Friday, April 22, 2016

Milan Wanderings.....

September 7: Today, my goal was just to walk around Milan and see some of the sights. I can't say that anything really happened--I just walked around, admiring the architecture and people watching, so I'll just post some of the photos I took and let you enjoy them. More of a "show" post rather than a "tell" post. =)

I was surprised to see a Car 2 Go here. You mean I could actually get a CAR to drive in? (I'm a Car 2 Go member.) I didn't get one, though. Not only did I not need one, just the thought of driving around in such a foreign, unfamiliar city would have terrified me! =) (And I bet the car was a stick, which I've never learned how to drive. Seems like all the cars in Europe are always sticks!)

The church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. Which is probably a name you aren't familiar with, but you've certainly heard about what you can find in it: The Last Supper. One of the most famous paintings in the world, created by Leonardo da Vinci from 1495-1498. I thought about paying the cost to get in to see it, but eventually decided not to. I'm a little jaded on artwork like this. It's been damaged so badly and restored (sometimes badly) over the years, I kind of wonder if there's even anything left that da Vinci actually painted! But I could still look around the grounds and architecturally, it's still an interesting building! =)
Inside the church


A different church. Or something. I'm not actually sure what this building was, but I liked it anyhow. =)
Milan Cathedral


I just loved this glass-ceiling atrium!
Entrance to Sforza Castle

Arco della Pace ("Arch of Peace") -- notice Sforza Castle visible through the right arch? =)
Under the arch, looking upwards.
I love weird stuff like this. I don't know what it means, but that's what I like about it! =) I hope it has no meaning!
I've heard of cars being stripped for parts, but a bike?!
Hey--Milan is the fashion capital of the world, right? =) Speaking of which, the locals seemed dazzled and amazed by my fashion. I caught them staring at me more than once!

8 comments:

Mary said...

I'm sure you were stared at Ryan! I'll bet you were the only person in Milan wearing hiking clothes! These were great photos! Loved the giant shoe on the car. I saw The Last Supper before it was restored (1980s) and it was in a sad state. I've seen photos of it partially restored in National Geographic and it looks great now.

Paula said...

I've been enjoying reading about your walks for a long time now... I loved that sewing needle sculpture when I was in Milan, too. The same artists did a giant spoon with a cherry sculpture here in Minnesota, which I also love.

Ryan said...

Is that what that is? A sewing needle?! I totally see it now, but gosh.... I kind of liked thinking it was just weird, abstract stuff that makes no sense. *sigh* =)

Mary said...

I'd never have guessed it was a needle with thread! Now I see it! Thanks Paula!

Anonymous said...

I live in a college town in Oregon. We see bikes left stripped like this all the time.....unfortunately. It's very sad that even a locked bike isn't safe for a couple of hours. If it's locked overnight...it is almost guaranteed to be stolen or stripped. The U-locks are being broken as are most cable locks.

Creeping Death said...

Since your in Milan can you do me a favor and check on my 'MXP airport' letterbox inside the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele , I want to know if it went missing or not. La Dolce Vita.

Ryan said...

I was there seven months ago--on September 7th of last year. My blog posts are not up-to-date postings!

Karolina said...

Not all cars in Europe are stick, but indeed stick cars are much more popular than automats over here and it is standard that we learn to drive stick.