We stayed just outside of the city in Bergamo but sadly didn't get to experience much of it. Bergamo is famous for its Casoncelli dish and though we didn't find the time to try it, the manager of our hotel told us that it was an absolute must for those visiting the region. Instead we opted for the 'menu turistico' which was, at 20€ for three courses, coffee, water and a bottle of wine, significantly cheaper than the underwhelming food Milan had to offer peasants like us. The restaurant was called La Bruschetta the food alone was easily delicious enough to warrant a return.
Milan, I feel, needs no explanation. Two days in the city was definitely plenty of time to experience the major attractions that the city has to offer, and we learned the hard way that a cheap meal in the city is nigh on impossible to come by. We were lured in to a restaurant under the illusion that we'd be paying around 9€ for a bowl of pasta. Of course this was true, but at 6€ for a standard size glass of Coke, the cost begins to mount. The pasta wasn't awful, but I could have easily cooked up a dish of equal quality at home for a fraction of the price. Still, for a city like Milan, tourist traps are only to be expected.
Though it was very foggy during our stay, and the quality of my camera isn't the best, here are a few of the pictures we took during our stay:
This was taken at the very top of the Duomo. The views were really quite spectacular even on a day as foggy as that. I imagine that you could see for miles on a clear day.
It wouldn't be a trip to Italy without a visit to a Gelateria!
This is my boyfriend in the expensive restaurant I mentioned earlier. We felt ever so classy drinking our 8€ Prosecco.
Focaccia is delicious!
The Duomo in all its glory. It's so grand and imposing and I couldn't help but feel that its intricate architecture would look out of place and tacky in anywhere other than Milan. It suits the city perfectly though.
Prada!
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele.
Another view from the top of the Duomo. I took around a hundred from the top, but I managed to refrain from posting them all.
One thing that really surprised me was the willingness of the Italians to speak English to us. Like so many other nations without English as an official language, the gratitude shown for taking just half an hour to learn some key phrases is enough to justify doing it. I can't understand why so many people are still choosing the ignorance option. Then again I am a languages student. I can't recommend Milan enough though, and I have a feeling that this is only the beginning of a life-long love affair with Italy.
Ciao,
Sarah
