(no subject)
Day 22 - 29 October 2008
I woke today barely after 7 and went back to sleep. I woke again, having not moved from that position and I felt like I'd been sleeping 3 more hours, but it was barely 8. I got up since it gets dark so early, and I don't want to waste too much time. I went for breakfast at the same caffè bar since it was so good the morning before. It was raining again and I knew I'd be in trouble with these shoes. I went back and took the tram from in front of the hotel and took it towards Loreto. There was some sort of accident in which a bus (which run on cables so they have to follow a certain path quite closely) managed to get turned sideways and ran up the curb. The tram couldn't go any further so I got out to walk. My shoes were already beginning to take in water. I got on the Metro at Lima and took it to the Duomo. I seem to remember the photos of it making it look darker and more strange. (I'd realize later, up close, that they've restored more of the facade.) It was constructed of a peach/off white-colored marble and it is just beautiful. The detail is so amazing and the color of the marble is just awesome. I was quite impressed.
Entrance to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele from the duomo plaza
There were military and carabinieri all over the place and I couldn't quite figure out why. They seemed to be preparing for a funeral in the Duomo. The public were still allowed to enter at the time, so I did. Unfortunately, it's really dark inside, and the lack of sun probably doesn't help, so all my photos are blurry due to movement during the slow shutter speed. Oh well.
I exited the Duomo and walked around the square seeking a photo place since my CF card got full while I was inside. I transferred it to a DVD and then went back to walk through the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. I was right about there being a funeral there. I was listening in on the crowd's comments and from what I could gather is that he was some young guy from the military or something government-like like that. I couldn't gather how he died. The processions were lovely, but I didn't take any pictures out of respect. I continued along to the Galleria. That is also one quite impressive structure. It's amazing to see glass that is so immense and to think that in the winter time it can withhold the weight of snow as well.
Through the Galleria is a bronze statue of Leonardo da Vinci.
And across the street was the La Scala theater.
By this time, my shoes and socks were sopping went so I walked along Via Torino (at the suggestion of the lady in the photo place) looking for a pair of boots. I didn't find much at a reasonable price in my size. I'm a 41 here and 39 seems to be the last common size. Once I had walked a ways and gotten a Turkish döner for lunch before the rush at 1pm, I took a tram back to the Duomo. I saw a shoe store I had missed on the way up the street, so I got off the tram to check it out. No luck again, but walking further towards the Duomo I found a place with some nice boots in the window for 75 euros. The heel isn't a hooker heal and they don't go all the way to the knee so I went inside. I showed the lady which style I liked and told her my size. She brought me two options. One had a pointy toe and the other a more squared (but not completely) so I bought the latter.
I hopped on the metro to go back to the hotel and change my shoes. I washed my socks and hung them to dry. I hopped back on the metro to the Duomo to maybe see about getting on the sightseeing bus. It seemed kinda shady so I just hopped on a couple of random trams to sit down. I saw a Dr. Scholl's store and went in to buy gel pads for the balls of my feet. They didn't help much. Putting all my weight on that part of my foot kills me without lots of gel pads. I was sitting and admiring the Duomo, again, when I noticed flashes coming from the top of the front facade. I realized I could climb it. I went back inside to find the way to do so.
They had more of the cathedral open now since the funeral was over and I walked all the way around the back side of the alter to find an exit to the right side saying "Ascensore alla terazza." I followed. I paid 7 euros instead of 5 to have an elevator take me up. SO worth it. You could basically walk on the roof of the thing and around the edge. You could see the black of the dirt and smog deposits on some parts of the marble that haven't yet been restored. Now it was easy to see why I thought it was a dark gray color and not a peachy-rose color. The detail even on the tips of the roof was impressive. A fine example of gothic architecture. The mood is always dampened with an Italian couple. These people love to make out in public. Standing on the street, sitting in a restaurant, sitting on the metro, standing on the roof of the Duomo they'll make out all sloppily and noisily! It's nasty! I don't enjoy watching other people make out. I especially don't enjoy HEARING other people make out! Get a room!
By this time, it was almost 5. I saw a tram line near the Duomo that goes to Turati--the exit for the US Consulate. I wanted to see where I'm supposed to be working right now. The tram stops right in front of it at the Piazza Stati Uniti dell'America. We even have our own Piazza in Milan. The entrance and such were to the west, but I think the building across the street must be associated in some way. It looks too pretty and American. It seems to be office space and housing so maybe it's diplomat housing or something like they have next to the UN.
I went back to the Duomo since it was now pretty much dark. I was sure it had to be awesomely lit up at night and I was right.
I went back to the hotel to rest my feet before going to dinner at the restaurant down the street where I get a 10% discount from the hotel. I had a caprese salad that was frickin amazing. I don't like olives on things, but this is one thing that that is an exception to. Then I had fried fresh mozzarella and zucchini and squash. I went meatless, but it was so good. Fried mozzarella is one thing, but fried fresh mozzarella is another. You cut into it and all the yummy juice gushed out. It's just plain awesome. It was less than 17 euros for this with my discount. I went immediately back to the hotel to get off my feet and get ready to sleep. Now I just have to call my baby (in 2 days I'm back in his arms!!) and call it a night.
I woke today barely after 7 and went back to sleep. I woke again, having not moved from that position and I felt like I'd been sleeping 3 more hours, but it was barely 8. I got up since it gets dark so early, and I don't want to waste too much time. I went for breakfast at the same caffè bar since it was so good the morning before. It was raining again and I knew I'd be in trouble with these shoes. I went back and took the tram from in front of the hotel and took it towards Loreto. There was some sort of accident in which a bus (which run on cables so they have to follow a certain path quite closely) managed to get turned sideways and ran up the curb. The tram couldn't go any further so I got out to walk. My shoes were already beginning to take in water. I got on the Metro at Lima and took it to the Duomo. I seem to remember the photos of it making it look darker and more strange. (I'd realize later, up close, that they've restored more of the facade.) It was constructed of a peach/off white-colored marble and it is just beautiful. The detail is so amazing and the color of the marble is just awesome. I was quite impressed.
Entrance to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele from the duomo plaza
There were military and carabinieri all over the place and I couldn't quite figure out why. They seemed to be preparing for a funeral in the Duomo. The public were still allowed to enter at the time, so I did. Unfortunately, it's really dark inside, and the lack of sun probably doesn't help, so all my photos are blurry due to movement during the slow shutter speed. Oh well.
I exited the Duomo and walked around the square seeking a photo place since my CF card got full while I was inside. I transferred it to a DVD and then went back to walk through the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. I was right about there being a funeral there. I was listening in on the crowd's comments and from what I could gather is that he was some young guy from the military or something government-like like that. I couldn't gather how he died. The processions were lovely, but I didn't take any pictures out of respect. I continued along to the Galleria. That is also one quite impressive structure. It's amazing to see glass that is so immense and to think that in the winter time it can withhold the weight of snow as well.
Through the Galleria is a bronze statue of Leonardo da Vinci.
And across the street was the La Scala theater.
By this time, my shoes and socks were sopping went so I walked along Via Torino (at the suggestion of the lady in the photo place) looking for a pair of boots. I didn't find much at a reasonable price in my size. I'm a 41 here and 39 seems to be the last common size. Once I had walked a ways and gotten a Turkish döner for lunch before the rush at 1pm, I took a tram back to the Duomo. I saw a shoe store I had missed on the way up the street, so I got off the tram to check it out. No luck again, but walking further towards the Duomo I found a place with some nice boots in the window for 75 euros. The heel isn't a hooker heal and they don't go all the way to the knee so I went inside. I showed the lady which style I liked and told her my size. She brought me two options. One had a pointy toe and the other a more squared (but not completely) so I bought the latter.
I hopped on the metro to go back to the hotel and change my shoes. I washed my socks and hung them to dry. I hopped back on the metro to the Duomo to maybe see about getting on the sightseeing bus. It seemed kinda shady so I just hopped on a couple of random trams to sit down. I saw a Dr. Scholl's store and went in to buy gel pads for the balls of my feet. They didn't help much. Putting all my weight on that part of my foot kills me without lots of gel pads. I was sitting and admiring the Duomo, again, when I noticed flashes coming from the top of the front facade. I realized I could climb it. I went back inside to find the way to do so.
They had more of the cathedral open now since the funeral was over and I walked all the way around the back side of the alter to find an exit to the right side saying "Ascensore alla terazza." I followed. I paid 7 euros instead of 5 to have an elevator take me up. SO worth it. You could basically walk on the roof of the thing and around the edge. You could see the black of the dirt and smog deposits on some parts of the marble that haven't yet been restored. Now it was easy to see why I thought it was a dark gray color and not a peachy-rose color. The detail even on the tips of the roof was impressive. A fine example of gothic architecture. The mood is always dampened with an Italian couple. These people love to make out in public. Standing on the street, sitting in a restaurant, sitting on the metro, standing on the roof of the Duomo they'll make out all sloppily and noisily! It's nasty! I don't enjoy watching other people make out. I especially don't enjoy HEARING other people make out! Get a room!
By this time, it was almost 5. I saw a tram line near the Duomo that goes to Turati--the exit for the US Consulate. I wanted to see where I'm supposed to be working right now. The tram stops right in front of it at the Piazza Stati Uniti dell'America. We even have our own Piazza in Milan. The entrance and such were to the west, but I think the building across the street must be associated in some way. It looks too pretty and American. It seems to be office space and housing so maybe it's diplomat housing or something like they have next to the UN.
I went back to the Duomo since it was now pretty much dark. I was sure it had to be awesomely lit up at night and I was right.
I went back to the hotel to rest my feet before going to dinner at the restaurant down the street where I get a 10% discount from the hotel. I had a caprese salad that was frickin amazing. I don't like olives on things, but this is one thing that that is an exception to. Then I had fried fresh mozzarella and zucchini and squash. I went meatless, but it was so good. Fried mozzarella is one thing, but fried fresh mozzarella is another. You cut into it and all the yummy juice gushed out. It's just plain awesome. It was less than 17 euros for this with my discount. I went immediately back to the hotel to get off my feet and get ready to sleep. Now I just have to call my baby (in 2 days I'm back in his arms!!) and call it a night.