A Visit to a Friend in Milan

Last weekend we took a train trip to Milan to visit a friend who, some years ago when she was a senior in high school, spent a year with us as an exchange student.  We have corresponded over the years, visited her and her family, and she invited us to come visit when we were in Italy.

Milan is about 185 miles from Florence by train and on the "Frecciarossa" (Red Arrow) high speed train it took us only 1 hr 45 minutes, for an average speed of about 105 mph, including one stop along the way in Bologna, so the normal cruising speed was even higher.  Most of the first leg through the mountains to Bologna was through tunnels, but the longer second leg was on the flat Po valley.  The train was quite crowded and we couldn't get seats together even though we had reserved them several days in advance.  Still beats driving.  Maybe someday, America...


Laura actually lives in a suburb of Milan near Monza, where the famous auto races take place.  Since most of the buildings are relatively recent, last 25 years or so, it has a distinctly different look to it than central Florence.  There are actually some vacant lots!  She lives in a lovely apartment in a newly developed area with her adorable seven-year-old daughter Luna.  Here Luna is giving us a present of her choosing.....giant coffee cups.  Almost every coffee cup in Italian looks diminutive by American standards.  We now use Luna's cups almost daily.  Above is Ione, Laura's wonderful mother, Laura who looks like she did when she lived with us in 1989, Theresa, who doesn't look like she did in 1989, and Luna.

Mauro, Laura's older brother, also spent the day with us and a wonderful day it was.  Laura and her mother cooked us a typical Milanese meal.  What a treat!  The Bolzonis' also gave Theresa a cookbook with fabulous recipes.  The book is written in Italian but, by the looks of the pictures, we'll be wanting to understand and use it in no time.

They also gave us three CDs of music from the North, South and Middle of Italy.  Mauro assured us that the best is Northern Italian music. 

Laura's father is very ill and has been for 3 years.  It was a special treat to see her mother as Ione cares for her own aging mother and is often at the nursing home where Gianni is.  We loved every minute we spent with our wonderful family in Milano, but missed Gianni Bolzoni's presence. 

Laura and her mother, Ione.

Laura and Mauro took us to Monza.  Here we are in front of Monza's Duomo.  There has been a church here since about 600AD, though the current one dates from around 1300-1500.  One of the chapels is supposed to contain one of the nails used at the Crucifixion, and there are some relics from around 600.  It is spectacular both inside and out.  Duomo is another word for cathedral and there are many throughout Italy.  This one had every wall surface painted with the most beautiful artwork. Since there were services going on (Sat evening) we couldn't do photos.

The facade of Monza's Duomo

Maura, Laura and Luna.  Luna absolutely adores her Zio (uncle) Mauro.

Italian homes are, on the average, smaller than American homes and there is a shortage of housing.  Every space is well-planned.  Here is Laura's "shoe rack".  It's next to another one that is closed.  Her apartment had many modular features such as the compact kitchen below.  The long vertical cabinet is actually the refrigerator.  Most of the pieces can be moved if she moves.  The coffee maker on the counter is quite a piece of machinery!

 

 

 

 

 

Here's the courtyard at Laura's condo.  Italians love their greenery and window and balcony gardens always make an appearance.

Laura works at Roche Pharmaceuticals as a quality control auditor.   Ken was thrilled to see the row after row of solar panels over the parking lot that help generate electricity for the large plant.  By his count there are about 1000 solar electric panels there, a multi-million euro (or dollar) investment.

One of Luna's favorite dishes......mussels.  We went to a restaurant in Monza...absolutely fabulous!  They were noted for their antipasti bar and their desserts.  You didn't just order one dessert........

You ordered desserts!  The waiter would bring over a selection of at least 5 and a huge dish of candies for children. Notice that our group dug into the chocolate desserts and left the vanilla ones for those less discriminating.   This array of treats also included liqueurs of Italy.  We were one happy (and full!) group when we left.