We’ve just arrived at Milan’s Piazza del Duomo. A light rain is falling, but it’s still a spectacular place to be. The appearance of the Duomo itself is almost beyond belief. We’re going to take a mini-tour of the city, but first we need to get something to eat. The bad news is that we don’t have much time. The good news is that we’re in Italy – one of the best places in the world to be hungry. Let’s go have “uno spuntino a Milano.” Continue reading “Uno Spuntino a Milano (A Snack in Milan)”
Category: Northern Italy
Arriviamo a Milano!
Arriviamo a Milano! It’s a wet, chilly day in Northern Italy. We’re taking a day-trip from Bellagio to Milano, and we’ve just arrived at Il Stazione di Milano Centrale. Next step: take the Metro to Piazza del Duomo. Here we go… Continue reading “Arriviamo a Milano!”
Train Ride through Lombardy, Italy
We’re on a train ride through Lombardy, in northern Italy. We’re on our way from Varenna, on Lake Como, to Milano. We had tickets for a train that required a train change in Lecco, but we jumped on a non-stop train when the opportunity presented itself. I was hoping there wouldn’t be any negative repercussions. It’s a short ride to Milano. Maybe the conduttore won’t find his way to our car. Continue reading “Train Ride through Lombardy, Italy”
Travel Letter Extra – Polenta!
Lombardy is a region in northern Italy. It borders Switzerland on the north and extends down south of Milan. Lombardy is polenta country. Polenta is on every menu there, probably in multiple places. It might be part of the main course or a side dish. Either way, they love it in Lombardy.(See also: Train Ride through Lombardy). Continue reading “Travel Letter Extra – Polenta!”
Train Ride to Milano
Today we’re on our way to Milan for the day. We got up early and took the battello from Bellagio to Varenna to catch the train. We had tickets for a train that required a train change in Lecco, but at the Varenna train station, we found out that a direct train to Milan was arriving in minutes. It was earlier and easier, but it wasn’t the train we had tickets for. We hopped on anyway. Okay! We’re taking a train ride to Milano. Continue reading “Train Ride to Milano”
Day-Trip to Milan – All Aboard!
The weather in Bellagio has changed. Yesterday it was sunny and warm, but this morning it’s chilly and drizzling. Oh well. We’ll be inside a boat, train, or a bus most of the day. We’ve just set out on a day-trip to Milan. Continue reading “Day-Trip to Milan – All Aboard!”
Lunch in Varenna
We’re in Bellagio, situated on Lake Como in Northern Italy. Today we’re going to have lunch in Varenna, another little town on the lake. We want to scout out the train station at Varenna because tomorrow morning, we’re going to take the train from there to Milan. But first, we need to buy boat tickets to Varenna. Continue reading “Lunch in Varenna”
Waking Up in Bellagio
Huh? Wha? Where am I? It took me a few minutes this morning to remember where we were. I got out of bed, went over to the window, and opened the curtain to see beautiful Lake Como, sparkling in the early morning light. Oh yeah, NOW I remember! It’s our first day waking up in Bellagio. Continue reading “Waking Up in Bellagio”
First Night in Bellagio
It’s our first night in Bellagio, Italy. We’re sitting at a table in a little beehive of a restaurant. Neatly-dressed servers are moving swiftly around us in every direction. A bottle of wine sits on the table with bread, oil and balsamic, a bottle of water, and a big plate of assorted cured meats to keep it company. I’m so happy right now. Continue reading “First Night in Bellagio”
Dinnertime in Bellagio – Mangia!
It’s dinnertime in Bellagio – a picturesque little town on the shore of Lake Como, in northern Italy. The town is a nest of stone-paved alleyways that meander up and down the hillside next to the lake. We’ve been out exploring, with an eye out for a restaurant that looks interesting. We just found one. Oh boy… Continue reading “Dinnertime in Bellagio – Mangia!”