Off to Milano!

Monday 28 June 2009
Not having learned from London, we hit the Louvre, knowing we had a 2pm train to Milano. But we were now experienced Metro users (look, the system is brilliant – we never waited more than 4 minutes in any direction for any train). But we again tempted fate by pushing ourselves around Paris at morning peak hour to get to the museum and back to catch the train to Italy. But we did it, somehow. Again, mother hen leading the tribe up Rue Magenta to the railway station. The trip to Milano – 7.5 hours – seemed to go very quickly. The trip was brilliant. Has to be the way to move around this place. Probably not helped by my failure to replenish cash before we left – and they don’t take credit on the train. Amazing what you can do on 11 euros.
Arrived in Milano to a thunderstorm - totally not prepared for that in my plans! Fortunately, only drizzling by the time we finally left the station and, yes, scab dad made them all walk the 1.4km to the hotel. Ainslie was very worried about the standard of the hotel, after Paris. I told her that this was rated less superior to Paris. She was aghast. Fortunately, the hotel was very good and there was much rejoicing. By this time it was after 10pm, and we were all very hungry. We ventured out of the hotel, walked 20 metres to a bar/restaurant which was very happy to receive our custom. The girls were mightily impressed by the waiter – I must admit I heard a lot over the next days about the tre bella and how proud I must be. Italian men – they are very cool and, I think, seem very genuine, if not a little forthright. But stay away from my daughters, ok?
But the girls, right from the time we arrived, love Italy.

Tuesday 30 June 2009
Decided today was shopping day. Whatever they wanted, wherever. Ironically, I spent the most but did my shopping in 18 minutes. The designer shops was ludricously priced as you might imagine. But we all had fun buying stuff, so that can’t be a bad thing, can it?
We had arranged to do a Milan tour (because it took in the Last Supper, too make it easy). Wasn’t exactly the most riveting tour, but included the Duomo which was ok – except we had the panic that the girls were not dressed ‘appropriately’ for the cathedral – too much flesh showing. Somewhat ironic given the bookstore at the back of the cathedral happy to take your money but girls can’t wear shorts (and I do recall my gospel stories of Christ and the money changers in the temple …).
Anyway, the wait for the Last Supper was well worth it. Just amazing.
Back to the hotel for a refresh and off to dinner – somewhere close. I did quick look around and found a nice restaurant just around the corner. Ains and Millie decided to give Gabi a makeover. They did a sensational job.
Early the next morning, I went to their room to hurry them along and noticed that the bide towels had been “used”, or at least ‘stained’. I thought, good on them , because I hadn’t even mentioned what a bide was. Must have worked it out for themselves. Alas, Millie used them to dry her hair and Gabi to remove her make-up. Didn’t realize what they were normally used for of course, but at least that explained the smudges.