Milan, Italy

We arrived in Milan at 7 a.m. Italy time (1 a.m back home)

after traveling all day (18 hours).

But no rest for the weary there was Milan to see

and only one day to do it!

.....

{Kenny and I in front of Milan's Duomo - Europe's 3rd largest church.

It was a masterpiece inside and out.}

{the inside of the duomo - 8 story marble columns. It was amazing- mosaics, stained glass windows, statues, and supposedly in the cross with the red light way above the alter is a nail from the crucifixion of Christ.}

{inside the Galleria - Milan's beautiful "open" mall. The glass roof was phenomenal. It was full of lots of pricey shops and cafes - wonderful place to window shop and people watch}

{gelato (Italian ice cream) -

if you have been to Italy and had some, you know.

If you haven't, then you will just have to go

because gelato just does not translate :)

But on every street you can find a gelateria

with a display much like this.}

{by late afternoon (27+hours on the go)

we were all struggling to be pleasant.

Especially as we tried to navigate the subway system

(I somehow managed to not have a single photo of that experience)

We decided that hot showers and pj's sounded like a great plan.

So, we went to a local grocery and bought the fixings for an Italian picnic - salami, cheese, marinated veggies, bread, and wine.

Ever go to your grocery and have to REALLY hunt for a butcher because you have a question. Not in Italy, every market you go in there is a fabulous meat/cheese counter and ALWAYS a smiling, helpful, knowledgeable butcher}

{our first breakfast in Italy - I love how all the little hotels we stay in have little cafe' areas. Kenny and I don't drink coffee which is HUGE in Italy, so we have the barista make us a "caldo cioccolata" (hot chocolate) to go with our croissants. We are looking fresh and ready to hit the ground running after a good night sleep. Next stop Venice!}