Milano, Italia

One of the great things about Switzerland is that it really is in the middle of a great part of Europe. Beautiful and interesting parts of Germany, France, Luxembourg, Austria, and Italy are all easily reached in only a few hours drive or train ride. When a long time friend of mine and his wife got in touch to let us know they were coming to Italy, we decided to take them up on the offer to meet them in Milan (Milano to Italians!).

The trip started with a train ride south from Zurich through the Swiss lake country - Lugano, Lucerne, Como. Melinda was fascinated by the idea that as we passed along the shores of Lake Como, George Clooney could actually be staying in his villa nearby. I was indifferent to this.

We arrived in Milan on the evening of Sunday, April 6, a day before Pat and Linda, and had a really decadent dinner at the hotel. Italian custom is to order several courses - which I did, and finished with dessert and espresso on top of that. I knew after this first experience that it was going to be a wonderful visit as far as food was concerned!

The next day we met up with Pat and Linda, and decided to visit the famous Duomo di Milano, which I was told was the third largest cathedral in Europe. Anyway, its big - and amazing. We were able to walk on the roof, which was a surreal feeling strolling through the intricate archworks and sculptures that decorate the roof (see picture at right). It also offered a very nice view of the piazza below.

The day ended with another dinner more decadent than the one the evening before. On the recommendation of an Italian work colleague from Milan, we went to an out of the way place that served traditional food from this part of Italy. There were several courses of fresh vegetables, cured and smoked meats, hundreds of cheeses to choose from, and several servings of wine chosen by the owner's son, Fabrizio, who is also a "sommelier". The name of the restaurant is Boccadivino! If you're ever in Milan, go there, but be ready to stay a long, long, time.

The highlight of the next day was viewing Da Vinci's "The Last Supper", which is not a painting on canvas, but actually a mural in the church of Santa Maria della Grazie. It was breathtaking to view. The painting has been restored many times in its 500 year history, many of which did more damage than good over the course of time, but there was still a certain feeling of awe to stand in front of one of Da Vinci's most famous works, regardless of the condition. It depicts the moment at which Jesus revealed to his disciples that one of them will betray him into the hands of his executioners. It is intriguing to consider what Da Vinci must have thought about for the three years that he worked to portray this emotionally charged moment in the very earliest days of Christianity.

Other sights we saw were the "Red Castle", the Teatro Alla Scala, and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. The Castle is an historic center of Milan that served as a fortress when it was built in the 15th Century, and is now a famous museum, which houses the last sculpture of Michelangelo among its famous works. The Teatro Alla Scala, also known around the world as La Scala, is one of the most famous Opera houses in all of the world. The Galleria was an amazing architectural work, created in 1861, consisting of a glass and steel covering of the streets which connect the Duomo and La Scala (see picture above). It became a model design form for similar structures around the world, and continues to be used in modern design even today.

Most enjoyable of all though, was the chance to see Pat and finally meet his wife Linda. It was great fun for both Melinda and me to spend a couple of days with them in such a beautiful city, enjoying the sights, food, history, and great conversation. Pat's an incredible guy who flew fighters for the Navy for over 20 years, on active duty and in the reserves, has had a very successful career in international law and business, and is an avid and skilled sailor who has cruised and raced sailboats for over 60 years! On top of these accomplishments, he's a very nice, sincere, and honest guy!