Places – # 14 - Italy – Day 1

(This series is dedicated to great friends, Tana and Ed Suter. They were supposed to join us on this adventure but failed connections to JFK forced them to miss the trip.)

The one and only time I’ve been to Italy was 1999. It was a wonderful trip…one that I knew immediately I wanted to repeat…especially since the one day we were in Florence was a Monday and all their magnificent museums were closed.

Fast forward to 2018 and Beck finds a great deal for four nights lodging in Milan and round-trip airfare from New York. So what if February is chilly and damp? Most everything we want to see is indoors anyway. Plus, Florence is close enough to make a day trip there and back. Off we go.

Emirates Airbus A380 (From Google Images)

I can’t talk about Italy until I say a few words about how we got there. The biggest commercial jet flying is the Airbus A380. Unlike the Boeing 747, its two decks run the full length of the plane. If both decks are fitted for economy-class seating, the plane can hold over 850 passengers.

We were in the lower deck/Economy seating…ten seats in each row and yet it was the most quiet, comfortable flight I have EVER been on. Beck actually did not realize that we had taken off.
(Checkout this promotional video of the plane’s interior.)

We landed in Milan at noon and it was mid-afternoon when we finally hit the streets…a ‘MUST’ after flying overnight. One must avoid that urge to sleep and power through the day to acclimate to the 6-hour change in time zones. Milan has a fine subway system and our hotel was at the end of one of the Metro lines. Spring for a ten-ticket pass and we’re good for the rest of the visit.

As is our practice, we immediately went to the center of the old town. I like that many European capitals have preserved their historic quarters and built the modern hi-rise commercial centers in other parts of the city.

Balloons on an Old Milan Street (16 February 2018)

There, we bought tickets for one of the double-deck, ‘hop-on-hop-off’ tour busses and took a spin around town. This gave us the lay of the land and identified anything we might want to visit in greater depth over the next few days. The two-day pass also provides transportation to those attractions.

Castello Sforzesco, Milan (16 February 2018)

At the end of the loop tour, we walked through the Sforza Castle, a 15th century fortress that is one of the largest in Europe. It housed the ruling family and for centuries, was the scene of battles and conquests by French, German and Austrian invaders. It is now a cultural center with museums, archives and libraries.

The Pinacoteca Art Gallery,

Inside the Sforza Castle, Milan (16 February 2018)

The light was fading, the hunger growing and it would be soon time for bed and that long, deep, catch-up sleep that cures one’s jet lag. We walked through the large park that abuts the fortress to a neighborhood that we were told is a good place for Happy Hour.

Arco della Pace – The Peace Arch, Milan (16 February 2018)

Just beyond the Peace Arch (another monument to Napoleon’s conquests) were many eateries. We had some wine and a fine buffet meal followed by an early bedtime. The next day, we were acclimated and ready for some detailed touring.

Shot of the Day – 24 – Frog at Rest

Giant Waxy Tree Frog – Phyllomedusa bicolor

National Aquarium, Baltimore (7 February 2006)

It’s Winter again and aside from the occasional male cardinal at the bird feeder, brown is the brightest color outside. Unless it’s a blue-sky day, everything is a shade of gray. However, if you’re lucky, you might live near places where colorful life is vibrant all year round.

When I lived in Milwaukee, I especially enjoyed going to the Mitchell Park Conservatory (“The Domes”) in the winter. It is quite pleasant to meander through lush tropical and desert vegetation when it’s below zero outside.

Blue Poison Dart Frog, Dendrobates tinctorius

National Aquarium, Baltimore (7 February 2006)

These shots were taken on a February day at the National Aquarium in Baltimore. There you can find terrific displays of aquatic creatures from all sorts of freshwater and marine environments. Under the glass roof is a tropical rain forest with trees and birds. Nearby are small glass displays with these colorful amphibians.

So, if you can’t fly away to Costa Rica or the Amazon basin, fight off those winter doldrums by visiting an aquarium, zoo or conservatory. Vivid, striking colors will brighten your spirits—and you’re likely to learn something, too.