MXP.

Milano! You know...while we were in Milan, we didn't think there was much to like about the city, but looking at my pictures to post for this blog, I think I change my mind. It's got gritty parts, and seems that most of the city is under construction, but I think we also found some great things in a short stay.

Our hostel - basically like the pension in Barcelona. It was rooms rented out of a house, a newly renovated house with a shared courtyard entrance and private rooftop patio.

A view from the rooftop.

One of the reasons we went to Milano....pizza.

But we found some other interesting sites too...like Marc at "The Last Supper". We had no clue the original painting was on the wall of an abbey in Milan (until we got there). Unfortunately you must reserve tickets at least a month in advance, and they only allow a max. of 25ppl per 30min viewing. We toured the area anyways, took a picture of this poster outside, then happened to run into an Italian couple with an extra pair of tickets!! So 10mins later, and for 8 Euros each, we were being corralled through different enclosures, where they sealed one door and then waited a few minutes before opening the next. I think it was a sort of human dehumidifier. In the end, it was pretty incredible to be in this refectory with such a history and knowing we were looking at 100% authentic art (whereas at the louvre, who knows if the Mona Lisa is actually the original when you're pinned 50 feet back).

They most certainly do! Everyone wears black (even moreso than we noticed in Paris) and sunglasses are a must.

A famous square (outdoor mall of sorts) with major designers at these corners (and a McDonalds to my right...incredible how McD's is in a prime high fashion spot).

Fashionable Milanese, always looking top notch, and often shopping for more.

The central part of the city is really pretty. The tram runs throughout and there are lots of overhanging lights, like you can see in this first picture.

...and pretty balconies on all the old buildings, usually with greenery, sometimes with less obvious ornaments like umbrellas.

We wandered through this cemetery. Some of the monuments were enormous and there was a newer one that had lots of viewers coming and going (I am making a huge guess and imagining they were mafia family).

Italian pastries are amazing, and they make lots of things with Nutella.

Being Milanese in Milano.