Milan - Not home to the 1954 Indiana State Basketball Champions
After a day on trains, we arrived in the evening just before a thunderstorm hit. We spent our first night decompressing, watching the first semi-final round of the Eurovision Song Contest.
The morning brought another day to explore the city and see a few sights starting with the Duomo.
We got another set of transit tickets so we could use the metro to get around, but really spent most of our time crawling inside and out of the cathedral. A friend had recommended getting tickets that gave us access (via an elevator up) to the roof. Most gothic cathedrals look similar, all are unique and beautiful but it takes a trained eye to notice some of those details. An eye I do not have. The interior was ornate and beautiful. The stained glass windows were beautiful. It was interesting to see how each generation put their mark on the place. Some windows had hundreds of small scenes from the Bible or portraits of saints. Some used the entire window to tell one story. If I were a biblical scholar I might be able to tell what was going on. I’ve read more Norse mythology than Christian.
We had tickets to the roof… we hopped on the elevator (once we figured out which one and where) and were whisked up to the horror that is being high above a city.
Have I mentioned I don’t like heights? I am pretty good at masking it or at least not letting the fear control me, but…
I guess that’s it, I’m just stubborn and hate when outside sources have control over me. “Fiercely Independent” was what my kindergarten teacher said. So I may not have been overjoyed, and I may not have looked down a lot, but I did see some amazing things. I did have to remind Sue as she would point at something excitedly.
In preparation for the 2026 Winter Olympics they are doing some restoration work, so there is scaffolding around some places. This gave me the chance to see some pieces being prepared for installation and the scaffolding provided an extra sense of security from falling in some places.
C’mon Work the Camera
Funny thing I’ve noticed is the instagramming of society. As we visit some amazing places there is always someone dressed up posing for glamour shots with whatever in the background. Usually they are holding everyone up in order to get the perfect shot. There is a pose they all strike- some influencer probably came up with it. I guess I’m just too much of a geek to worry about it. It’s like the kids doing “gang signs” in photos so they look cool. In ten years people will ask them “Why are your fingers like that? It looks weird.” The sad part is these folks are so self absorbed that they don’t get when they are being a nuisance to the people who are around them. We try (fail at times, but…) to keep out of other people’s pictures or give people leeway when they are taking bc a photo. This is why I tend to just hold up the monkey , click, and then crop the photo liberally.
Virtually Here… No not there, HERE 🙄
The rest of the day was tracking down two virtual geocaches (3 photos each) that took us pretty much all over the place. A longish walk? Sure. Something a U.S. cacher would tolerate? Probably not many city cachers without complaint.
The one virtual I found funny had specific directions on exactly where and how each of the three photos had to be taken. Each with examples of what to and not to do. I’m guessing the cache owner has either had issues in the past or is very precise and controlling.
Our last day Milan was basically, packing up and navigating the trains and public transit to get to Cernobbio and our “Cozy House” for the weekend of the Lake Como Comic Arts Festival. More on that later.
Of course we did it all over again after a night’s sleep in Cernobbio to go and see something some turtle painted on a wall.
No question: You and Sue did the town! Many thanks for taking time to let us also enjoy your sights!
Yes. I admit it. I initially read that as the Indiana town, not the Italian original. I guess I've lived in the Midwest too long. LOL