The European Chronicles 5.2 Trains, Ferries, Cathedrals, Fashion and Mia Figlia
The European Chronicles - Chapter 5.2
Trains, Ferries, Cathedrals, Fashion and Mia Figlia
My daughter, Dana, flew in from Chicago and took the train to Varenna, a distinct benefit to this location. Train Trivia: it will say Tirano on the train departure board at Milan Centrale, that's the one you want... 😓
Happy lakeside millennial 😀
After settling into Casa Olea and shaking off the jet lag, we decided to ferry over to Menaggio the next day. We left Guard Kitty in charge.
Waiting on the ferry
On the way...the ferry system is very efficient, cars, people, bikes all load quickly, and it is about a 15 minute run across the lake.
Wear comfortable shoes
Uh oh...
Soon as we disembark, it starts raining. Of course, we both have rain jackets...back at Casa Olea. Gear failure...solved by lunch.
Waaaayyy too long without a bike pic...couple on a Ktoom waiting on the ferry; I don't care how good they are supposed to be, I can't get past the fugly...
When we returned to Casa Olea, we explored the church directly above, San Martino. The bell tower was built in the 11th century; the Baroque facade was added in the 1600s.
The view from the church courtyard
Casa Olea from the church
Nooks and crannies of Perledo
Guard Kitty kneading the jewels...😱
Train to Milan the following day for a walk around the city...Milan Centrale, a stunning train station.
The street entrance
Walk out the front and the Pirelli Tower is immediately to your right
We stroll thru a park to the entrance of the old city...
Just past the gate is the La Scala Opera House
On to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II at the Piazza Duomo. Now this, this right here, is how shopping should be. 😎. Designed in 1861 and built between 1865 and 1867.
Hmmmm...owwwwww....
The tradition is that if a person puts their right heel on the bull’s testicular region and “turn on himself three times,” which is to actually rotate backwards, or counterclockwise, this will bring good luck.
You walk out the other side to the Duomo di Milano, the fifth largest church in the world; it took nearly 6 centuries to build.
It is hard to convey the building's scale...it is enormous, with incredibly intricate detail, everywhere.
600 years of money, effort and time that, perhaps, just perhaps, could have been put to better use.
Turn it UP!
Castello Sforzesco, built in the 15th century by the Duke of Milan, Francesco Sforza.
Got moat?
Even the refrigerators have style...
On to the fashion district
You didn't think I'd be taking pictures of clothes, did you?
Memories...
A fashionista...
Caged Bull
Back at Milan Centrale having a spritz and an espresso, how civilized...
A fun day, covering about 10 miles on foot!
Still needed to see Bellagio, so ferry time again the following day.
Pristine Honda 350 Four
All shopped out, we head back to Varenna
Bond, James Bond...
See the castle? That's tomorrow's objective...
The day starts with a stroll and a cappuccino at Bar Milano in Perledo
Dana found what looked like a very cool restaurant "at an historical and ancient building nestled in the ravine of Vezio," Crott del Pepott. And it was...
On to Castello di Vezio, built in the late 11th century, with a commanding view of the lake.
Sculpture on the way...
We happened to stumble upon a falconer's exhibition...
Then the always (it seems) uphill walk back to Casa Olea...
A fun day, a GREAT visit; it was wonderful to share the experience together.
The taxi picked Dana up at 0'dark thirty this morning for her trek back to Chicago. 😢
Ciao!
Trains, Ferries, Cathedrals, Fashion and Mia Figlia
My daughter, Dana, flew in from Chicago and took the train to Varenna, a distinct benefit to this location. Train Trivia: it will say Tirano on the train departure board at Milan Centrale, that's the one you want... 😓
Happy lakeside millennial 😀
After settling into Casa Olea and shaking off the jet lag, we decided to ferry over to Menaggio the next day. We left Guard Kitty in charge.
Waiting on the ferry
On the way...the ferry system is very efficient, cars, people, bikes all load quickly, and it is about a 15 minute run across the lake.
Wear comfortable shoes
Uh oh...
Soon as we disembark, it starts raining. Of course, we both have rain jackets...back at Casa Olea. Gear failure...solved by lunch.
Waaaayyy too long without a bike pic...couple on a Ktoom waiting on the ferry; I don't care how good they are supposed to be, I can't get past the fugly...
When we returned to Casa Olea, we explored the church directly above, San Martino. The bell tower was built in the 11th century; the Baroque facade was added in the 1600s.
The view from the church courtyard
Casa Olea from the church
Nooks and crannies of Perledo
Guard Kitty kneading the jewels...😱
Train to Milan the following day for a walk around the city...Milan Centrale, a stunning train station.
The street entrance
Walk out the front and the Pirelli Tower is immediately to your right
We stroll thru a park to the entrance of the old city...
Just past the gate is the La Scala Opera House
On to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II at the Piazza Duomo. Now this, this right here, is how shopping should be. 😎. Designed in 1861 and built between 1865 and 1867.
Hmmmm...owwwwww....
The tradition is that if a person puts their right heel on the bull’s testicular region and “turn on himself three times,” which is to actually rotate backwards, or counterclockwise, this will bring good luck.
You walk out the other side to the Duomo di Milano, the fifth largest church in the world; it took nearly 6 centuries to build.
It is hard to convey the building's scale...it is enormous, with incredibly intricate detail, everywhere.
600 years of money, effort and time that, perhaps, just perhaps, could have been put to better use.
Turn it UP!
Castello Sforzesco, built in the 15th century by the Duke of Milan, Francesco Sforza.
Got moat?
Even the refrigerators have style...
On to the fashion district
You didn't think I'd be taking pictures of clothes, did you?
Memories...
A fashionista...
Caged Bull
Back at Milan Centrale having a spritz and an espresso, how civilized...
A fun day, covering about 10 miles on foot!
Still needed to see Bellagio, so ferry time again the following day.
Pristine Honda 350 Four
All shopped out, we head back to Varenna
Bond, James Bond...
See the castle? That's tomorrow's objective...
The day starts with a stroll and a cappuccino at Bar Milano in Perledo
Dana found what looked like a very cool restaurant "at an historical and ancient building nestled in the ravine of Vezio," Crott del Pepott. And it was...
On to Castello di Vezio, built in the late 11th century, with a commanding view of the lake.
Sculpture on the way...
We happened to stumble upon a falconer's exhibition...
Then the always (it seems) uphill walk back to Casa Olea...
A fun day, a GREAT visit; it was wonderful to share the experience together.
The taxi picked Dana up at 0'dark thirty this morning for her trek back to Chicago. 😢
Ciao!
