Both work really well, Milano is the fashion capital of Italy and it really shows everyone you see except the beggars are dressed up as though it's a special occasion each trying to outdo the other... I'm massively unimpressed! Happy to be plodding around in the rather travel stained garb I'd been wearing for a little too long!
I guess travel stained is my fashion! 😄
Still I'm here I'll look..
My first stop is a small museum to Leonardo Da Vinci and his works really not worth the price as it's literally three rooms, it is good don't get me wrong the reconstructions of da Vinci's designs are beautifully crafted they cry out to be in motion sadly they aren't and understandably there is a no touch policy!
an example of a robotic knight designed to give the impression of a castle being greatly more defended than it actually was!
Before you get to the dome roof in the center
and the four arms of the building
each with uncounted outlets/naves for these pilgrims to commercialism and fashion.
Obviously I buy nothing!
This place really couldn't be more of an opposite to my recent surroundings and as such my opinion is likely skewed after so many wonders!
Onto the plaza del Duomo, the Duomo being a stunning Cathedral
On another visit I'd likely pay to go in but I've seen so many in the last month that the beautiful facade is enough.
So I stay on the plaza with peacocks and pigeons
At times you can forget why you're on journey like this and start to think of home (not that I currently have one!) but a street performer guitarist started playing Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen Ruth's favourite song he played so beautifully it broke me I cried in the street for her loss.
He then started playing Pink Floyd-
Wish you were here
Shine on you crazy diamond
Comfortably numb
All songs I associate with Ruth, it's like she's reminding me that I have to move forward.
Then he played Brothers in arms by Dire Straits one song I'd always gathered strength from......
and I do and I move on..... What choice do I have I've set this all in motion and it's still at the beginning only a month in.
As ever I wander on, I find myself heading towards one of the only bits of surving Roman architecture in Milano this rather nice set of Corinthian columns 'colon di San lorenzo'.....
with a nearby unvisitable amphitheatre behind high fences through the occasional gaps in the fence you can see there's construction/renovation work going on, in a years time the winter Olympics are coming to town, things must look their best.
And occasionally weird the wall of dolls!?!
it's a place for people to tie dolls in memory of murdered women/girls...a bit grim tho with a good reason 'remembrance'.
Next the Leonardo Da Vinci museum of science, a really nice science museum with a small section on Da Vinci..... Making good use of that name! 😁
From industrial revolution, recycling, maritime,air,trains and space it was a good place to visit!
it's getting towards the end the afternoon so I make a second attempt at the metro having wandered quite a way from the hostel, still confused by this system I stand back and watch a German couple get tickets...... It's blindingly simple, after the previous metro cards I've bought so far.... I'm now getting a collection of the things!
Back to the hostels locale I again find a Carrefour for tea drinks the usual, and settle in for the night.
The American lads and the Chilean are off clubbing.... I'm old lol.
