Milano

We left Bern at 8:07 AM under the cover of drizzling rain, eagerly looking forward to some Italian Riviera sunshine.    The first leg of our trip -- Bern to Visp, then Brig -- actually retraced the route we took one month earlier as part of the Glacier Express.  This time, however, we changed trains at Brig and headed south through the Alps into Italy.  As we descended from the mountains across the Italian border, we noticed several marble quarries and admired the views of lake Maggiore on our way to Milan.  

Our stop-over in Milan was a short four hours, but we tried to make the most of it.  From Stazione Centrale, we took the subway to Piazza del Duomo -- the world's largest gothic cathedral (or so we are told).  After taking in a full quota of gargoyles, statues, and spires, we left Piazza del Duomo through an impressive iron and glass covered shopping arcade and headed towards Piazza dell Scala.  From there, we walked to the so-called "Golden Quad" (the designer shopping district around Via della Spigna, Via Sant'Andrea, Via Napoleane, and Via Manzoni).  Alas, it was a holiday in Italy and all the shops were closed.  Too bad, so sad.  But Pam and I walked around anyway.  You know, window shopping for next time.  :)

After selecting our outfits, we walked to the nearby Castello Sforzesco, the 15th-century residence of the powerful Sforza family.  Pretty nice crib, I must say.  Before heading back to Stazione Centrale, we stopped for some Pomodoro e Mozzarella at an outdoor cafe -- delicious!  Then back on the train to Genoa and the Italian Riviera....