Ciao'!
I thought I'd get at least one journal entry in before we left for Rome. I'll be filling in what I've been up to the past few weeks and the last journal will be of my trip to Rome.
Saturday, May 10th, 2008
Ok, so we weren't technically in Italy at that point but the sight of the Alps after waking up on the plane was a sight to behold. I hadn't realized how close we were to them and Switzerland. Upon arriving, Milan seemed to look like any other big city, although the traffic system was kinda convoluted. The apartments now, those were beautiful. Mabye not necessarily the insides but the courtyard and the rooms around it made me feel like I was stepping into Italy for the first time rather then back at the airport. Plus the sounds of the street are muffled so definate bonus but your voice carrys very well inside too. We all stopped at a small pizza place near the apartments which was delicious and we walked around a bit on the Navigili or Canal that was close by as well.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Me and Meggy got up nice and early around 9 and then everyone in the group gathered down in the lobby with Professor Nodine. It wasn't long till we were off to Porta Genova, the throughfare we would be using to get to all the locations in Milan. The subway system is convineient, if a bit crowded at times. Our first stop of the day was Romolo to visit the university that we would be studying with, IULM. It obviously wasn't open on Sunday but the next day we'd meet there. Next stop was Statione Centrale, basicly the central station. This was were we'd get out tickets for the trains to Venice and Rome and such during out free weekend time. Nodine told us a little about the history behind the station, and then we were back on the subway to visit Duomo Square. The Duomo is the largest church in Milan and towers above most churches in most of Italy was well. Duomo, contratry to what is sounds like, does not mean "dome" but rather "house" (which makes sense seeing as this is the "house of God"). According to Nodine, on a clear day you could see the Alps from the top of the Duomo, something she promised we'd do on a later day. After a brief overview we moved over to the left (facing the Duomo) side of the square to visit the Victorio Emanuel, a high-end shopping center for things like Gutchi and Prada. According to local tradition, if you spin on the bull in a certain place you get good luck. Seeing as this place is supposidly where the architect of the center died... I don't see how that would foster good luck but eh, when in Milan, do as the Milanese do.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Today we were off early to IULM to study with one of our foriegn professors, Giuliana Geronimo. For much of the morning we spent our time listening and taking notes on the history of Milan throughout each of the major time periods. It was amazing to see how much Milan had changed, and what where most important these days to the Milanese people. Apparently Milan a design capital where many come to start out in the business. After the lecture and some wild subway rides later we met up at the Duomo and Nodine, true to her word, got us all up to see the top fo the Duomo. The Intricate carvings and reliefs where everywhere on the sides but no decoration could beat the roof of the Duomo for sheer shock factor. Getting up all the way, and stepping out of the stair case you see the main spire, and the rows of spires leading up to it. My first impression was of a palace, just sitting on top of the duomo. The view from the top was spectacular too, although I was disapointed we couldn't see the Alps.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Seeing as we didnt' have to meet Giuliana until 1:30pm today, a group of us went early in the morning to grab some tickets to Florence, the first weekend excersion of the trip. We also had just enought time to check out the Da Vinci Science and Technology Museum but I wasn't too thrilled with it. All the Da Vinci stuff was blocked off and you had to have a tour to see them. We still got to see some of the other exhibits though I know I missed alot, not knowing how to read Italian and all. Once we met Giuliana we headed over to the Bagatti-Valsecchi House, the house of two brothers who were obsessed with living the Renaissance ideal, and then the Poldi Pisali house. Both of these were once private houses with vast collections of rare artwork until they were donated to organizations to be made into museums.
Sorry, have to get on the train to Rome, so I'll finish/write more later.
Thanks! Andrew