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Centro Direzionale

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    • Carmel CarlsenVia Francigena-part 2
      72
      Day 2

      Milan

      April 20 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

      I've made it safe and sound to Milan. My second flight seemed to pass in no time at all. I caught some wonderful sights of snow-capped mountains on the few occasions that the clouds cleared away. I decided not to sleep on my second flight to make sure that I was tired enough to get a good nights rest tonight. That may have been a mistake as I'm sitting here eating dinner feeling a little shaky. I managed to hop on the wrong train from the airport to the city, and I also managed to lock myself out of my hotel safe (staff had to help me regain access). But I was able to recover both mishaps without too much drama. I heard from the BBC tonight that it has been snowing on the Alps. That may impact my ability to get to Grand Saint Bernard Pass. Also, I've had no luck getting tickets to see the Last Supper. I'm pretty heart broken. As I never give up, I will try again tomorrow in person.Read more

    • Carmel CarlsenVia Francigena-part 2
      48246422
      Day 3

      Milan

      April 21 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

      I exhausted myself today walking all over Milan. Thankfully, I'm travelling most of the day tomorrow on train and bus, so I should be rested to start my pilgrimage the day after. I was lucky enough to get a ticket to see the Last Supper, and it was, as expected, the highlight of the day. The tour guide really did enhance the entire experience. I was mistaken; I thought the French had super cute little cars. Well, the Italian's, if Milan is anything to go by, beat them hands down. I've added just one photo so that you can see what I mean. I really have a lot to say about today, but I'm too tired to make the effort. Rest assured, it was memorable and included a lot of churches. I have to add that the hotel I'm staying at has free beer on tap, Heineken, I'm enjoying one in my room right now.Read more

    • TravelerTurin ISU study abrd 24 trip
      Day 8

      In Train to Tirano. Not Torino.

      May 19 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

      Got up early. Made a careful plan. I can do this. Lake como and fancy train ride. I still have until end of Monday (tomorrow) to pull it off.

      I even wrote down my plans on paper, made bookings, trains, fancy train, hotel in como. Triple checked the times, am/pm all corect. Will reach Tirano at 12:52 by regular train. Fancy train at 130 or so .. it's a round trip .. so will come back to tirano (Tirano-St Moritz-Tireno). Then somehow get back to lake Como and stay in the hotel there. Stay overnight and then tomorrow maybe go back to Torino (Turin)

      Torino is where I am "stationed". Tireno is where I am trying to go. By Train. Any questtions? No? Good.

      Was very proud of my detailed planning. But the first train got stuck at Monza - first station after we started. They said it's estimated that it will take 14 minutes to fix whatever problem they had with the tracks. It was there for 1.5 hours. So I will miss my fancy train for sure!

      Train was super crowded first .. with my bike dangling over peoples head. But at Varenna almost everyone got down and I could sit comfortably. Still on that ride. Still going to Tireno. Thought of getting down at Como but decided to continue with the original plan. Let's see.

      Ciao.

      Ciao is hello and goodbye. Like aloha. Some people say ciao-ciao for goodbye.

      Well, spoke too soon .. just about to upload this and they announced that this train will NOT go to Tireno any more. We have to get down at another station and change to a different train!

      Back to the drawing board, I guess.

      At least the views are nice.      Read more

    • TravelerEurotour 2023
      Day 11

      Well, its different.

      June 22, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 84 °F

      Syd and Ralph headed out to a nail salon down the street to get Syd a touch up. On the way a man was sharpening his shank on a concrete street post while holding out his hat for money. There is graffiti everywhere, and not the pretty kind. It’s sad, really. Beautiful facades defaced from the ground to eye level. It makes the place look like the shit parts of Oakland.

      Syds not comfortable here alone.      Read more

    • TravelerEurope 2023
      Day 28

      Our new best friend

      May 2, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

      So, after receiving a recommendation of where to go this evening for somewhere to eat (thanks Cheryl Davies), unfortunately it was the other side of Milan. So we resolved to return to the lovely restaurant we visited yesterday. And we were welcomed back like long lost family. Francesco, the owner/chef, came over to greet us personally, and to thank us for coming back. We were then given additional food and drink throughout the evening and were thoroughly spoiled.
      Fantastic.      Read more

    • TravelerTurin ISU study abrd 24 trip
      Day 6

      Make your own dip!

      May 17 in Italy ⋅ 🌙 17 °C

      Asked for some olive oil and vinegar for the bread for the table, he brought a large bucket/Tin - full of the necessary ingredients and put it on the table. After 5 minutes got a plate for me to mix and make my own dip

      Pasta carbonara was good though!      Read more

    • TravelerTurin ISU study abrd 24 trip
      Day 6

      In search of Madaripur!

      May 17 in Italy ⋅ 🌙 16 °C

      Well .. after a nice tasty dinner and dessert, during which I watched the extra time to some soccer match (ended in a draw 2-2) at baldassarria and enjoyed heavenly tiramisu with beer and cigarettes (good combo for me I realized), I decided to call a taxi to go to my hotel far far away.

      First I thought I will get some groceries, cigarettes etc for the night. Searched for a local tabacchi.. searched Google and got a store called Madaripur Mini market (or something like that). Hmm ... The Bangladeshi guy at the station said he's from Madaripur - to which I nodded as if I know the place. Madaripur again? Googled. It's a place/region in Bangladesh as expected. Maybe the guy was in a train with me from Turin to Milan to come to this store to work, or maybe family of the owner of the shop! Had to find out.

      Biked around at 1130pm in central Milan to find the shop. Found it. Got to speak in bangla with the owners and bought my stuff.

      BTW, I'm confidently speaking bangla to anyone who seems 40%+ desi to me now. No misfires yet. Saying to hawkers selling knickknacks "na dada .. chai na" (no brother, I don't need it) etc and getting very good response so far.

      No, that random guy at station has nothing to do with the shop owners. But I got my closure (and groceries)!

      Called a taxi. It showed something like $70 to go there. 40 minutes by car! Hotels.com 🤬🤬🤬🤬!!! That means I have to spend something similar to come to the city center again tomorrow. So much for biking around the city center for me. Will try to call and fight with hotels.com but Pooja advised not to since I didn't check the distance ... they won't refund.

      After talking to Pooja decided to check in to a hotel nearby. Saw this one called hotel Paradiso. Seemed nice to look at ... At least the signs were all properly lit (no missing letters or flickering neon sign). Walked in, he said $70 a night and found myself the tiniest hotel room I've been in. Very happy so far (it's been 5 minutes in the room). It even has breakfast and has 4 stars!!! I should have checked all this before I paid for the room, but still .. I checked (after paying)! So that's the end of my adventure tonight.

      Maybe I open a beer (Ceres pronounced CHeres, my new fav beer here), plan tomorrow's activities, smoke and sleep off. Gnite!      Read more

    • TravelerTurin ISU study abrd 24 trip
      Day 7

      Milan day 1 or 2?

      May 18 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

      Finally updated every important event in my journal. It's 5:15 am now. Didn't plan much of my day. Will sleep now.

      Sure to miss my paid breakfast that is from 7-10 am. More worried about my snoring since my room seems very close to the breakfast area. I will be happy if I get up before noon and don't have to pay for next day.

      What can I do? It's costly to be lazy!

      Gnite? I hear the birds chirping. But my journal is all updated. Tomorrow is a blank slate! Gnite 😘      Read more

    • TravelerTurin ISU study abrd 24 trip
      Day 7

      Coffee with Kavish, kid from Colombo!

      May 18 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

      Managed to get up before noon! 11 am! Not bad.

      Got a call from the front desk .. saying I have to get out of the room by 1130 because other "clients" are waiting!

      Missed the bfast. Which was the plan. My room is right next to breakfast place. I was more worried about disturbing other guests with my loud snoring.

      The morning guy at the front desk looked desi again. Kavish. From Colombo, Sri Lanka. Young kid. After a little chat he let me take my time until the cleaning lady gets here.

      Oh BTW, Duolingo is mad at me for breaking my 100+day streak. Gave me second third chance to get back. But I am madder at that app. So no!

      Asked if I can get coffee. Kavish made me a fresh cup ... I guess coffee is not to be taken lightly in Italy. It's not like there's a coffee pot over there .... Every cup has to be made fresh and consumed immediately. Had coffee, did my morning rituals and got out of the room!

      Question for myself: what now. I see a farmers market going on outside the hotel in the Piazza (city square, open area between streets?). Last night (anything before I sleep is last night) I decided to do the hop-on hop-off bus tour for Milan today.

      Not sure if I feel like hopping now!

      Also met Kavish's co-worker, from Bangladesh again. His name is Sakhawat, but people call him Arjoo (not Arzoo! He corrected) .. from Feni - near Chattagram. Impessed him too just by speaking bangla.      Read more

    • TravelerTurin ISU study abrd 24 trip
      Day 7

      Farmers market looks interesting!

      May 18 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

      Ok ... Was debating whether or not to go out and meet the world. But farmers market looks interesting. I'm convinced - it's nicer outside. Not that I have an option to stay in my room - the cleaning lady is here. I can only stall so long in the breakfast area. So going out.... Good luck to myself!Read more

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