Posta Como

... in Milan around 10:30 and I wasn't expecting how cold it was compared to Spain.  I figured out how to get to my hostel where I would have to crash for the night before heading to my final destination Chiusi.  I had to take a rickety old tram to the ghetto of Milan and walk a few blocks to find it.  The place was pretty empty and quiet and actually kind of nice.  They put me in a room with four beds and only one taken by a South American guy.  I slept heavily that night.  

... gigantesques.

nous avons dinner dans un resto sur la rue tres touristique qui relis le duomo au chateau... un petit diner leger avec lequel emilie a pris une coupe de vin blanc qui coutait le prix total de nos 3 dernieres bouteilles de vin!!


je vais tenter d'ajouter des photos a mon blog le plus tot possible.

... hill to the Volta Lighthouse. If it wasn't for the foggy view we would have had a great panoramic view of Lake Como and it's surrounds.
After walking back down to Como we caught the bus out to Belaggio which is at the furthest point on the lake. Town was completely dead. a couple of cafes and post card shops open and that was it!
Some nice ...

Milan photos here:
http://www.facebook.com/album. php?aid=163668&id=613699523&l=2 82514e0d1

Milan was pretty much just another big European city. Not exciting enough to be interesting and not small and quaint enough to be charming.

Checked out the Duomo whichis the 3rd largest church in the world and a huge gothic building that was ...

... lay low for the night. We found such a place in Florence and with only a leisurely bike ride right to the center it seemed a great stop. When we got back from a long afternoon sight seeing we didn't really have the energy to move on so hoped we could just lay low, curtains drawn and tea on the go we settled in. Then all hell broke loose, a car sped onto the estate and crashed into a poor lad sitting on his parked motorbike two cars away from us. If we were going to get noticed it would ...

... would have thought that Pappa and the boys wouldn't mind a bit of skin, you know.. because they don't do the dirty.. Was that wrong?.. We went to check out the Spanish Steps next and please, DO NOT let anyone ever tell you that they are a "must-see".. they are literally steps that you climb and then climb down. Disappointed we headed for the Trevi Fountain. This is a "must-see." So legend has it that if you throw a coin in the fountain you'll come back to Rome. I cast in a ...

After Istanbul and Rome... even Venice looked dull .. so what do you say about Milan!

Though we did go to see the famous Leonardo Da Vince's Last Supper. For the nerds likes me, let me tell you that the painting is not on a canvas but on the wall of the church (don't remember the name of the church) ... the experience was Wow... it almost felt that you were having dinner with Jesus and his group .. its costs about 25Euro per person ...

... lake, mountain climbing appears to be a way of life. When we left Mass on Sunday we were met with a square full of volunteer Mountaineer Rescuers who were getting blessed at the next service. Also the funicular was full of people well into their 70's with large packs on their backs and the fabulous ski pole walking sticks we have seen all over Europe. The only person we know in the states with ...

... and it took half an hour or more to find her. The third lake we visited was Lake Maggiore where we were to stay for two nights at the Hotel Splendid in Baveno. What a good run that was. Along the autostrada and through lots and lots of tunnels. Here in Italy (and in France) roads were not constructed to go up hill and down dale. They ploughed straight through no matter the expense. As a result there are no inclines on motorways in Europe. No ups and no downs only through ...

... John tells me that he believes that the actual price of coffee served is somehow regulated. After a few purchases, I find that espresso is regularly 90 cents and a cappuccino 1.10 Euro. Wow, could Italy subsidize a simple, yet sublime indulgence like other countries regulate and subsidize public transportation? What a thought. Starbucks would be so far behind that they wouldn't even taste the trail dust (although there are rumors that they are coming). The coffee is just so ...