traveling

Day 7a: Milan to Lake Maggiore

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The BEST pizza flavored snack EVER!

On our way to Milan (Milano) we made a pitstop, and I picked up some of these crispy, pizza-flavored bread squares.  They were the best snack item I have had in a long time.  Why did I choose them?  Well, I figured if the Italians couldn’t get pizza flavored snacks down, nobody could.  They tasted of tomato, cheese, and basil, yet contained no cheese/milk products!  Yes, they were…are…vegan.  Anyway, if you ever see them, give them a try.

An old shopping center across from La Scala.

The first Prada Store.

We continued on to an old shopping center (Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan), which houses the first Prada store ever established (1913).  Our local guide was so fun!  She had a story about the families who controlled the area, and even got our group involved.  After the shopping center we had some free time.  We went into Duomo di Milano, then had lunch before heading to La Scala.  The weather was cool and overcast.  As we exited the galleria it began to rain…and then it began to pour…oh, and did I mention the wind?!  It broke a couple of umbrellas, but it was still amazing.

The inside of the duomo.
Sumo di Milano.

The duomo is huge.  It cost 2 euro, and took about an hour to really get through it.  We stopped to take photos and look around because there was so much to see.  Stained glass lined the walls, and there were crypts below with coffins and bodies of clergy long since passed.  We finished at the duomo and went to grab some food at the galleria.  I got a ravioli dish and split a meat sampler.  The pesto ravioli was, by far, the worst thing I ate during free time.  Little did I know they had a salad section behind another wall, with more than just arugula and tomatoes!  Well, there’s always next time.
Cant’ even see the pasta…
Meat!
We had to quickly finish lunch in order to make it back to the meeting spot on time.  Our local guide took us on a tour of Teatro all Scala.  It was amazing!  The acoustics in the building are something else.  Several costumes were on display, and there were rooms with tobacco boxes, busts, and paintings from those who had performed there, or were prominent figureheads.  I always want to know what it was like when these places were first built…what the language, dress, and atmosphere were like.  Oh, to be able to travel back in time!
So excited to see inside La Scala!

After our tour of La Scala, we made another stop at a castle.  I can’t remember the name, but it was extraordinary.  It is so hard to comprehend that so many structures are hundreds to thousands of years old.  They have withstood so much.  This castle had a huge courtyard area with beautiful flowers.  There were cats roaming around, and so much to see.  If those walls could talk… The inside of the castle resembles a museum.  Artifacts, artwork, a chapel, and so much more filled the castle.  I wonder what was in the castle prior.
An outside look.
Another section of the castle.
Beautiful flowers were everywhere.
I LOVE cats!!!

Italy, Day 5: Assisi to Venice, Plus: GONDOLAS!

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Day 5:  Assisi to Venice & Gondolas
Street performance.
Giulietta.

The famous balcony.

Venice (Venezia) is home to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet (Giulietta).  Yes, the people did exist, but their story is that of fantasy, as far as we know.  The famed balcony where Juliet begins with, “Romeo, Romeo.  Wherefore art thou, Romeo?” is quite an attraction.  You can enter the balcony, but I believe they charge.  At the archway to the balcony, on a wall opposite the arch, and within the small courtyard, people have written and posted love notes or the initials of whom they are with.  In hindsight I wish I had done that.  I may never get another opportunity.  Anyway there is a statue of Juliet near the balcony.  Part of the statue is far more shiny than others.  Why?  Well, for some reason (and nobody really knows why), those who take a photo with the statue often fondle her breasts.  
Kissing bridge.
Canal.
Duomo.
One of many beautiful buildings.

We saw a mini version of the Colosseum.  I forget the name, but it was just like a scaled-down version.  Part of the outer wall still stands.  The actual Colosseum used to have an outer wall just like this one, but it has since been destroyed.  In the square there were street performers, and many, many tourists.  We had some free time for lunch, so we stopped at this random caffé.  I just found the name: Caffè Paganotto.  Others from our tour were passing by and decided to join us.  I got a toast lunch set which included a ricotta and prosciutto toast (it was enough for two), mixed fresh fruit (macedonia), and a drink for 10 euro.  I always got acqua frizzante (sparkling water) because it helped to settle my stomach.  They had a variety of toasts, pizzas, and pasta dishes, as well as meal sets. 

A mini Colosseum.

Macedonia (mixed fruit).
Prosciutto & Ricotta toast.
Did you say, “Gondola ride?”  Well, don’t mind if I do.  We took a boat through the main canal to get to our gondolas.  There are so many boats; it’s amazing how there aren’t more accidents!  On the way to our stop we went under a bridge.  The rule is that, if it is your first time going under the bridge, you have to kiss someone.  Kind of awkward if you’re on a boat with random people, but we made it work.  There are so many fantastic mansions in Venice.  It’s a shame that it will someday be under water.  After the initial boat ride we stopped and walked over to the gondola area.  We learned so much about the gondoliers.  They do not sing like the movies would have you believe, and many own their own boats.  There are musicians available for a price, and the gondoliers have patrons enter in a certain order for even weight distribution.  Otherwise, the boat is liable to tip over!
One of many alleyways.
A little ornament on the gondola.
Some of the wonderful people on our tour.
After the gondolas we headed to the hotel on Lido, which was ornately decorated on the outside.  There was a nice outdoor seating area with a bar, and a few gelato stands just down to road.  Everyone went to his or her rooms to unwind and get ready for dinner.  The dinner was a green risotto, followed by pork with a carrot mash and peas.  Dessert was a thick mousse-like lemon cream topped with nuts.  It was okay.  Not the best, but not the worst either.  After dinner a few of us took a walk down to the beach, and on the way back to the room, grabbed some gelato.            
Risotto.
Pork dinner.
Dessert.
         

In Two Weeks…

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I will be headed off to another country in two weeks time.  I realize that I have been a bit absent, but I am trying to get several things finished prior to the trip.  In the last week there have been some new developments (work-wise), and I am currently working on the IRB application for my proposed research.  Here’s hoping I am able to get all of the approvals necessary to begin research by summer.  Yes, things happen, and I was hoping to be completely done by summer of 2015…well, there were some hiccups, so I am a bit behind regarding my target date.  Such is life though.  Soon I will have a post about things in my carry-on, what I (usually) have in the morning, recipes, and some other fun product reviews.  Until then, here is a video by Tastemade & Laura Miller featuring one of my favorite dairy-free ice cream alternatives:

                                              Video courtesy of Tastemade & Laura Miller

Stay beautiful!