Awoke early to TaiChi, pack then go and get the motorcycle.
Loaded up and off to Milano.
Rode along the Swiss minor roads. Some of which were like motorways. Then after a couple of hours pulled into a place for a snack…..
ps: yes that is salami in aspic! And please ignore the Vienesse shortbread 😉
Refreshed, I bashed on.
Had been awesome watching the Alps get closer and closer. Switzerland really does look like Switzerland on the boxes of chocolates 🙂
Decided it was cool enough to do up my jacket zippers. Back on the road again, I was glad I had. Pretty soon I was in snow-country…..
That’s me at the Swiss/Italian border of the Splugen pass. Leastways, I am almost, kind of sure that’s where I was. hahahahaha
Was twisty going up. Was even twistier going down! In and out of tunnels, where the road was wet and had lots of pot-holes. Fun.
Got to a nice warm village to find a queue.
Bikers at the top of the pass had said the road closes. Heading down I saw a sign restating their comments. And a bunch of bikers at a nearby cafe. But was only 10degC there. So pressed on in hope that once on, they let you through. Not as if I had another route.
So a three hour wait.
Luckily I have munchies 😉
And people are friendly.
Pop quiz: What does becoming a glider pilot, then spending your 15months of National Service maintaining and driving trucks prepare you for?
International banking!!!
And you can’t make this stuff up 🙂
Blue lights announced the road was clear. And a scenic route to Milano, with a fillup for the bike, and an espresso for me.
Lots of tunnels enroute.
City traffic was mild.
Found the hotel, as darkness fell.
Underground parking. Unloaded the bike. TLC for the bike then TLC for me.
Staff directed me to a pasta place. Had a vongole…..
as good as my last in 2016.
Back to the hotel and bed.
Sunday morning up early.
TaiChi.
This hotel is a nice place. All the amenities. 12 foot ceilings. Air-conditioning that works. Sockets. Satellite TV. And you are taken care of. Nothing flash. Just good people, who know their role, and take care that you get what you need. Nice 🙂
Crivi’s the name. If you come this way.
On the edge of downtown. So a little quieter.
Walked to my first stop: to see Da Vinci’s Last Supper. Should have booked online some time ago. Nothing left in April.
But I caught the end of mass. Probably better.
Then walked onto the castello. HUGE place. Too big for a quickie, so I took this selfie as I left……
Checked out the theatre for tonight.
Always visit an important place before you have to go there for the first time. Takes all the strain out of getting there on time.
Into the huge, posh shopping mall.
Which led onto the cathedral. Third biggest in the world), but it doesn’t look that big 🙂
Took six centuries to build. Bet the builders said “Two weeks” for all of those six centuries. haha
Long queues to get in. I’d been in the sun long enough. So time to go home.
Brunch on the way home…….
All this walking around in the heat was making me loose my appetite.
A nap.
Some chores.
Then dress for the theatre.
Here is the programme……
And here are the leading cast members taking a bow, as seen from my box……
ps: I’d rather be lucky than good 🙂 The people I was to be sharing with did not show up!!! Whole box to myself 🙂 🙂 🙂
Walked home.
To bed.
With a smile on my face.
The show was GREAT! Am still trying to figure out one of the special effects. And overlooking the orchestra is always fun.
By the way, I think the orchestra and chorus stole the show. Even though the soprano was REALLY good in her quieter moments, and the duets were FAB.
Brilliant evening.
Great way to end a day 🙂
Monday up. Too early. Back to sleep.
Up 8:30am and TaiChi.
Check and pack the bike.
Bid Milano farewell.
Route not very scenic.
Lots of pot-holes in the road. Not deep. And only on the minor roads.
Blustery all the way.
One stop for brunch, at a Wild West burger place……
Another stop to fill up close to the ferry, and give the bike some TLC. And espresso for me.
At the ferry port met Swiss Mike. Rides a BMW and blows things up for a living. Now there’s a job 🙂
On the boat.
Update this blog.
Still smiling about La Scala 🙂
See you all on Tuesday in Corsica.
G’night All.