Wrapping up Milano, and our side trip to Venezia

Whew, what a flurry of activity the last couple days have been. Sarah and I are currently on the train from Milan to Florence, where we will catch either a train or bus to Lucca, our home for the next two weeks.  While we've been more than early for everything this far, our exhaustion this morning and just missing the metro, therefore having to wait 12 minutes for the next one, made us cut it way closer than we wanted. We made this train with about 30 seconds to spare, after sprinting up three floors (primarily using stairs, as things are way less handicapped-friendly here) with over 80 pounds of luggage apiece. I guess we can call that our workout for the day!

We enjoyed Milan and probably covered close to two dozen miles between walking and running during our time there. We had hoped to get in a visit to lake Como (an hour train ride north, supposed to be beautiful, the vacation spot of George Clooney) on Friday, but with several days of train travel within a short short period and fairly dreary weather, we opted to get more out of Milan instead.

After some sightseeing, I went on my first solo adventure.  Earlier in the day, the screw in my glasses fell out, and nothing I could find was small enough to screw it back in.  Luckily, Google came to my rescue and a tiny mom and pop optometrist shop was only a 10 minute walk from our lodgings in Milan's Chinatown. I walked inside, greeted the man and woman, and opened with, "Mi potete aiutare?" (Can you help me?) And showed them the glasses with the loose screw and and falling-out lens. They kindly helped me out, free of charge. Victory!

The evening was spent in our host's kitchen, making our way through two bottles of Italian wine, the second of which we shared with the German couple, Hans and Greta, who are staying there as well. (When asked if they would join us for some wine, Hans replied, "Why not; it would be good for international relations!") The four of us and our host, Margherita, all in our twenties, chatted (in English) for several hours, comparing cultures and experiences.  The World Cup was obviously mentioned, and the German couple were quite happy because Germany had just advanced.

Some noteworthy points:

-Hans gave Greta a mock hard time about buying such expensive shoes that day. Some things are the same no matter the culture!

-the most prevalent American stereotype is one of bravado

-teaching is not a very esteemed profession in Italy or Germany either

-summer vacation for kids in Italy is about 12 weeks, while only 6 in Germany, although the latter seems to have a few more breaks during the year

-everyone was surprised we would be going to Venice for just a day when it was  2.5 hour train ride each way. "But that's right, for you Americans, everything is farther."

-Italians identify themselves by their region first, not their country. Italy became unified less than 150 years ago and the regional pride and culture is still stronger than national pride.  Margherita said even when traveling abroad, when asked where she's from, she says "Milan," rather than "Italy."

-Disney movies are popular over there too, although none of them had heard of Frozen (they don't really interact with kids though)

-the cost of phones is wayyy more in Italy (Margherita spent 700 euro on her iPhone) but service is way less, like 6 euro a month, although she has a limit of 400 texts (and she's on the phone plan by herself, no family plan here)

-"buon giorno" is said until about 3pm, then it becomes "buena sera" (good evening). No one says "buon pomeriggio" (good afternoon).

-even though Milan is in the north of Italy and Italy is about the same distance north of the equator than New York, they hardly get any snow (and when they do, the whole city freaks out, reminiscent of the southern U.S. States). Germany's climate seems more like ours, although this past winter, while brutally cold for us, was unseasonably warm for all of Europe.

-Italians are taught the truth about Christopher Columbus as kids, not given a pretty image of him like we were (although I think that is starting to change).  Margherita was shocked that we have a national holiday for the man.  Italians are also taught a lot of American history.  When we mentioned it was our Independence Day, she said, "oh, that had to do with the tea in Boston, right?"

So no Fourth of July BBQ or fireworks for us this year, but it was such a fulfilling day. Interactions like this are one of my favorite things about traveling abroad!

And Venice yesterday, well, words don't even describe how amazing it was.  The coolest place we've ever seen. So glad we made the trip, as far as it was.  Enjoy the photos, although they don't do it justice! Sarah will post them shortly from her phone.

By the way, in case you were wondering, our gelato consumption  after 3 days is up to 8 scoops combined, and the number of fanny packs we've sighted is at 11. (That one is for you, Mom)