18/5
We leave Milan (Milano) at 7 am this morning which as it turns out is too early to get a taxi to the main train station. (Plan A) There appears to be some demonstration planned around unemployment or something and some of the main streets are blocked off and entrances patrolled by polizia.
photos of our apartment in Milan. really roomy. lots of tiles and empty space. A sort of balcony into a sort of courtyard. A bit odd.
The police are surprisingly unhelpful in assisting us with organising a taxi. No amount of English spoken loudly and with gesticulation appears to help. They don't speak English and are actual police.
We decide to take our 4 suitcases on to the metro and catch a train to the main station (plan B) where we plan to catch an 8.15am train to Florence and then Pistoia. Think metro ie underground, ie more stairs. With 4 suitcases. We manage to get to the train and even worked out the right platform/direction to get to the Duomo station where we need to change lines to get to the main station. We tried to work it out by following signs and asking people when this failed. Once at the
main station, we had to get a train to Florence and then a connecting train to Pistoia. All done according to plan. Easy, or as easy as you can do 4 trains with 4 suitcases. People were helping Gab with her suitcases off trains which we thought was due to kindness but in fact mostly to get her off quickly to allow them to board the train.
We arrive in Pistoia where we are staying with friends, Peter and Jackie who are staying in Pistoia and researching Jackie's family who came from this area. We walk around the beautiful city and Gab is able to sample a delicacy of Italy and particularly southern Italy. An ice cream sandwich. Not as weird as it sounds. Yummy gelato in a sweet bun making it easy to eat as you are walking etc.
more markets. they are in every town.
As are amazing churches:
Amazing old churches from 15th century.
We leave Milan (Milano) at 7 am this morning which as it turns out is too early to get a taxi to the main train station. (Plan A) There appears to be some demonstration planned around unemployment or something and some of the main streets are blocked off and entrances patrolled by polizia.
photos of our apartment in Milan. really roomy. lots of tiles and empty space. A sort of balcony into a sort of courtyard. A bit odd.We decide to take our 4 suitcases on to the metro and catch a train to the main station (plan B) where we plan to catch an 8.15am train to Florence and then Pistoia. Think metro ie underground, ie more stairs. With 4 suitcases. We manage to get to the train and even worked out the right platform/direction to get to the Duomo station where we need to change lines to get to the main station. We tried to work it out by following signs and asking people when this failed. Once at the
main station, we had to get a train to Florence and then a connecting train to Pistoia. All done according to plan. Easy, or as easy as you can do 4 trains with 4 suitcases. People were helping Gab with her suitcases off trains which we thought was due to kindness but in fact mostly to get her off quickly to allow them to board the train.
We arrive in Pistoia where we are staying with friends, Peter and Jackie who are staying in Pistoia and researching Jackie's family who came from this area. We walk around the beautiful city and Gab is able to sample a delicacy of Italy and particularly southern Italy. An ice cream sandwich. Not as weird as it sounds. Yummy gelato in a sweet bun making it easy to eat as you are walking etc.
more markets. they are in every town.As are amazing churches:
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