Milan 2

We had tickets to go up to the terraces/rooftop of the Duomo this morning, so we got ourselves up and out. We climbed and climbed up a lot of stairs, but the experience and view was worth it. It was so cool to wander around on the roof of the cathedral and to see the spires pointing into the sky all around you. And the views of the city and distant mountains were excellent -- it was a clear day with little humidity, one of our first in Italy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Look, our tree-covered apartment building in the distance!! 

 

We were not as impressed by the inside of Milan's Duomo (dark, lots of construction scaffolding, v crowded) and did not stay very long. Everyone was hungry and hot at that point. So the kids went home to eat a late breakfast and change out of their church-appropriate clothing, and Steve and I wandered the Brera neighborhood. We got cappucinos and pastries, we peeked at various museums and the castle, we enjoyed wandering streets.

 

 

The kids met us for lunch at a famous pasta restaurant, Osteria Da Fortunata. You could see the ladies hand-rolling the pasta in the window of the establishment. 

 

And then we walked home for a midday siesta, very very full. 

 

In the late afternoon, we rented Lime scooters and e-bikes and set off to explore more of the city. It was fun to zip along on those things -- more fun when we had dedicated bike lanes and pavement, less fun when the lane ended and dumped us into cobble-stoned streets with traffic and pedestrians and construction. Liesl loved it -- I think scootering is her new favorite thing. 

 

 

 

 

a mural across from our apartment building, and a cool photo of our building 

 

Dinner at another pasta place -- more informal, but still delicious. 

Liesl scootered home from the restaurant, with a detour to joyride around the park across the street.

World Cup: Spain vs Austria! 3-0 for Spain!

 

Milan

So far in Milan we have eaten amazing food, done a lot of shopping, and really enjoyed seeing the architecture and street life. This is a great city.

 

 

We have rented an apartment in this building, the Bosco, which is notable for the trees growing out of and in between the various balconies. It's quite a sight. The neighborhood is obviously new and distinguished by a number of very distinctive buildings and colorful murals.

 

 

Dinner at Osteria Brunello: we enjoyed all the classics, including risotto milanese con osso buco, veal milanese, and fresh pasta. It was incredible - one of Seb's favorite meals.

 

 

On Wednesday, Steve and I went out early to buy food for breakfast in the apartment -- I actually love being in grocery stores in foreign countries and getting to see what they have available and how it's packaged. And then we hopped onto Lime scooters and rode to the Galleria Vittoria Emanuelle, a high-end shopping area in an 18th century glass-ceilinged structure. It was very cool. We came out the other side at the plaza of the Duomo. 

 

 

 

 

 

We had pasta for lunch at this tiny, amazing place -- only four pasta dishes on the menu, and one starter (mozzarella w salad). But the serving sizes were enormous and the pasta incredible.

 

 

And then we wandered along the streets, shopping for clothes, buying rings and a necklace from a street vendor, buying candy at an enormous candy store, and more. 

  

 

In the late afternoon, fancy tea and pastries at Marchesi, the greenest cafe I've ever seen. Green seats, green wallpaper, green shelving... Steve was in heaven. 

 

 

 

It started to rain and a thunderstorm rolled in, so we got onto the Metro to return home. It's fun to be able to spot our building from anywhere - so distinctive!