Physical Challenge No. 1: How to get about this big city. I had one mission: Villa Necchi. Not so easy. It wasn’t walking distance so the only answer was to master the Milano Metro. That means working out the ticketing system, negotiating the massive steps and finding the right lines to interchange. The first thing I did was to get on the Metro to the Duomo. I emerged into bright, blazing sunlight and people, people everywhere. Horrible. There were so many people in the Galleria that you just couldn’t walk through it. It might have been pouring rain when Rose and I were there but so much nicer. I guess it was November after all.
I didn’t go into either, I didn’t want to get into that hive of people at all. So I started to walk from there to Villa Necchi. It was a hot walk but I got there. My appointment was 2 hrs away but I just wanted to walk away from the crowds. When I got there, there was a restaurant in the beautiful gardens of the place. So I slipped in there and had a bottle of water and a Caesar salad. I never have wine at lunch time these days. It’s too hard to keep going if I do. I guess that will change when I reconnect with Chris. It was such pleasant surroundings but again I got chosen by the wasps. So much so that the waiter commented on it. Not bitten this time but the last one remains a huge red welt.
Then I went into the very gorgeous Villa. It was a lovely couple of hours in a divine house that was a chic balance of the old and the modern (art Nouveau). All in a most tranquil and beautiful setting. A good way to spend your only day in Milan. But all good things must come to an end and soon enough I had to hike back to a Metro station. Change Metros and find my way back to the Hotel. This time I couldn’t believe how close to the Central Station the Hotel is and how easy to find. I also simply couldn’t believe where I had got myself to in the early hours of the morning. God I’m a dick at times.
Still it was hot and tiring work negotiating the underground and walking in the hot sun. So I got back to the hotel and asked where they could serve me a drink. They had to get the restaurant man specially to get me a glass of wine. Now this is where I know why I love the Italians so much. He opened a lovely bottle for me (25 Eu- you can buy a decent wine in the supermarket for 8 Eu). Do you only want a glass? Just one glass? Anyway, I said why didn’t he take the bottle up to the restaurant and I’d come up for dinner to drink the rest. He poured me the biggest glass of wine you’ve ever seen and happily put the bottle under his arm for me for later. And great wine it was too though goodness knows what.
They don’t serve dinner until 7.30. Such a change from 5pm in the Baltics. More when I’ve eaten.
And now. Dinner was one of those embarrassing affairs when you’re the only one in the restaurant. Another couple arrive, get the VIP treatment, and eventually leave too. I didn’t want a primo and a secondo but its hard to get just the primo. So I got 2 primo’s , most unusual!! Oh shit. I drank the wine, far more than I usually would. Didn’t know what to do with myself so I left. Nice food but very awks.
Early start tomorrow to get over to the bus on the other side of town. It will be an expensive taxi. So to bed I must go. XXXXXX