My Hotel In Geneva
I didn’t have a hotel, when I arrived in Geneva, so I just walked out of the station and tried the first I saw.
It was a design hotel, called the Hotel Christal.
There were the usual small design glitches, but I’d certainly stay there again, as it was so convenient for the station.
The thing that annoyed me was that the socket, didn’t take my standard European adaptor. It was a new French design, which looks to be incompatible with the rest of the continent. In one excellent hotel I stayed in, there was a panel which accepted every possible plug.
I also found the coffee machine too clever for me. When will designers realise that those who buy their products have money. And many who have money are retired with the odd health issue.
Train Toilets In Italy
Occasionally, you get a disgusting or failed toilet on a British train.
But not so in Italy!
On the five Italian trains I travelled on, only one had a clean toilet and on that train, it didn’t flush properly. So much to my shame, I left it rather filthy.
But even in the cheaper of the hotels I stayed in, the plumbing was good.
Would I Go Back To Milan?
I Don’t think I need to say more than one word. Yes!
From Milan To Geneva
The train journey from Milan to Geneva goes through the lakes and mountains and the Simplon Tunnel.
It is a journey that must be one of the most spectacular in a train on a regular rather than a tourist service.
It is also pretty fast, as my journey took under four hours. It’s not expensive, as for the 17th November, you can book the same train for just £20 and First Class for £110. By comparison London to Newcastle on the same day at a similar time are showing at £60 and £90 respectively for a journey an hour shorter.
Do They Use These Doors In Pyramids?
I saw this door opening method in several places in Italy.
Do They Use These Doors In Pyramids?
They seemed to work well, so they could be described as a good Ponzi system.
This web site explains all about the company.
And this one explains about Ponzi schemes.
The Milan Science Museum
This science museum, made ours in South Kensington seem particularly narrow in scope, very small and boring.
They also had no objections to the taking of pictures, providing you switched the flash off.
It was very busy with families and lots of kids.
One of the great things about a lot of Italian museums, is they seem to open early, unlike in some countries like Denmark.
Mind The Gap – Italian Style
They also use London Underground’s catch-phrase in Milan.
Mind The Gap – Italian Style
In fact, you also see direction signs to the Underground in Milan. I suppose that both Metro and Underground are understandable to most visitors. The Germans tend to fit too, as they use U-bahn.
A Nice Touch On The Milan Underground
I saw this plate on a handrail on the Milan Underground.
A Nice Touch On The Milan Underground
My eyesight may not be good enough to drive, but my brain compensates by turning my head to make my walking safe.
But it is touches like this, that must help those with limited vision to navigate a city safely and successfully.
To contrast, in Turin I’d seen a partially-sighted guy with a cane, having trouble with an escalator on the Metro.
Supper At Savini
Savini is one of the most prominent and well-known restaurants in Milan. It is in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and sitting outside the restaurant, as I did, is one of the best places, I’ve ever found to people watch. Or as C used to say, watch the bimboni!
I had a good meal and thoroughly overfilled myself. I would of course, have had a better meal, if I’d had a suitable bimboni with me. But preferably one with intelligence, style and some worldly experience. If a lady can’t remember the 1960s, she’s too young for me!
When C and I met there, I missed a story, that I could have sold to the tabloids. At the time, there was speculation, that a certain England footballer might be pursuing his career in Milan. He’d gone missing, but turned up at the next table, with his very pregnant girlfriend. I do remember though, that he chose and ordered her meal for her. But at least they didn’t do anything that might have besmirched their good name, that of their club or their country. In fact his politeness to his girlfriend was a complete surprise, as on the pitch he generally didn’t behave as well.
I think that a few years later, they are still together, so it looks like the tabloids got his antics and personality wrong.
Milan Cathedral
Milan Cathedral is one of those buildings that you can’t photograph too many times.
The way the spires and the other carvings interact to create different shapes is almost unique and is far superior to the creations of Gaudi.
Again, I’m drawn back to 2001, when the cathedral was surrounded by a massive army of Ipswich supporters dressed in blue. Sadly, I don’t have any photos of that day.
I also went to see the Jackson Pollock exhibition in the Royal Palace. It emphasised how little I know of modern art. But it was very well presented and thought provoking.
Milan is a place that you can really do in a weekend, as the public transport is good, and the major sites are clustered around a few points, like the cathedral and the castle. I was only in the vicinity of the cathedral for about two hours, but if I’d had more time, I could have wasted a whole day, not going further than say a kilometre from the cathedral.
One regret was that I didn’t get up very early and go to the piazza in front of the cathedral, as only at that hour do you really appreciate the beauty of any place of architectural integrity. It was raining hard, so I chickened out!
The Anonymous Widower 