Post by geordy on May 8, 2014 14:02:14 GMT -5
Perfect two days in Milan! Flew Delta straight to Milam. Malpensa airport. . Easy directions to Malpensa Express..train into City, 12E. Then took Metro from Cardona Station a couple of stops to Duoma and voila..hotel on a small strreet a few stoops from Piazza Duomo ..... La Madonnina. 9:30 am and room ready and S/O in it! Busy first day, walk to Duoma Piazza Caffe and double espresso for me..biere for him..I sampled a bit. Admired outside of Duomo and people watched and then headed to Piazza Mercanti and lunch at Caffe Mercanti. My beloved Vitello Tonnato..hard to find in NYC..and rose wine and more espresso. Then headed into Duomo, big signs no tank tops, plunging necklines, short shorts or mini skirts..and guys in camo with guns to enforce! 
Very impressive and then after no sleep on a plane all night and wine..decided to climb the 250 steps to roof....there is an elevator. Not too bad..not a single spiral up but banks of 4 and landings most of the way...until you get outside and then go up further to "walk amongst the saints"(statues on roof) As the roof sloped and I was a tad bleary eyed and wobbly..I was afraid that might really be the case! But lived to tell and was rewarded with a gelato cone..pistachio from shop in the famed Galleria. Central Milan is really a big ole high priced shopping Mall..every high end shop you can think of.
Then we had 1630 res to see Leonardo's "The Last Supper" in a now Museum next to Church St Maria Grazie bit of a hike from Duomo. Got there a bit early and 1st minor complaint about Milan...not a café on every corner..we circled a bit and found no where to sit with a drink and wait so spent some time in the Church and then watched kids playing soccer in Piazza in front of church.
Getting into "The Last Suppper"is like entering a maximum security prison! 20 reserved folks at 30 min intervals..one gate opens..20 people enter..gate closes behind..then next gate opens, repeat 3 times. But not metal detectors or bag searching??? Did have to go thru metal detector and open bag to climb upDuomo. Painting is very large and impressive and yes moving...esp since it was painted on the wall of Monk's dining hall and the building was destroyed during war..only wall with painting left standing!
Metroed back to hotel area..where do these people shop?(2nd minor complaint, also not that many ATM's for financial capital!) Didn't pass one grocery, produce market, convenience store...finally asked some one with a bag where they shopped..directions were so far away and convoluted that we wound up buying wine for room in famous gourmet type shop, Peck's around corner from hotel. 2 free bottles of water and cans of soda(did not drink) provided in mini bar.
AS we knew I'd be exhausted..though other than the aforementioned bleary and wobbly did quite well..we had asked hotel to make `2030 res at tyipcal Milanese place nrhotel. Back to Piazza Mercanti to Au Mercanti. Very nice...started with Prosecco, naturally,and then artichoke flan with parmesan sauce...scrumptious...then the famous pounyed veal chop..served with bone I guess to prove really chop! served very simply with lemon wedges and a few fried potatoes....wonderfully crisp and flavorful! Chianti and acqua with gas! Tiramisu for dessert as I've only ever had it here..hadn't yet heard of it last time I was in Italy...1990! Really good and creamy but not excessively like it often is here! Could enjoy all the flavors.
Nice walk back to hotel past Duomo after long , but lovely day
Very impressive and then after no sleep on a plane all night and wine..decided to climb the 250 steps to roof....there is an elevator. Not too bad..not a single spiral up but banks of 4 and landings most of the way...until you get outside and then go up further to "walk amongst the saints"(statues on roof) As the roof sloped and I was a tad bleary eyed and wobbly..I was afraid that might really be the case! But lived to tell and was rewarded with a gelato cone..pistachio from shop in the famed Galleria. Central Milan is really a big ole high priced shopping Mall..every high end shop you can think of.Then we had 1630 res to see Leonardo's "The Last Supper" in a now Museum next to Church St Maria Grazie bit of a hike from Duomo. Got there a bit early and 1st minor complaint about Milan...not a café on every corner..we circled a bit and found no where to sit with a drink and wait so spent some time in the Church and then watched kids playing soccer in Piazza in front of church.
Getting into "The Last Suppper"is like entering a maximum security prison! 20 reserved folks at 30 min intervals..one gate opens..20 people enter..gate closes behind..then next gate opens, repeat 3 times. But not metal detectors or bag searching??? Did have to go thru metal detector and open bag to climb upDuomo. Painting is very large and impressive and yes moving...esp since it was painted on the wall of Monk's dining hall and the building was destroyed during war..only wall with painting left standing!
Metroed back to hotel area..where do these people shop?(2nd minor complaint, also not that many ATM's for financial capital!) Didn't pass one grocery, produce market, convenience store...finally asked some one with a bag where they shopped..directions were so far away and convoluted that we wound up buying wine for room in famous gourmet type shop, Peck's around corner from hotel. 2 free bottles of water and cans of soda(did not drink) provided in mini bar.
AS we knew I'd be exhausted..though other than the aforementioned bleary and wobbly did quite well..we had asked hotel to make `2030 res at tyipcal Milanese place nrhotel. Back to Piazza Mercanti to Au Mercanti. Very nice...started with Prosecco, naturally,and then artichoke flan with parmesan sauce...scrumptious...then the famous pounyed veal chop..served with bone I guess to prove really chop! served very simply with lemon wedges and a few fried potatoes....wonderfully crisp and flavorful! Chianti and acqua with gas! Tiramisu for dessert as I've only ever had it here..hadn't yet heard of it last time I was in Italy...1990! Really good and creamy but not excessively like it often is here! Could enjoy all the flavors.
Nice walk back to hotel past Duomo after long , but lovely day
My husband and son returned from Milano early this morning, and needless to say, they had the best trip ever. There were thousands of Israelis there to cheer on their favorite team.......so many people wearing yellow T-shirts dancing and cheering in the area of the Duomo! What a sight! Geordy, it's a good thing you were there to enjoy a much quieter atmosphere. 
hahahha