Milan (10/25)

After an exhaustive drive from Munich we made it to Milan, Italy and into our hotel room at about 9pm. We were all a bit shocked at how bitter cold it was. We found our hotel and had a rather uncomfortable conversation with the desk clerk who remarked "Ah yes Olsen...tsk tsk...no reservation...bad bad..." I wanted to come back with a catty reply of "Sorry but not true" but after 6 hours in the car along the Autobahn my head was already full of noise and exhaustion. So not really starting off our visit to Milan on the right foot.

{BTW yes the Autobahn was just as it seemed, and far worse in Milan than in Germany. The scary thing is no one slows down on the Autobahn. Not for darkness or for rain, of which Milan both of in spades. By the time we arrived we were all a little bit like the girl in 'The Pacifier'---"Land! Land!" :) Of not fault of our driver's. }


We had to divulge one more request from our innkeeper and ask where was a good place to eat for dinner. He suggested an out of the way hole in the wall that was truly beautiful, but also quite expensive. We didn't even do courses, we just did 'secundo' and still the bill ended up being around 130 euros. Gah. For a family of five, okay, 150 dollars may not seem unconscionable in the US, but that bill would include a salad course and hopefully a dessert plus cloth napkins and an individual bread plate. This was for one plate of food and one beverage.

smile we are in Italy and you don't have to drive for three days! Ciao! 

Pumpkin walnut ravioli with sage butter. Meh. 

The Duomo at night. It did not rain! 

Wow looking good! BTW you will freeze your butt off in that dress and all that effort will be shot to nil.  But it's 9 am and for now you are happy you slept through the night. :)

Our street during a break in the weather. Our city map is collecting mold as we speak ;) 

small neighborhood cathedral. 

walkway along the Plaza Duomo

The Duomo di Milano Cathedral

Here is a time-lapse video of the Duomo in the daylight.... and the sunlight

http://www.flickr.com/photos/akbarallana/6334748418/

Victor Emanuel. I have no idea who he was or what he was famous for, but it's a nice statue. 

The pigeons were a constant distraction

The Galleria Vittorio Emanuel II . Plus Jim Henson, creator of The Muppets ;) 

architectural detail outside of the cathedral 

Because Milan has sooo much to offer I will have to divide it up into a few separate postings. Next up, we will travel inside the Cathedral. Until next time...Ciao bella!