WEDNESDAY 25TH JANUARY MILAN
the hotel at the airport was nice, the beds super comfy, along with the lack of sleep getting up was extra hard at 4am. we got on board and took off around 6.20am Ryanair is not the best, small, not much leg room, they wouldn't even give us hot water. But we arrived early and got a taxi to the centre (over €100 he even went the wrong way in trying to find the place) The hotel wouldnt let us check in early (can't check in till 3) but they did let us store our luggage. it seems like a nice enough place, though you have to walk downstairs to get to it, a bit of a disadvantage when you have luggage (nan checked in a bag)so we had to lug it down ourselves. but its breakfast included and seems nice. we walked a bit and found a nice little cafe, nan decided to try a cicolatta (an Italian hot chocolate) we tried to warn her of its thickness, she basically had to eat it with a spoon haha, I myself had a coffee, I was tired!
An Italian American guy started talking to us (bragging really) but hey it killed some time and he got the owners to ring us a taxi to go to the centre (DUOMO)
we stepped out near the back alleys, near a really old church called "SANTA MARIA PRESSO SAN SATIRO" behind the cathedral
its sits upon a huge square, full of people and pigeons! on one side, a museum and art gallery
and to the left the oldest and possibly most beautiful shopping malls ever created GALLERIA VITTORIO EMANUELE II" in the middle of the square was a monument "MONUMENTO A VITTORIORI EMANUELE"
some pedlars gave us some pigeon food and the birds flocked to ours hands haha (dirty I'm sure but cool pictures and an experience) forgot that nan was scared of birds too haha
we nipped into the mall to use the toilets (high tech and very clean so worth paying to use I guess) the toilets even cleaned themselves!
it was dark and dimly light, nothing to the exterior beauty, but still very impressive. with a heavy pyre and several layers of organ pipers raising high
there were some amazing artworks not to mentioned the interior architecture of the place. Res Calle dme back to look at one piece in particular - a very odd madonna and child that had Jesus breastfeeding?
nan was quiet, she had been teary outside upon hearing a man play accordion on the street.
I liked this, I like the odd street performer, Belfast had a few and so does Dublin, there are some interesting ones at home, including limbo dancers and drummers
we went down to the crypt it was very beautiful but poorly lit, not able to see much and mainly closed off, but you could look in a bit - there was a death mask... the ceiling of the crypt was beautifully painted and guilded
we then went down to the old excavated area under the church, originally it was a roman shrine with baths/ fountains, a beautiful inlaid pool. nan entered but had to soon leave, I didn't know she was claustrophobic (now I understand why she won't take a lift) when we resurfaced I wondered why her knees looked dusty - she had went out the wrong exit, unable from fear to go back down she had crawled under the barrier - crawling upon the floor of Milan cathedral haha
she went for a wine while reb and I went up to the rooftop of the cathedral (another search of our bags, we got searched on entrance too) taking the elevator up to the roof walking along the spires with the sun slowly setting (some restoration work was being done) gazing down over the city.
we relaxed and wondered around gazing down over the city
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