Sunday May 25, 2014
My hostel was up a hill. Much easier walking down it than walking up especially since the bus I figured out that ran that path and how I got to the city center Friday and Saturday after checking in, does not run on Sundays. Luckily there was one that did and it left at 6:20am. It will be close to make my 6:55 train but I did. Can't wait to review that hostel cause I will not recommend it at all!! Stood 5pm checkin and not being allowed into you room between 10-5. No key to the room and did I tell you that when I got back to the room at 6 something Saturday night the door was wide open. Are you kidding me? At least I take all my important stuff with me in my small bag.
Nice to ventimiglia and the on to milan. Unfortunately there was no border check so I don't gave a Italy stamp only passport. Hmmm. I'm tempted to go to the airport and see if they will stamp it for me.
A pit stop to milan along the way to Venice. Interesting. Went to a electronic ticket station to get a pass for a few hours to go where I wanted to. And there's a helpful lady whose help wasn't necessarily wanted since the machine could be used in English. She started pushing buttons for me and I told her I didn't need her help. No is universal. But anyway. 4.50 for a day pass even through I was only staying for a few hours it the way to go for unlimited rides(just incase one gets lost-not me-but who knows). I start to use coins since 1 & 2 euro are coins here ( I hate it. Too much noise jiggling in my pocket) she proceeds to tell me no I must use paper bills. Point to the machine and she had the neve to cancel on me. Take my coin out of the machine and give it back to me. I took it and walked away to another machine across the hall. I get to push the buttons all by myself but again as I try to put coins in the machine another girls comes over to me. Now I'm a little pissed. I damn near screamed at her "No" with my hand like get out the way. I finally got my ticket. I do feel a bit sorry for them because I know that is probay the only way they can make money probably by someone putting a bill in the machine and because they help they get the change. Sorry I'm on a budget. Plus the first rule of survival. Self preservation.
My first stop was the piazza de duomo to see the Milan Cathedral. As I research online to figure out where I wanted to go plus any reviews or tips about it. I was interested. Especially since there are supposed to be guys there with strings that they supposedly start to tied to your hand unsuspectly and demand payment for these friendship bracelets. I saw the guys but not one tried to put anything on my hand. Maybe I didn't look like a unsuspecting victim. Tough I was itching to try out the self defense method I learned if someone grabbed your wrist. Maybe it's just as well. There are lots of pigeons. I even took a few pictures. And I guy try to sell me bird seed to feed then "for good luck" oh mind. In just smiling and walking away wondering who actually falls for this type of stuff. I bought my first taste of gelato (yum) and headed over to sforza Castello (castle). Not like Ireland's castle but just as well. I paid to view the museums inside, outside was free . No pic allowed and at first I followed that rule especially since there seemed to be guards standing in the rooms until I saw other people taking pictures and the guards said nothing. So I took a few as well. Finally back to the train. There was supposed to be internet. There wasn't. Uncomfortable seating arrangements. Between ventimiglia and milan it was Harry potter train style seats in little room. Assigned and I was in the middle. Ugh!!! From milan to Venice, the seats faced each other in sets of four. Maybe it's the American in me but I rather look at the back of a seat then some stranger. Yea yea I'm supposed to be friend but they don't speak English and I don't ds peak their language. Not Italian, not French, among others. Now for the pics.
On to Sforza's castle....