On a lovely, sunny morning the signs took us along the lake-shore for about 20kms, through a number of pretty, small towns. The roads were quiet so we were able to really enjoy the drive. I'd have been happy to follow the lake all the way to the end but we had to get to the Milan International Airport (Linate) by 10:00am to drop the car off. So we hit the autostrade at the first opportunity. I had printed (ie: to a pdf) the directions according to Google Maps last night so that gave us some idea about where to go and what to look for on the road. Although, in hindsight, we could have just fired up Google Maps on the phone which has 2GB of data. We're out of Italy by tomorrow afternoon so the TIM service won't work anymore.
We arrived at Linate which to the south of Milan via the ring-road so it was autostrade all the way. Hooray! After a couple of laps of the car-park( the Fiat pretended to be a bus on the first lap) and the help from a petrol station attendant we found the Avis check-in. The chap cast a cursory glance over the car looking for new dents and scratches, looked happy there were none, I signed a document and off we went to catch the bus into central Milan.
A reliable looking chap in a suit assured us that the X73 was the one to catch so we got a ticket from the machine (1.50 euros each) and the bus took off. By now I'd remembered Google Maps so I plugged in the hotel address and fired up the GPS on the phone and was glad to see the blue arrow and the red hotel marker slowly converging. We alighted at the closest cross-road to the hotel and just followed the blue arrow. The road we needed to walk down had a tram!! We jumped on the next one and rode it all the way to a stop 50m from the hotel. Our ATM (public transport) tickets had still not been validated so the travel so far had been free. The hotel we are at is the Ibis Milano Centrale, just a couple of hundred metres from Milano Centrale train station, the start of tomorrow's journey.
After we checked-in and called Emily on Skype we decided to go into the heart of Milan for the afternoon. We walked up to the station to buy the tickets for the first part of the ride to Zurich. The Milan Central Station is something to behold. Recently renovated, it is a beautiful piece of architecture outside and inside, especially. The main entry hall is huge in all dimensions as are it's surrounding halls that support the ticket office, entry to the platforms and other administrative functions. The whole lot is very neatly and inconspicuously integrated with the Metro underneath. The Metro is pretty scungy by comparison. We got the tickets to Tirano (11.25 euros each) using the great ticket machine – the best we have encountered yet – and found our bearings for tomorrow.
Down to the Metro to use our “free” tickets in to Piazza del Duomo. Very easy to use, we waited just a few minutes for a train. The more I use European public transport the more confused I am about how we manged to bugger it up in Victoria.
Over recent years (2003-09) the facade of the Duomo has been renovated. Today it is magnificent example of neo-Gothic architecture, clad entirely in marble. Construction of the cathedral, the 5th largest cathedral in the world, was started in 1386 and was finally, officially finished in 1966. Just a lazy six centuries. And we comment about how long Antonio Gaudi's cathedral in Barcelona has taken! It's been “thrown up overnight” compared to the Milan Cathedral. Yet again, entry is free so no queues. Some big sculptures inside and some other weird things. Just like at St. Lucy's in Venice, two Cardinals lie in their glass coffins fully dressed but with their gnarled and de-hydrated hands on show. A mask covers their faces but with these two you can see the hair on the back of their heads. Creepy.
Just across the piazza is the magnificent Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, a crucifix shaped arcade, home to all the most exclusive retail brands you can think of.
The high, vaulted, glass-domed ceiling and beautifully patterned marble floor is something to behold. This was in my list of places to visit. Tick. We just had to stop at the famous Biffi Caffe for a pot of tea and a pastry and for Kerry's favourite pastime “watching the world go by”.
Paolo Biffi's was pastry chef to the King. His caffe has been there since 1867. The bill of 40 euros reflected all of the above.
"Tell her she's dreamin' "
We wandered out to the statue of Leonardo da Vinci in the adjacent piazza then, leg weary (my “good” knee was very sore for some reason) we decided to duck into McDonalds for a quick bite then head home. Ooooppps! We hit a bump in the road. After waiting for ages to be served (normal for any McDonalds) we sat at one of the benches with high stools. We ate the “food”, got up to go and realised our camera bag was not there! I had put the camera bag and the backpack next to each other under my stool. Someone and nicked the camera bag from right under our noses!! Luckily they didn't take the locked backpack and luckily the camera was not in the camera bag. However, we did lose the bag, the telephoto lens, a spare battery, the battery charger, assorted souvenirs we had bought over the last few days, three days of medicine, my iPod, my Telstra SIM, other assorted cables and, as always, stuff we haven't yet realised is missing .
It could have been a lot worse but it's still a shock and a wake-up call. After 8 weeks one starts to let one's defenses down a little. We searched the restaurant and the area around Piazza del Duomo to no avail. A police officer was standing nearby so we reported the theft to him. He directed us to the nearest police station where we quickly went. The officer there directed us to another station and a kindly detective escorted us to it. There we recorded a statement, signed some paperwork and went on our way back home, very saddened but “happy” that it could have been a lot worse. It got onto Telstra via Live Chat and had my number blocked. The number will be transferred to another SIM once we get back to Bendigo. The service from Telstra Live Chat was very good.
Kerry was very relieved to find her wallet in her case once we got back to the hotel. On the odd occasion we had put it in the camera bag, but not for the past few days!
What a shame about the theft. But the best thing is that you are both okay. Like you said Greg, just a bump in the road, a hiccup.
ReplyDeleteKerry, I had no idea that you and I shared the same pastime - watching the world go by. We must do it next time we catch up. :)