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.
Arriva Il Conduttore
No such luck. When we left off last time, the conductor had just arrived at our car. He’d soon be scrutinizing our tickets. The critical time was at hand. I’d been thinking about James Garner and Donald Pleasance when they were on the train in the movie, “The Great Escape.” Gestapo agents were on the train, heading towards their car, checking papers, looking for escapees.
James Garner and Donald Pleasance made their way to the back of the train, waited for just the right moment, and jumped for it. They landed in soft grass and rolled down an embankment next to the tracks. They got banged up, but they were OK. Hiding behind a haystack, they watched as the train carried its passengers and the Gestapo away.
I looked out our window. No soft, grassy slope. Just rocks. Wet rocks, at that, because a light rain was falling. The “jump” option was out.
Moments later, the conductor finally reached our seats. Here we go. He turned out to not be a Gestapo agent. He wasn’t even a “he”. The conductor was a nice-looking girl, maybe in her mid-twenties. She asked to see our biglietti. I handed them to her. She looked them over, handed them back, and with a smile said, “Va bene.” That was that. No problemo. Next stop: Milano!
Lombardy – Corn Country
Traveling through Lombardy is nice, even on a cool, wet day. The landscape is mostly farmland, and by the looks of it, corn is the crop of choice. No wonder they eat so much polenta in northern Italy. Come to think of it, a chilly day like this would be the perfect day for some polenta.
*** See more about polenta here: Travel Letter Extra – Polenta! ***
I was watching the scenery pass by when I saw signs telling us we’re passing Monza. Monza! Wow. When I was a kid, I was into Formula One. I used to read about the Italian Grand Prix in Monza. Monza is the “Indy” of Italy. I don’t know about now, but back then it seemed like those red Ferraris won every time.
Stazione di Milano Centrale
We pulled into the Central Train Station in Milano at 11:00 AM. Hey – we’re in Italy, eh? Let’s say it in italiano. It’s “Stazione di Milano Centrale.” (“Stah-tzee-oh-neh-dee-mee-lahn-oh-chen-trahl-eh”). Sounds nice, eh? You might have to say it a few times before you get the hang of it. You’ll know you’re saying it right when it sounds like music and makes you hungry for spaghetti and meatballs.
Stazione di Milano Centrale is a busy place. It’s pretty nice, as far as train stations go. Clean and orderly. Everyone, (except us), seemed to know where they were going. When we arrived, two high-speed trains were sitting on their tracks, idling. They look fast even when they’re not moving.
The station’s main building is massive. It’s a beast. It was built in the 1920’s and 30’s, when Mussolini and the Fascists were in charge. They designed this building to be a symbol of Fascist greatness. It’s been renovated and modernized over the years, but it still has that imposing look and feel.
Inside the main hall, the ceiling must be at least a hundred feet high. There are huge archways at each end. Everything is massive and made of stone, like a gigantic mausoleum. It’s as if the building was designed to convey the message, “Don’t even THINK about messing with the people who built this thing.”
Troppo Facile!
OK. Where were we going, anyway? We needed to find the Metro, and sure enough, there was a sign right in front of us pointing the way. Troppo facile! (Too easy!) Now all we had to do was find out where to get on the Yellow #3 Line toward “S. Donato.”
Metro lines are color-coded, so once you know what color line you want, all you need to know is the direction. The two directions are given by the names of the last stops on each end of the line.
We want to get on the Yellow Line going towards “S. Donato.” If we take that Metro train, we’ll be four stops away from Piazza del Duomo. There are only a few minutes between stops, so we’ll be there in no time.
Oops. Gotta get tickets first. We don’t need any more “Great Escape” train scenarios today!
To be continued…
Just for fun…
Va bene — All right, no problem, we’re good, cool, etc…
Tropo facile, (tro-poh FAH-chee-leh. Try to roll that “r”!) — Too easy
Biglietti – tickets, (one ticket – un biglietto)
Piazza – square
Duomo — cathedral
