The retired schoolteacher and the Cloquet pastor are in Italy today. Stan's sister Linda and her husband, Ron, sent this report from their hotel:All of the senses are in play. Of course! We are in Italy. We flew in from Athens on Aegean, the best flight we have taken in years. Leather seats, airbus, and on a two hour flight we were fed a delicious meal with a treat before, beverages with a smile. Wow!
We stayed at Hotel Berna, a business hotel that sells its 4 star rooms for half on the weekends just a few blocks from the train station where our bus from the airport pulled up. We were walked to our hotel by an Italian who refused to take any money for the walk, just asked us to please vote for Obama. That is a done deal. Nice to have a hotel with a complimentary minibar in the room, apples for all at the desk, and beverages available all day long. Free internet too.
Yesterday we had a perfect day. We had slept well in our lovely room and woke early. Took the metro to the Duomo. Almost no one was there, it was so early. The cathedral is the fourth largest in Europe and certainly at least the fourth most beautiful. We worshipped there as it was Sunday, understanding nothing, but appreciating a place to pray. Mosques do not have music, art, nor do the men pray with the women...too many distractions.This cathedral had music and stained glass windows to die for. We like the Christian model better. We headed over to the Galleria where McDonalds holds as prestigious a spot in the center as the fanciest stores in the Galleria.
Breakfast at McDonalds is a croissant and McCafe. Through the Galleria we went to the LaScala Museum. For a mere 4 euro we were treated to an avalanche of music (on Bose speakers), a visit into the Opera House right above the royal box etc. We were drawn to the special exhibit of Karajan, a modern conductor, who put the orchestra on visual and audio contact with the listener. I sat, teary eyed, listening to one symphony after another, watching the musicians work in a way I have never seen before. Leaving the museum we wandered over to LaRiscentre, a large department store which Rick Steves says is Nordstrom like. Yes, that, and then some. We ate on the rooftop terrace which is mere feet across from the rooftop of the Duomo. We had the best breakfast of our trip, served with class. Motivated by the thickest °chocolate milk ° we have ever tasted, we moved into the market section and bought gifts, lots of them. We have begun filling our second pack with gifts and truly there is no room left. A new suitcase or bag may be in order. Moving back to the Duomo we took the lift half way up and then walked up many steps to the rooftop of this magnificient cathedral. The day was perfect and the sun came out especially at that time. Down below was a protest against world poverty, filling the square. Yes, a Ron and Linda kind of experience. When we felt we had done everything we wanted to do, we headed back to the metro and the Berna Hotel. We got to watch CNN for hours in English, feeling that we are staying caught up.
This morning we took a train to Como, found our hotel, planned out our excursion for tomorrow...buses and boats will get us to Varenna and Bellagio with enough time to explore. We ate a delicious Italian lunch just off of Lake Como with mountains as backdrop and fall leaves dropping around us. I think Italy will be our favorite country of the three we visited on this trip. As I type this, Ron has gone back for as much laundry as he can pack into a daypack. We will do some walking and call it a day.We have yet to use the umbrella and poncho we brought with us. Maybe another week of this weather.
Love, Linda
(Photos from top, Lake Como, Hotel Berna, Milan Cathedral, La Scala museum, Bellagio)
