January 12, 2014

This morning we meet with Massimo and Daniele, our new guides.  Their English is a bit better than Gabriele's and they are very entertaining.  What would we like to do?  First - let's get a nice espresso and discuss the day's plan.  We set off to a coffee shop - they're on every corner in Milan.

Massimo has written a list of prospective sites for us to visit.  I am impressed!  We decide on visiting a local art museum, The Galleria d' Arte Moderna in the Villa Reale, Milan.  But first we walk around the outside of the Galleria.  It's set in a beautiful park with a little brook and a waterfall, amid great big huge trees.  It is a slice of an English garden that is so very quiet, amid a teeming city.  Elegant Italian design.

A waterfall in the little park

The backside of the Galleria

Massimo and Daniele have never been inside the museum either.  It was one of those things that they'd always wanted to do but somehow never found the time.  So it was cool for all of us.

It was a beautiful display in an old, old building.  The building had a beautiful wood parquet floor that squeaked if you even thought about walking on it.  No sneaking up  on anybody there, darn.

Achillies:  “Oh crap, what’s this on my heel?"

You think this guy’s up to no good?  I do.

This guy, on the other hand, is wishing he hadn’t had that last glass of prosecco.

Dogs are well-represented in Italy although there aren’t many purebreds.  No matter.

Party on, dude!

Was it something I said?

I think this guy’s got something up his sleeve.

Glad to see my dad’s not the only one who’s had problems with goats.

Presently it was time to get a bite to eat.  Art evidently makes all of us hungry.  Mangia, to eat.  Massimo knows a cool spot right down the street, and dang, it's right off the square from the Fashion District, and this is Fashion Week!

Lunch

Sure enough, weird-dressed people filter in for food, too.  I am reminded of that I Love Lucy episode where Ricky tricks Lucy and Ethel into wearing the most god-awful get-ups in Paris, telling them they are haute couture (high fashion).

Massimo relates a story that he knew a friend-of-a-friend for Fashion Week one year and he got to meet Naomi Campbell, a supermodel.  He said Naomi was so shy about getting on stage, the only way she could do it was to be completely snookered.  When Massimo met her, she was collapsed in a chair, limp as a noodle.  She extended a hand and said, “hey."

After lunch we're asked if we want to go see something else?  No, that's enough for me, my foot is hurting.  So off we go on the underground triana back to our spot.

Making friends, wherever I go.

Massimo and Daniele would so like to visit North America.  Daniele wants to visit all the national parks and very much wants to visit Canada.  We trade emails and phone numbers.  Very nice people.

Tomorrow, we're off to Florence, with an admonishment from Daniel too eat the meat FLORENTINA and drink the wine CHIANTI.  (His embellishments, not mine.)