4-hour visit

My friend, Jaime, was in Milan today for four hours! She is the friend that I stayed with in Copenhagen for Thanksgiving this past November. She is also going to Uzbekistan with me in April!!

She had a work appointment in Como last Friday and then she and her colleague (from Sweden) came to spend the afternoon in Milan before heading to the airport for the flight back to Copenhagen.

I met up with Jaime and Jessica at the Centrale train station and we headed to the Duomo from there. Had lunch. Walked up Via Torino and Via Porta Ticinese to finally come to the Naviglio Grande (canal) and then hopped onto the 9 tram to end the mini expedition. Today was a beautiful Sunday to be out and about in the city and it was really nice to see Jaime.   : )

Meeting their train!

A photo stop in front of the Duomo:

Along the Naviglio Grande:

Night 1 - Navigli with the FAM, Milan

We walked to the Navigli canals from the Duomo's plaza...

On the walk from the Duomo to the Navigli:

My mom had read about aperitivo before coming to Milan and wanted to try one.

Aperitivo is the happy hour of Milan... it's the best way to eat cheap and eat at a 'normal' dinner hour.

Restaurants do not open until 7:30 or 8:00pm... but aperitivos began around 5:30 or 6:00pm. A person orders one drink (any drink off of a menu of probably 15 pages or so) and then you eat as much as you want from the buffet offered. We found a bar/restaurant on the Navigli and enjoyed an aperitivo experience. It's not my favorite... the food is nothing better than 'alright'... but it is fun to go, have a drink, and hang out. The aperitivo we had offered a delicious mini tiramisu on cups!

Where we had aperitivo:

Navigli's Antique Market, Milan

Every last Sunday of the month there is an antique market along the Navigli Canal in the city.

Last weekend I met up with Rebecca, a teacher from school, and we perused the stalls filled with all kinds of odds, ends, and goodies.

At one point, we crossed to the other side of the canal and came upon stalls of old BOOKS! Beautiful.

My market takeaway? ...I bought a beautiful necklace  : )