. We headed back out to visit the

La Scala, the amazing theater that Milan is famous for. It was very

beautiful and truly impressive on the inside. From there we headed over to see the inside of the Duomo. The Duomo is an amazing church, giant in size and with the spires and ornamentation, it feels so much more gothic then any other church I have seen. It was also a great way.

to stay out of the rain for a bit. That was the end of our short time in Milan, but it was well worth the trip.

However, we didn't go straight back to Zurich, we made an afternoon stop over in Lake Como. Lake Como is a quaint little town that was pretty deserted the day we were there. We wandered about, enjoying the view of the lake, the hillside homes and the small shops. We found a small

local place to have a late lunch and continued the wandering. As night fell we headed back uphill to the train station to head home. We grabbed a quick snack and headed out to wait for the train.

The platform was empty and there was no information on the

arrival sign. We waited quite a while, almost an half hour before any information was put

on the sign. Finally, the train arrived, we settled in for our 3.5 hour trip to Zurich. As we pulled into the Lugano station there is an announcement saying that we are going to have to change trains. The tricky part was that it was said first in Italian, then German, then French and when they finally announced in English, everyone was jabbering away and MW and I couldn't hear the information. Of course, we had put together what was said using our knowledge of the first 3 languages, however, with something this important we wanted to be sure. Fortunately one of the train attendents took a special interest in us and was sure to inform us of what we were going to have to do, which was make 4 more train changes. The trip in the end only took about an hour longer then what had been schduled but it certainly was more exciting then a straight shot into Zurich.

Next: The final adventure - Prague.

Thanks for Reading.

Why is the Chapter Still Unfinished?

As I went for a run today, I started thinking about my blog. I regret that I have not been the writer that I wish I was. I often consider opening up the computer and finishing what I have started, namely the last few posts on an amazing trip. However, I then get stuck. Why?? It isn't like I didn't enjoy that last week, it may have been the best part, not that I am showing favorites. (Yes, France you are still my favorite, no need to get jealous.) Then I wonder if it is because finishing those posts, officially ends that adventure, and really, who wants to close that door. I also consider that maybe I don't actually remember the events after all this time all that well. None of those alone can be the reason, but together maybe and now I know how MW felt when her adventures were coming to fast for her to record properly. I promise myself that I will finish and I am sure there is at least one person out there reading that would like to know how the story ends. I also believe I have to do it so I can shut the door and move on to the events at hand.

Stay tuned for the end of one year and the beginning of the next.

Thanks for reading.