September 5, 2010
Milan, Italy

In Milan.  Overcast and muggy.  Not doing any of the tourist sites, just walking around with regular stops for coffee or bottled water at an outdoor cafe where I can simply read and enjoy watching life go by on the street.  About as relaxing as one could hope. Truly.

Didn’t see much of Switzerland, save the spectacular train ride through the alps.  I don’t regret flying into Zurich at all.  Even though it was out of the way for this trip, the train ride was worth it.  Milan is pretty much the first city you come to after the terrain flattens out when out of the mountain and foothills.

I guess not surprisingly, Northern Italy has a strong Swiss and German influence.  Lighter hair and complexion than the Italian stereotype, and the food is more like I remember in Germany, with less of the tomato sauce, garlic, and oregano dishes that I really enjoy.

One really cool thing here is the hidden residential courtyards.  On a number of small, nondescript, dull-looking streets you will see beautiful large wooden doorways leading into inner courtyards that have apartments within.  Some of these entryways have beautiful tiled or marble floors and the courtyard may be handsomely decorated.  There are, of course, many more dull, ugly apartment buildings where most people likely live, but these courtyards are (slightly) hidden gems.  I’d love to know what the residences look like.

Typical boring street.  Note that large entryway.

 

And, waiting inside…

 

Another:

 

There are a lot legitimate-looking massage parlors around.  This one caught my eye.  One wonders…