On the first leg of this trip to Italy (en route to meet up with the group I am currently leading on a tour in Tuscany), I was able to spend several days in Milan… a place I called home for nine years.
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Dopo tanti anni di assenza (piu’ di dieci!) e’ stato bellissimo tornare a Milano. [After so many years away (more than ten!) it was wonderful to return to Milan.] Questa citta’ mi e’ sempre stata vicina al cuore. [I have always has a soft spot in my heart for this city]
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In addition to it’s ancient yet cosmopolitan good looks, its vibrant feel, and its stylish residents (not to mention un sacco di memorie — a boatload of memories), this visit was especially poignant for me because I was able to meet up with a slew of old and dear friends that I hadn’t seen in forever. My friends and I owe a debt of gratitude to Facebook, for without it we might never have found each other again.
L’amicizia vale piu’ dell’oro — Friendship is worth more than gold.
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Durante il mio soggiorno ho fatto proprio una tonnellata di foto in giro per Milano. [During my stay, I seriously took a ton of photos in Milan.]
Eccone alcune delle mie preferite.
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Una colazione deliziosa: Caffe’ macchiato e un bacio fatto in casa /
A delicious breakfast: Espresso coffee with a spot of milk and a homemade “bacio” (kiss,” like the famous candy “i baci di Perugina”)
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Risotto all’ortolana al Ristorante “A Santa Lucia” vicino al Duomo / Vegetable risotto at “A Santa Lucia” Restaurant near the Duomo
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Il mio fioraio preferito, a Piaza Cordusio, in centro. / My favorite flower vendor, Cordusio Plaza, in the center.
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Camminando lungo Via Dante, con vista del Castello Sforzesco in fondo alla via. / Walking along Dante Street, with the Sforzesco Castle in view at the end of the street.
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Le bici a noleggio (“Bike Sharing”: €36 all’anno, €2.50 al giorno) — quanto mi piace quest’idea! / Bikes to rent (Bike sharing: €36/year, €2.50/day) — I love this idea!
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Il Duomo, la cattedradale di Milano. / The Duomo, Milan’s cathedral. I learneded that duomo does not mean “dome,” but rather comes from the latin word “domus,” meaning house of God, or casa di Dio.)
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Il simpaticissimo proprietario del Ristorante Bella Riva sui navagli. / The very engaging owner of the Bella Riva Restaurant in Milan’s canal district. (Yes, Milan has canals!)
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Il delizioso “Panino Ricco” (con speck e brie) dal bar piu’ vicino al mio albergo, Hotel la Vignetta. / The delicious “Rich Sandwich” (that’s the name of the sandwich on the menu, speck is a type of Italian cured meat) at the cafe nearest to my hotel.
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Una riunione dei Milan-Easy Toastmasters, il club che ho aiutato a fondare io. / A meeting of the Milan-Easy Toastmasters, a club that I helped start up.
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Una pubblicita’ per la Shiseido, la societa’ giapponese di cosmetici. C’e’ scritto “Grazie!” / An advertisement for the Japanese cosmetics company Shiseido. It says, “Grazie!”
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Lungo il Corso di Porta Ticinese. / Along the Porta Ticinese Avenue.
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Dei ragazzi che camminano sulla corda in Parco Sempione. / Guys walking on a tightrope in Sempione Park.
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Mi sono presa una di quelle bici a noleggio ed ho fatto giro a Parco Sempione! / I got myself one of those rental bikes and took a spin around Sempione Park!
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Leggenda milanese: Si dice che se metti il tacco sui “gioelli” del toro in questo mosaico nella Galleria Vittorio Emanuele e fai un girotondo assicuri il tuo ritorno a Milano! / Milanese legend: It is said that if you put your heel on the bull’s “jewels” in this mosaic in the Victor Emanuel Gallery and you spin around, you are sure to return to Milan!
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Which of these pictures is your favorite? Have you been to Milan? What are some of your favorite memories? Love to read your comments in the section below!
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che belle fotografie!! So happy for you and this wonderful trip you are having! Safe travels, e baci!
Che divertente! Mi piacono tutte le fotografie!
la Bella vita! the last photo is best.
Bon voagio,
luigi
I sono stati là anche Lei è molto fortunato! Tanti anni fa.
Suzanne (in beautiful Sydney Australia)
Grazie Jodina! I’m so glad you are having a fabulous time. Wonderful photos!
Tutte le tue foto mi sono piaciute; mi dispiace solo che io non ero li ad essere il tuo fotografo ufficiale.
Quando torni a casa? Mi manchi!
Love the pictures, I am glad your having an amazing trip!!
When we got off the express train from Malpensa, the first thing we saw (other than several wonderfully decorated elephants 🙂 ) was the Castello. We started walking in the beautiful park, which we later found out was the Parco Sempione. We got delightfully lost, and eventually had lunch near a children’s park at a small outdoor restaurant. Later, I spent a wonderful hour on the rool of the Duomo while my sister sat down below on the piazza watching people.
I will be back in Milano on May 25 on my way to Bologna on the first leg of my YEAR in Italy. Wahoooooo!
All of these son cosi belle e simpatiche. Ma la mia preferita e` quella del fioraio : ) The other one dei ragazzi sul tightrope e` cool, too. I’m glad you finally put `em up!
Love you,
Maria
GREAT PICS JODINA……
HAVE A CAPPUCCINO FOR ME 🙂
HAVE A WONDERFUL TRIP
jANETTA
Loved these photos Jodina,
you took some great ones and look adorable.
Ciao Giannetta/Janetta– I’ll have due cappuccini for you 🙂
Maria: Sai bella, quelle sono anche le mie preferite… insieme a quella delle bici. TVB!
Thanks Sheila — grazie!
Ciao Dee! Sono molto emozionata per te e il tuo viaggio in Italia. Stay in touch and perhaps I can feature some of your travel tales in a guest blog! Jodina
Ciao caro Ninuzzo, torno alla fine del mese. Prendiamo un caffe o un vinello insieme.
Magari la prossima volta vieni anche tu e cosi’ mi aiuti a fare le foto 🙂
Tonya: Mille grazie cara!
Grazie Luigi!
Grazie Carolina. Ci vediamo presto!
Stacy: Thanks bella. Lookin fwd to seeing you soon 🙂 Ti dobbiamo preparare per il tuo viaggio in Italia quest’estate!
Hi babe!
So are we moving!??lol
How is it? Any surprises? When you back??
you are way too cute on that rental bike. shades of gone with the Schwinn ala Kermit the frog. glad you are having so much fun!
Ciao Jodina,
Tutto la fotografia sono belle, mi piaccio i fiori. Gracie por lo “blog” molto interressante. Wish I was there. Seee you soon,
Giada (uno)
Ciao Giada uno! Grazie del commento. Wish you were here 🙂
A presto! Jodina
Ciao Mamma Susanna! TVB … Kermit la rana: ahaha! Got you some cute regali from Italia — will send when I get home.
Con molto affetto, la tua Jodina
Ciao Nico! Instead of moving, lets just get a place here and travel back and forth from Cali to Italia! 😉
Hello, Jodina!
We have really enjoyed your “tour” of Italy. Thank you. Looking forward to more classes with you…Karen and Dick (“Stella” and “Ricardo”) 🙂
Ciao Stella e Riccardo!
Grazie per “accompagnarmi” in viaggio. Spero di vedervi presto.
🙂
Jodina