Yesterday was Christopher's 31st birthday. We have had a great time today celebrating him. He is a great husband and friend and I am so thankful for that. We were able to see the Davinci Last Supper on his birthday and go up on top of the Milan Duomo. Who can say they did those on their birthday? Not many. We also ate panzerotti for lunch. It is a famous food here in Milan. It's basically a calzone deep fried. :) The rest of the afternoon we shopped and strolled. We ate at a restaurant for his birthday that came recommended to us by the owner of our B&B. It was in a cute area of Milan called the Navigli Canal. It was so great we went back tonight to that area for dinner and had a better meal than last night.
Today we took it easy and lived like a Milanese. Did a little walking, shopping, picnicking, walking and sleeping in this amazing park by a a castle, and then went to a flea market. Like I said earlier we had dinner at a great place in the Navigli District called Le Brellin. Wonderful last full day in Milan. I told Christopher of all the cities so far we have been to in Italy…this is the one I want to live in. He says Rome still. :) Venice might change our mind…I don’t know!
So…less than a week and we go back to Nashville. It has been a great trip that's for sure. I am so happy and thankful for all that we have seen and done. Definitely there is a part of me that is ready to come home and do life in the regular form...not this dreamy world where you stroll, shop, sight see, and eat a lot! I know can you believe it? Don’t get me wrong, we are loving this trip but there is something about bringing a trip like this back into your real life and it changing that part.
I guess I could say that a few months ago I wanted to come to Italy more than my normal life and now I want my normal life back more than this (grass is greener…eh). I think in the end, both worlds helped each other out. In my normal world I was able to be excited about something that was coming down the road that was not so normal. Now here in dreamy world I am excited to live my normal life differently. I want to eat more good foods, I want to plant flowers at my house in boxes like the ones I have seen all over Italy, I want to spend time with the ones I love at cafès, and I want to start a family and have a big stroller to tote my kit around in (like they do here in Italy)! That is what we have said all along. We must go to Italy and then we can start to make plans for a little one. So I guess you could say I would like my life upon return from Italy to be a normal-dreamy world. Where you can have the best of both worlds. At least I will try to keep a part of this trip with me throughout each day.
Tomorrow is our final destination in Italy, Venice. I am so excited (and nervous…you know the whole travel day bug I get). Say a prayer.
Ok Ciao!
Photos from Yesterday and Today:
4/27/12
Christopher’s Birthday Cake - thank you To Mia and Cocoon B&B (http://www.cocoonbb.com/) for making a wonderful cake for Christopher.
Christopher’s Birthday Cake - thank you To Mia and Cocoon B&B (http://www.cocoonbb.com/) for making a wonderful cake for Christopher.
At the Last Supper painting by DaVinci
At the Last Supper painting by DaVinci
At the Last Supper painting by DaVinci
At the Last Supper painting by DaVinci
At the Last Supper painting by DaVinci
The Back of the Duomo
Inside the Duomo
It was a a beautiful church
It was a a beautiful church
This stained glass was replaced after WWII
Look at those floors...and that cute husband of mine?
On the top of the Duomo...of course we did "The Climb"
It was very cool to be this close with the gothic church
That is a new skyscraper they are building in the distance...also behind it is the Swiss Alps...CRAZY!
This was a nice place to enjoy the perfect weather we have had in Milan.
Milan is an old/new city...
About to head down to eat lunch...
At Luinis
Luini's
I did a little shopping of my own...
We got a kick out of this store...Douglas!
Christopher purchased something for his birthday that he has wanted for a long time! an Alessi Oil Cruet! :)
Look at this truck...It is crazy!
Dinner
Birthday Dinner
PIZZA! We are not tired of pizza...is that crazy?
Gelato...not tired of that either!
Navilgli District...very cool place!
Happy Birthday Christopher
4/28/12
This cracked me up outside a McDonalds we walked by...you can get tomatoes or parmesan cheese with your kids meal! Hilarious!
Laduree! Of course we had to partake in this...since there are only a few in the world!
Peck...a very cool (over priced) deli that doesn't allow pictures inside. Really?
A quartet (2 violins and 2 accordions)...Nashville get ready!
Maybe one of the coolest stores I have been into...Excelsior!
Excelsior!
Sforzesco castle
Sforzesco castle
Our Picnic in the park
From Eats!
Laduree Caramel and Lemon macaroons...yes please.
This is the life. I dont know what these are in comparison to something in US but they are amazing pretzel like crackers.
You have seen quite a few of these...but this one he caught me :)
Shout out to the Palmas! :)
The beautiful city of Milan...I love!
The beautiful city of Milan...I love!
The restaurant we ate at tonight for dinner! Le Brellin!
Uhhh yes please...
First time trying risotta in Italy. We were told to wait till Venice but we couldn't resist!
Birthday dinner #2 :)
Last night in Milan!
The beautiful Navigli District!
