Milano & San Mauro

MILANO
We arrived in Milan tied but excited for our last holiday adventure, in Italy. After two trains and a one kilometre walk down some back narrow streets we found our hotel. The hotel is just off Corso Buenos Aires, one of the main local shopping streets near the Centrale Stazione. We walked up and down exploring part of the corso, bought a few snaks then went back to the hotel to catch on about fourteen hours sleep. A beautiful breakfast then off to the Duomo. This is the largest Gothic cathedral in Italy and made out of marble. It sits at one end of the very large Piazza Duomo that seemed to be the meeting place for many of the citizens of Milano. We had a look through this overwhelming building that took five hundred years to finish. A lift to the rooftop, which is also made of marble, gave us a 360o view of smogy Milano. When back in the piazza Karen insisted on a photograph with the Carbinenari, the exquisitely dressed and groomed police. A walk around the area, 'window' shoping in most of the shops including the original Prada. We then had a short train trip to see the 'Last Supper' by Leonardo da Vinci. Unfortuantly when we got to Santa Maria delle Grazie we were informed that we needed to make a reservation two months in advance. This was a real disappointment, however we now have a reason to come back to Malino. We went back to Piazza Duomo and had a meal of authentic Milanese pasta, wine and the best coffee of the trip so far. Adjacent to the Duomo is a large brand name fashion store. A large crowd out the front with photographers drew our attention. We followed the crowd into the store and I ended up on the second floor balcony with the press photographers and security shooting pictures of Elizabeth Hurley, the 'face' of Estee Lauder. The day was not all a disappointment. An early night to catch an early train to Torino and San Mauro in the morning.

SAN MAURO
An early breakfast to catch the 9:30 train for a two hour journey to Torino, and a taxi to San Mauro where my grandparents were born. The B&B is on a hillside 500 meters from the town piazza. Our usual practice is to have a walk around the neighborhood and San Mauro was no exception. We walked down by the river Po and some lunch at a small cafe. After a light lunch of lasagne, risotto, wine and another perfect coffee we walked to the cimitero to look over the tomb stones for names of deceased releatives. We found several Fenoglio, Giachino and Vichetti/o names, but only one known relative. A great-aunt, Margherita Fenoglio my grandfather's sister. This was a very strange feeling for me.

We went back to the town for dinner, more than a few locally made 100% coco-butter chocolates, and then had another early night.

On the second day in San Mauro, after large continental brekfast we walked down to the town to discover a market in the piazza. There was fresh food, cloathing, flowers and other bits and pieces. A full range of cheeses, meats, pasta, seafood, fruit and vetegables were on offer to these tourist who could only purchase some fruit and of course some lady's cloathing - as you do. No one could speak English, however the language of lady's fashion is universal.

A local coffee (Lavazza) and a stroll across the old bridge over the river Po, finished the morning at about 1:00 pm. Back at the B&B we had a siesta, as all the shops were closed from 12:30 to 3:30 for everyone else in the town to do the same.

We decided not have dinner until we met with Eraldo at 7:00 pm, my second cousin who I have never met. After Eraldo picked us up we went to new local restaurant and ate authentic Piemonte food, drank wine and talked for about three hours. Karen and I filled in the English gaps and Eraldo filled in the Italian gaps. It was an exciting time for me.