Boungiorno Milano

“The gladdest moment in human life, me thinks, is a departure into unknown lands.” – Sir Richard Burton

After a marathon 31 hours of travel we arrived in sunny Milan, world capital of style (so clearly we fit right in).

First impressions are of a thriving metropolis where the ancient and modern are juxtaposed everywhere you look. Shining skyscraper office blocks tower up from behind ancient city gates or churches.  Sidewalk cafes are perfectly positioned to people watch and enjoy an espresso or cappuccino. Scooters and old trams vie for road space and everywhere you look people are walking dogs (trendy breeds with designer collars and groomed coats).An open top bus tour was about the most active we could get. This started at the imposing Central Station, a stones throw from our hotel. The station is an impressive marble building built in 1930s by the fascist regime, with a huge open square in front.

Dominating the square is a huge statue of an apple.  It is not a tribute to Steve Jobs but rather a leftover of Expo 2015 and is called The Apple Made a Whole Again a bite has been taken and repaired with steel stitching. Google tells me it “represents nature and the use of modern technology to save and replenish what has been lost. The apple has always been a symbol of life and the bite is what we have lost and must repair.”

We jumped off the bus at Duomo Piazza (cathedral square) and enjoyed our first Italian pizza and a cocktail with a view.