Milan - Old world new money

 

Not sure what Brigitte is so happy about - its a 4 hr train ride to Milan....must be the coffee

 The Romans say that the Milanise (in the north of Italy) are up tight and too focused on work. The Milanise say that the Romans (in the south of Italy) are blood suckers living a lifestyle afforded to them by what happens in Milan. Fair enough....Milan is crisp clean and efficient -  Rome is anything but. That said - The entire world envies Rome's ability to live big and to enjoy the moment. This is another magical quality that makes Italy so interesting. As said previously "Il dolce far niente"

All of Milan revolves around Duomo. This is the center of the city, the main church and the shopping which is in my view unparalleled any place in the world I have been so far. La Scalla (the world's most famous opera house) is here. It a magical and exciting place.

Pictured above is the Duomo Church in central Milan. The 4th largest church in Europe, its a bit different than many of the others we have looked at to date. Given some of the historical changes going on at the time of this construction, the powers that be were interested in impressing the Austrians and French - hence the more Gothic look of the church. Darker and waaaay more gargoyles which really appeals to me. I 'm fascinated by gargoyles and have spent too much money on replicas already. The inside is large and dark. It (in my humble opinion) does not have the same mystic qualities as some of the others. It uses size to make the point rather than technique and ingenious architecture. Remember the domes at St. Peter's? It has none of that.

We did a bit more schlepping about through the streets of Milan looking at the various sites and enjoying the feel of the city. The train station was a Mussolini- built building with a view to impressing all those who arrived or departed from Milan at this location. It is large and impressive but full of cons and pickpockets. You really have to watch yourself here. The other things; the bathrooms are expensive. It's $2 to use the facilities so many choose quiet out of the way place to relieve themselves. That's number 1 and 2 for the record - nice. I really can't get this through my head. All the work Milan does and has done to make their city livable and they do this.

Duomo center - every name brand on the planet - really beautiful suff.

NOW - here is what Milan is really about: Fashion and shopping. People watching is best in this city. Again - most of the goings on are near Duomo where the shopping is the best I have seen. We saw cool motorcycles

How cool is this rocket ship - this is sexy! Claims to be the fastest motorcycle in the world - not sure about that but it sure looks like it is.

visited the Ferrari shop. Watched with fascination as Brigitte and Stevie squeal in front of the Gucci store and others. We stumbled across a "department store" that makes Barney's in New York look like Walmart . 8 floors of the hottest sexiest coolest stuff I have ever seen. Jake - in a very funny moment looked up after checking the price of a winter jacket said "I'm not sure if this is the price or serial number"! Oh yeah - it was expensive stuff. The kind of price that even if you brace yourself you're surprised. And then you see the customers loading up with $2000 purses and $1500 pairs of shoes.....where does this kind of money come from? I agonize over the decision given the difference in price of entry level Asics ($129) and the performance level ($169) and usually settle for the economy version. It amazes me. Still - watching the people dressed up in all this gear is beautiful. Fashion is fun to watch - I just don't want to pay....


Jake is clearly surprised by the pricing on the menu.



Even more surprised  - we though he may have heart failure so called for defibrillators

Above Jake checks out the prices at one of the street-side restaurant. You can tell by the look on his face that the prices are not for the faint of heart. Pasta and a good glass of wine in Milan followed up by a fine Gelato. Another perfect evening in Italy. Catching a flight to Santorini Greece in the morning for some R&R on the Agean.....should be ok :)