McGirls Eurotrip: Milan: Day 2

Well Day two of Milano (i.e., wear-us-out-town!) and we got out early to enjoy the cool air before it got really warm. We walked through the Giardini Pubblici (main public gardens) and enjoyed our walk to the city center. Very nice and a quiet change from the morning rush happening on the sidewalks.

We cut down Via della Spiga and Via Monte Napoleone so Paige could see these high dollar stores before town got busy. She of course found some items that she could certainly live with, too bad they would have cost her the equivalent to her first year at college!

We visited the Duomo and the Gallaria Vittorio Emanuele II. The Duomo is incredible! It is just amazing the amount of work that was put into this unbelievable structure. The Gallaria is also gorgeous and incredible to think that it has been in operation as a shopping center since the mid 1800’s! Paige actually stood awestruck when we turned the corner and it came into view. Of course there were pigeons in Piazza Duomo and Paige the pigeon tamer had to feed them so we snapped some pictures of that as well. We could go all over the world and all that child would be concerned with was whether she had some bread in her bag to feed the birds. I worry about her.

Once we had given ourselves stiff necks from looking up so much at the cathedral, we headed back to the shopping district for a stroll and then to lunch before hitting The Bagatti Valsecchi house museum.

We got lucky and slipped into a café that was just getting their hot dishes ready and right after we ordered from the bar (cold risotto salad, baked chicken and artichokes, sautéed broccoli and roasted potatoes) every construction and road worker in the city it seemed stormed the place (which I am thinking means we had the good fortune to pick an awesome place for lunch!). The food was absolutely wonderful and the price was great so we got lucky on that one, no Panini or Foccacia for once for lunch!

Paige’s first experience with the frozen espresso in Padova must have left an impression as our lunch came with coffee and as I am a die-hard tea drinker, she decided to get one of those. She certainly must have enjoyed it because she even passed on the gelato on the way back to the museum!

The Bagatti Valsecchi house was incredible! It is the home of Milanese royalty (Baron brothers) which they completely renovated during the 1800’s in the Renaissance style. The home was lived in up until 1975 by the family and the audio tour they provide is narrated , in part, by the grandson of one of the brothers. All the furniture, artwork and particulars to the home were left for the museum and it was such a nice break from the tourists of Duomo. We were the only visitors except for one other couple a few rooms behind us while we were there. No pictures were allowed but it was definitely something that will stay with both of us regardless. We just wish we could show it to you! We spent about an hour wondering through just one of the floors (the only one open to the public) of the home and learning about the renovation and articles there.

We then headed back towards the hotel but instead of walking through the shopping district we made our way through the park again and decided it was too early to go straight to the hotel so we toured The Natural History Museum there which was really fun even though most of it was in Italian. I think we actually learned a few things!

We stopped at the grocery store before heading in for the night and Paige had to get some more of that “wonderful” whole fresh Italian milk and Mic just couldn’t resist some potato chips (can anyone say homesick!) along with some fresh peach juice and Granny Smith apples (again, uh….is it time to head home?).

Tomorrow we are planning on heading out to the Royal Palace and the La Scala Opera house and museum. We’ll let you know how they were! See you then!