Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Monday, February 06, 2006
3° e Ultimo Giorno a Milano...
Today did nothing much, managed to pack everything (books etc) into the suitcase - phew :) Had a stroll around the city before having a delicious pizza for lunch.
Am at hotel now - planning to leave shortly for Central Station to catch a coach to Bergamo airport. Really enjoyed Milan despite nothing much to see - well there are several sights but not as many as one would find in Florence, Venice and Rome :) Yes, I'd like to come back again with Martin and hopefully have better luck in acquiring the most popular ticket to see The Last Supper! Perhaps we could use Milan as a base to visit other places in Lombardy, Piedmont and Liguria. I don't think Milan is an ideal place to stay for a full week but a weekend stay is enough.
A friend of mine, Alex, has offered to pick me up at Luton - could catch train to St Albans, but I don't think I could face catching a bus to the station and get on a train to St Albans and then either taxi or bus from St Albans station to home... At least I get a lift and an excellent company :)
Can't wait to see my baby tonight! :)
Sunday, February 05, 2006
2° Giorno a Milano
Decided to not use metro despite having a 2-day ticket cos I felt like walking and making the most of the sun. My first stop was Santa Maria alla Grazie church - the museum next to it has the main attraction in Milan - the painting of the Last Supper. My planned visit is not because I'm christian (which I'm not) - its because of the book I read the year before. Yep, you guessed it - The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown! :) I turned up at the entrance only to be turned away - they were sold out for the day. I knew one had to phone in advance to book a ticket but I was hoping they would have some cancellations - ah well. They're closed tomorrow so little point in asking for reservation for tomorrow...
Onwards I went and wandered through the streets of Milan towards Piazza del Duomo. Found a little church dedicated to St Maurice (a saint I've never heard of) and thought I have a peek inside - it was stunning - very small and the frankincense was smoking in the air - very striking experience. Feels very orthodox-y but the sign assured me that it is catholic :) The people were queuing up at the altar which was only about 10 metres away from me (I was standing by the entrance - yes that's how tiny the church was!). These people were queuing to receive some sort of sweet/pastry and they kissed the small icon which was in the hand of an 'acolyte'. I assume the icon is the picture of St Maurice. It was rather interesting to watch all these and see how people take part in a ritual.
Anyway I got to the Piazza del Duomo - it was full of people feeding the pigeons - reminded me immediately of Trafagalar Sq :) Visit the Duomo - very stunning and grand. Found myself in the middle of midday mass so had to creep out discreetly as possible without receiving any frowns from the Duomo regulars!
My next stop was Teatro alla Scala - the infamous Opera house in Milan. Its museum was closed so I walked further to another museum called Poldi Pezzoli. It was ok but I got to see a couple of Botticelli's work (I'm a Botticelli fan!) - and particularly liked Madonna del Libro - rather appealing. One could sort of recognise the hand used on her hair with the infamous painting of Botticelli - La Nascita di Venere which I got to see few years back in Florence. At least I get to practise my Italian by reading the titles of the items displayed in this museum which was rather fun - a bit sad I know!
After late lunch I wandered around the shops (including the likes of Armani, Gucci, Prada and Vuitton) I found myself in several more of librerie! Yes, bought more italian books!! I think I have enough books to take home and have vowed to not buy any more from now!
After having a quick nap at the hotel I thought I try the 'Deaf Club' in Milan - ENS Milano. Found it but only to be met by a Deaf cleaner telling me not to cross the floor that has just been mopped. From a short distance we conversed in International Sign and that he was sorry to inform me that they were closed at 7pm (it was after 8pm). He wasn't very talkative so I let myself out - ah well at least I know where it is and I can try again next time I come to Milan :) Found a nice pizzeria near the Central station. Before I went back to the hotel - visit to the very same gelateria I went last night at Piazza del Duomo - yes bought myself another tub of gelati! Like last night, I sat down in the square eating gelati and admiring the illuminated steeples of the Duomo against the cold black sky.... :)
Saturday, February 04, 2006
Giorno 1° a Milano
The hotel was nice and the metro is easy to use. The 'Duomo' (cathedral) is impressive even if most of the facade is covered for restoration. The city need to get used to before one can fully relax and roam around - I don't know why I felt like that but I had opportunity to have a taster - by having a quick tour around the city and to see what's on offer.
I have confession to make - I've made too many visits to Milan's several 'librerie' - I just cannot tear myself away from these bookshops! It's not very often for me to have chance to buy 'libri italiani' from 'librerie italiane' - that's obvious because I don't live in Italy!!! :) Have made a stock of books including cookery books and I hope Martin will like them as well so that I won't feel too bad!! After dinner this evening I found a nice gelateria in Piazza del Duomo - treated myself to a tub of gelati. Even in winter - the italians adore eating them, so I don't feel bad for eating them! :) Sat in the square watching the night air swirling around the steeples of the Duomo while gorging on delicious gelati - heaven!
Bed starting to beckon and I think I'll have a good night's sleep to catch up before I can really explore Milan tomorrow :)
Buona notte e sogno d'oro.
Friday, February 03, 2006
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Thoughts on LibDems' Leadership Contest
WARNING: 9 minutes in duration - definitely not for the light-hearted!
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
HODIE LASSVS SVM
cras laborare ad Aquae Sulis ibo tum meum genitorem et meam genetricem Bristolii videbo.
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Friday, January 06, 2006
Scattered thoughts
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
January Blues
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
2006!
After Dijon we stopped over in Lille - a terrific place to shop and we certainly shall be coming back soon to shop there for a weekend :) Got home yesterday and went over to Alex and Mike's - had lovely homemade pizza together (Alex does mean wholemeal pizzas!) and watched The Jerry Springer Opera DVD (the one I bought Martin for Christmas) - the DVD was so good - laughed so much and we all want to see it live this year!
Good start to 2006 - may it continue for the rest of the year!
Thursday, November 10, 2005
I did it again!!!
We've been to the gym last night and guess what????
I've lost another 4lb - 12lb in total in the last three and half
weeks!!!! Martin also lost 4lb too :) even though he said he cannot
see the difference (but I can). Getting personal trainer is the best
thing we have ever done - she looks at everything about us - our
lifestyles and eating habits - she then gives us advices on how to
improve without doing any drastic changes...
Am feeling much lighter and am walking much faster - feeling much
more energetic than I was a month ago. Gym has changed our lives for
good - just hope that we can keep it up though!
Sunday, October 30, 2005
I did it!!!!!
Been going to gym since Sept and began to have Personal Trainer few
weeks ago with Martin for an hour once a week.
The result is showing as I've lost 8lb in two weeks! I feel terrific!
Our Personal Trainer is not there to supervise how much activities we do
in the gym but she is there to supervise our whole lifestyle and our
eating habits through looking at our food diary.
Gym now is pure maths for me - the machine tells me how much calories
I've lost and I can work out how much calories I've lost through gym per
week - and I watch how much I eat - these two go hands in hands and its
finally working for me now. Years of fad dieting are now gone - its
pure effort - watch what you eat and exercise!
Feeling good about myself now and I hope I can keep up with the momentum :)
Thursday, October 06, 2005
It's been a while...
...since I wrote anything in my blog!
Ireland: it was fantastic - really enjoyed the Dingle Penisula and
Dingle town. Kerry was particularly beautiful especially off the beaten
track through the mountain passes. Cashel and Kilkenny - cute. Dublin
was fantastic! Loved pint of Guinness at the end of our Guinness tour :)
Its been work work work since we got back and I've got exams coming up
(next Fri - 14th Oct) *gulp* For me I finished my course when I did my
final assignment and can't bring myself to revise for the exams. I
suppose I will do some revision tomorrow and next week.
Autumn has started - its pitch dark at 8pm here. Sad that long sunlit
hours are gone - but I love crispy autumn air with sunshine - so cold
you cannot feel the sun. Christmas is coming up too - can't wait :)
but we can't start planning for Christmas until Hallowe'en is celebrated!
Sunday, September 04, 2005
SW Ireland
Visited Mizen Head yesterday - the most south western Ireland! Camping at Ballylickey near Bantry in County Cork. Either today or tomorrow off to County Kerry - yay!
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Ireland!
Boarded finally on ferry at Pembroke Dock - our Irish holiday begins! So so looking forward to relaxing for the next two weeks roaming the Emerald Isle!
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Holidays are here (well almost!)
Today was my last working day before the holidays! Yay!
I can't say how much I'm so looking forward to our Irish trip - its been
a while since we both had proper holiday! India was a lovely holiday
but it was more of an expedition rather than holiday (we indeed had
holiday from our work!) Sicily was lovely but Martin and I were ill
during some of the holiday! Now we're having a restful and relaxing
holiday this time and hopefully the emerald countryside will soothe us
and forget everything about our work! :)
However, having said that, I have endless of errands to do before our
hols - ho hum!
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Locked out!
Here I am - writing this email using my mobile phone. It's so fortunate that I put my mobile in my pocket as have just locked myself out - barefoot! All because i was doing something good ie putting rubbish out!
Just texted Martin and he'll be on his way to let me in again. So funny that it happened after we had this discussion just last night about getting our keys cut for our dear friends in Hemel should we ever lock ourselves out! Talking about cruel fate!
