The Last Supper

This morning I was up bright and early and out the door at around 7.20am.  I had an appointment with Leonardo.  Not wanting any unexpected delays I decided to grab a taxi to Santa Maria Della Grazie and get the Metro back.

I grabbed an espresso at a bar, then made my way through Piazza Duomo where I started wondering where everyone was, I mean, I wasn't expecting to see any tourists at that hour, but I was expecting to see the Milanese making their way to work.  It wasn't til a couple hours later that I realised that it was Sunday.  One of the joys of travel is losing track of what day it is.  Ahhhh.

I took a few photos this time.  When you travel folks, get up early!  Two reasons.  1.  Is you'll get the best light for photos, and 2.  The tourists are still asleep.  I actually have a photo of The Duomo with very few people out the front!

At The Last Supper I was glad that I had an early morning appointment.  They only let 30 people in at a time, and only for 15mins at a time.  In my group there was only 9 of us.  On entry, they lock one door behind you before opening the next.  They tell you loud and clear, no photos, and there are signs everywhere that cameras are not allowed.  So I was a little annoyed when some clown took a photo, but the photo police nabbed him, and made him delete the photo!

After 15 mins, out the other door we went.  I decided to use their toilets (sorry, another toilet story) because surely it would be clean.  But I got in there and the previous female had peed on the toilet seat.  Sit on the toilet and aim straight bitch!

Then I went across the road to grab my breakfast, cornetto of course.  Delicious of course.  Then I thought I should try and find a metro entry point.  I was guided by some signs, but soon realised that I was following 'no parking' signs.  Never mind, something will turn up, I thought.  I followed my gut instinct for where the Duomo should be, and happened across a couple of key historical sites.  The first was one of six ancient 'gates to the city'.  I kept wandering and found myself at the Basilica Sant Ambrogio (construction started in 370).

Milan (or should I say Italy) has some of the most beautiful churches.  The art and sculptures are magnificent, and the architecture astounding.  It's enough to turn even a cynic like me back to Catholicism.  Almost.

Then I stumbled across Piazza Borromeo, then Piazza San Sepolcro.  By this time, I was close enough to the Duomo that there were signs pointing in the direction.  So I just walked the rest of the way in.

After doing a spot of shopping at Zara (I don't normally shop at Zara, but I found a couple of classic pieces, a black deep v back dress and a red jacket, all for 109€), I went back to the apartment.  Skyped Todd then had a power nap.

Then I went back to Central Milan and grabbed a foccacia for lunch and did some window shopping.  After wandering around for a while I found some phone boxes and decided to call my cousin Daniele.  He told me he was working but I will call him again tomorrow and try and catch up with him tomorrow night.  As I walked away from the telephone box I had to cross the road.  I was at a pedestrian crossing, was fairly sure it was safe to cross and as I was in the middle of the road this dude in a white car came screaming around the corner.  He was going so fast, I actually thought I was going to be critically wounded (ok, those weren't my exactly thoughts, but I nearly shit my pants ok!), he wound down his window and apologised profusely.  I was too stunned to reply.  I just looked at him like an idiot.

After that I found my way to the chocolate shop I saw yesterday.  I tried to order waffles with chocolate and strawberry, but they had run out of waffles.  So I had to settle for the crepes.  What a shame.  I have just finished eating them, and I am so full...  Todd, I am going to come back fat!

I have found a shady spot and am writing this outside the Galleria.  I have the Galleria to my right, Statue of Leonardo to my left.  I am sitting under a tree.  Definition of happiness right there.

This photo is of the Galleria, also taken early morning when there was not a soul about.

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After relaxing for a while, I went and had a second date with Leonardo.  There was an exhibition actually right at the end of the Galleria - if you look at the above photo, at the end on the left.  The exhibition was exhibiting new interpretations of his work.  There were models of drawings he had in his folios, as well as digital imaging of the folios, and descriptions of the lengths scholars and the like have gone into to try and put it all together and understand his thinking.  What a genius.

After that I just walked and walked and walked.  Just generally either window shopping or admiring the buildings, taking photos, breathing Milan in.  Made it to Castello Sforzesco which I think now houses museums but I didn't go in.  By this time I was thinking I needed to get back to the apartment.  As I was heading back, that storm from last night decided to reappear again at pretty much the same time too.  I got back to the apartment and was knackered so had another nanna nap...  Have woken up just in time for bed time.

I seriously love this city.  So so so beautiful.

Tomorrow I'm planning on heading to the Australian Embassy, which by the looks is nearby, so I can vote!  Yay!  Then I'm going to head to Via Montenapoleone which is Milan's shopping district.  Then we'll see where the day takes me.