Buongiorno. This is the start of the 2022 Summer travel season. This entry will cover from June 23 to July 7. Wow, two weeks a once. Well, yes and no. Luisa was born on the 22nd in Torino. Mary had planned to fly out on the 23rd, because apparently they like to keep you five days in the hospital after giving birth. Which means serra would be there until the 27th.
On the night of 22nd we got a message from American Airlines that Mary’s flight had been cancelled. We spent most of the morning On the phone with American Customer Service, a misnomer if there ever was one, trying to reschedule. At first they said it would be a week before she could leave. After several hours, we finally got her on the flight on the 24th. Mind you the same flights. Just 24 hours later.
It is ok, because as seasoned travelers we had book a room in Milan for three nights. It is so we have an opportunity to adjust to the time change. The older we get the more difficult that is becoming. So true truth is she arrived a day late and spent two nights in Milan.
Then, all by herself, she took the train to Torino. I booked her the same Air B&B I had used on my visit. It is located not too far from the Piazza Carlo Emanuele II. A really goo location for visiting Torino. It is on the fourth (American) floor, so it is above the street noise. There is an elevator. If you are looking ona a map it is located at Via San Massimo 3.
I had stayed home because the Milgard people were supposed to come and replace the three windows in our unit which has become delimitated. Mind you a put in the claim, under warranty, in early February. They came out on April 28th to replace the windows. First, the guy said he brought the wrong windows. They had me send them the serial numbers off of the windows. I sent the photos of the numbers. Second, he said he couldn’t do them anyway because they were on the 4th floor. He would need to use ladders and would need a crew of three.
You know me, I took it in stride. A could days later they call and rescheduled for June 30th. What is sixty days between friends? So I stayed a home, because I was afraid they would reschedule in November. We are gone in September and October. They arrived on the 30th. Six guys, three trucks and lots of ladders.
The first thing out of the guys mouth was, we can’t do this safely. We are going to have to put up scaffolding. I calmly said well I am you to do it safely, and if you need to put up scaffolding, then so be it. Please have the office call so we can reschedule. Truly I could have used a drink. But I stayed calm.
My flight had originally been scheduled for July 12th. Arriving on the 13th. Grace, who is attending summer school at the International School of Milan, finishes on July 16th. So, knowing there might be issues, my flight was booked for July 12th. Then, we were invited to come when Serra gave birth. Obviously at that point the window guys limited my window, no pun, of opportunity. So I rebooked my flight for July 4th, both a good day to fly and a bad day to fly. Good because I actually find that changing my flight reduced my ticket price. Bad because there are lots of people flying.
My flights were all economy seats. Now that I have lost weight they are more comfortable it sit in. I ordered an Uber the night before to pick me up at 10:30 for my 13:45 flight. No bag to check, following my granddaughters ability to fit a months worth of clothing into a carry on, so did I. Ok, yes all my clothes are twice a big, but I am sure she packed twice as many outfits.
Arrival of the Uber as interesting. I got a text at 10:03 that he was outside waiting. I double check my reservation and it said 10:30. It really didn’t matter because I was ready, so I was off to the airport at 10:15. Perhaps the day was going to go my way. Upon arrival I checked in and received my boarding passes. I had put in for an upgrade to business class. I was surprised when I got my boarding pass that the Chicago to Milan portion of the trip had been upgraded to Business class.
So I flew economy to Chicago. Which was ok. The couple behind me couldn’t even start to control their child. He kept kicking the back of my seat, yelling and throwing a right good tantrum. It really didn’t bother me that much. I actually fell asleep for about a hour.
The fight was early by ten or fifteen minutes. As a result the changed the terminal on us. It was supposed to arrive at C10, and I was supposed to depart of C17. Fortunately the B terminal is attached to the C terminal and I didn’t have to leave security and return. Needless to say I made the Milan flight with plenty of time to spare.
Somewhere along the way I did lose my water bottle. I bought one before I left San Carlos. I had it in the Uber and through security. I drank from it on the flight from San Francisco to Chicago. I refilled it in Chicago, but when I lifted my backpack into the overhead bin on the flight to Milan it was gone. I climbed up on the seat and looked in the bin, but alas it was on where to be found. I was trying to be so good. I did get a plastic bottle in my seat, so I have been using that and refilling it. At least until I can find a reusable one which will fit in the space on the backpack.
I arrived in Milan. I immediately shed my jacket. It was 65 when I left San Francisco and upon arrival in Milan it was 97. My EU passport helped greatly. I simply scanned the passport and I walked right through. In fact the flight was about 20 minutes early, so I actually made it though security, and on the train to Milan before I was supposed to even land in Milan. The train I managed to connect to was a slow train, but it was air conditioned.
On arrival at the central train station, I booked it towards the hotel Bristol. It is just past the Piazza Luigi di Savoia, that is where the taxi stand is. Interestingly it was empty. There wasn’t a single taxi. I would learn later they were on strike. The flight arrived at 12:40, so it was just after 13:30 when I arrived at the hotel. Fortunately my room was ready. So I went up and settled in. The truth be known, I even took a two hour nap.
About 16:00 I walked to the train station and bought a couple Metro tickets. I duty was to go to Canetta at Via Dante 4 and pick up Luisa’ s baptism gown. I was able to determine from Rome2Rio that I could take the Metro to either the Duomo (M3) or Cordusio (M1) stations, and walk just a short distance to the shop. Milan is just a wonderful city, even when it is 97+ outside. The exit at the Duomo just opposite the face of the Duomo. What a beautiful sight.
During the last week Bob and I have been watching the Gucci Family documentary on TV. I was pointing out all the sights. The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II was featured in one of the programs. Needless to say Bob got a photo of me in front of the Galleria. A block or so in the wrong direction, but who cares.
Then I walked the four or five blocks to the Canetta shop. At first they didn’t have a clue of what was I supposed to pick up, fortunately Mary had sent me photos of the receipt. Once they understood the gown was purchased in Torino, but was only available in Milan, they understood completely. It is a beautiful gown. They packaged it up and I left. It was just going on six so it was too early to goto dinner, and I hadn’t had much opportunity to walk, so I decided to hoof it over to Eataly in Piazza Venticinque Aprile about two kilometers away. I thought that would allow me to arrive about the same time that the restaurants were opening. It was hot out, but it was still a nice walk.
Upon my arrival I noticed not much has changed in the Piazza. Eataly is still Eataly. They are all the same. Which is why I don’t like them that much. Too predictable. But it is air conditioned. I walked around in side, discovered the restaurant which serves meat was closed for a private function. It was still a little before seven and the others weren’t open yet. So I decided to walk to Piazza Gae Aulenti. The area around which has been under construction for what seems like years. It is a nice shopping center what a large super market, parks and an Illy Cafè. From there I walked back to Il Tavolino, one of my favorite restaurants near the central train station.
So far I haven’t mentioned anything about the effects of COVID. Things are different here now. Last time I was here you needed to be wearing a mask all the time and you had to have your vaccination certificate in hand. On this trip so far no one has asked for the vaccination certificate. I even went though the trouble of getting an official EU digital COVID certificate from Ireland. Masks are basically hit or miss. Generally I wear mine in public, the trains, metro and buses. However I would have to say that maybe twenty to thirty percent of the people are wearing masks. With COVID on the rise here in Europe it seems they would be more concerned. The need for tourists however probably out weighs the need for caution.
When I got to Il Tavolino I could see they were getting ready for a large group. Some of the outside tables had even been moved indoors. It seems they have gotten popular. I took a chance and asked bout a table for one but he said they were full. Ok, that just means an opportunity to try something new. I set off in the direction of the hotel looking for some place to eat. I found Hostaria La Baita on Via Roberto Lepetit, 29. Now, as you might has guessed, I was looking for Cotoletta Di Vitello Alla Milanese. Either that or Risotto al zafferano Alla Milanese. After all when you are in Milan ….. These are my favorite regional dishes.
Immediately when entering I saw a gentlemen sitting at a table having the Cotoletta. They sat me at the table next to him. I leaned over and asked if the cotoletta was good. He responded in the affirmative so my meal was set.
The cotoletta was served with French fries and mayonnaise. The mayonnaise is an Italian thing to eat with the French fries. I will never get it. The cotoletta was very good. The house red wine was good and the two bottles of water were almost sufficient to bring me back to reality. A nice Australian couple sat next to me after the man left. We had a nice chat about this and that. They asked me what was important to see in Milan. That was actually difficult to answer.
The Duomo is important. The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is wonderful architecture, but then Milan is full of beautiful churches and diverse architectural styles. Castello Sforsesco and the park are great. The area with the canals near Porta Ticinese. Just to walk around the city is a privilege for me.
I had a piece of cheese cake with a blueberry topping, fresh strawberries and raspberries. A caffé with grappa. It was a very pleasant evening. The entire meal was 45 Euros. You can’t get anything close to that in California. I then headed back to the hotel and to bed.
Buonanotte Enrico
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