Day #8: Monza - Milan - London

On Day 8, today is our Last Day of our Summer Vacation!!!! Not a good start to begin with, as I didn’t get much sleep. It was Warm in the room as we only had a small opening for our window, heard mosquitoes and also Dion’s Snore!!! Dat wasn’t too bad as it was nearly Morning oredi!!!! Got up about 8plus and went for breakfast with Dion. The breakfast was very ordinary, just bread, croissants and coffee. Bad thing is they didn’t replenish the food, so had to make do with whatever that’s left. Good thing…the girlz skipped breakfast for more sleeps. We should have done that too!!!! Checked out from the hotel but left our rucksack with them until evening.

* ...Breakfast Corner... *

* ...Me & Dionz Servings... *

So having a full day in Milan, we decided to make a trip to Monza for the F1 circuit. Monza is just 10mins train ride from Milan Central Station. Got there, walked around Monza city centre, the town is pretty quiet for a Saturday and some of the shops were even closed. I was so un-spirited that day, feeling very Blur and Tired!!! We had a quick lunch in a small café, just normal pasta. Then Dion led the way to the circuit, which was a 10mins bus ride from the centre. Got there and found out the circuit is closed…Shucks!!! A week later is Monza F1, so I supposed they closed the circuit for testing. Just took pictures from the outside and left.

* ...Fooling at the Station... *

* ...Train Ride... *

* ...Monza Town... *

* ...The Cathedral... *

* ...Mine: Arrabiata & Amyz: Seafood Risotto... *

* ...Dionz: Lasagne & WanLiz: Carbonara... *

* ...Monza Park... *

* ...F1 Circuit Entrance... *

* ...F1 Circuit... *

* ...Picture A Must... *

* ...9th Group Photo in Monza (Wat Is he Takin???)... *

Got the train back to Milan and more shopping then. Walk around other shopping streets that we have not been yet. Until about 6pm, we went for a quick dinner near our hotel. We were rushing through dinner to make it for the aero-bus. I think the restaurant didn’t quite like our attitude, not respecting their food and service. Our flight is 10pm, need to check in by 8pm and the bus to Milan Bergamo airport is an hour ride. So we have to catch the 7pm bus. It was a pretty uneventful day!!! I think this is the most boring day of the trip, probably its also because we knew we are going BACK. But I’m sure we wouldn’t know where else to go or what to do if we have another day in Milan. So better off we go…Back to London!!!

* ...Mine: Bolognese... *

* ...Dionz: Carbonara... *

* ...Amyz: Lasagne... *

* ...WanLiz: Milanese Risotto... *

* ...Aero Bus... *

* ...Milan Bergamo Airport... *

* ...Flight Back...Now Be HAppy... *

* ...Back to Amy&Dion's Place... *

Our wonderful vacation has come to an END…BooHoo…I want One More!!! I haven’t got enough of visiting Europe yet. This is my second long vacation in Europe for year 2006. The first was a 8days trip during Easter to Venice – Verona and Barcelona with my mommy and sis. And now this!!! Honestly, I really like this trip. I felt there was a good combination of everything, from harbourside towns to metropolitan and from beach side to hill side. We got through the hustle bustle of city life to relaxing laidback days at the beach and back to nature sort. So far I have been doing a lot of city visits, which can be boring, visiting cathedrals, museums and etc. I have always wanted to do a scenic vacation like this one. So thank you all…Amy for making this happen, Dion for all the quality driving and WanLi for the sightseeings. Thank you for tolerating with my horrible navigation in Italy, setting a new trend at roundabouts from now…Hahahaha!!! (you guys know wat I mean if you’re reading this). It was Superb and Absolutely Fantastic travelling with the three of you…Intoxicating and Stuffing ourselves…Hope we can do this again Somewhere Sometime soon. Thanks a Million!!!! I will remember this….

Day #7: Milan

On Day 7, woke up about 7plus for breakfast in the hotel. Being a 4star hotel, the breakfast was of course GooD. But disappointed they didn’t have sunny side-up eggs, just scramble. We all had a splendid breakfast before checking out the hotel and off we go to Milan. We had to return the car before 12pm at Milan Central Station. The journey was alright, we were on time as it only took about 1hour to get to Milan Central. Our hotel was near the station, so loaded our rucksacks into the hotel before we returned the car. The hotel was not a very good one, but didn’t mind, as we only needed to put out a night here. Managed to return the car before 12pm without much hassle even though we got a knock on the rear in Cinque Terre. We suspected a light goods vehicle must have knocked our car while reversing early morning.

* ...Breakfast Room... *

* ...My Breakfast... *

* ...Amyz... *

* ...WanLiz... *

* ...Dionz (1st Helping Only)... *

* ...Road to Milan... *

* ....Welcome to Milan... *

* ...Our Hotel Room... *

* ...Very Basic HuH... *

* ...Return Car (Look at the Dent)... *

Went back to Milan Central Station to enquire on interesting sights at the tourist office. Then, took the metro to visit Cenacolo Vinciano, the Church that housed the Last Supper. Unfortunately, bookings are required before visiting and the earliest booking is 2weeks away…Wahhh….that is quite ridiculous!!! So we took pictures on the outside and left for the Duomo. The Duomo looks Magnificent from the outside, even better on the inside. I like this cathedral a lot, with artworks, sculptures and stained glasses. But of course, St. Peter’s Church in Vatican is still the best!!! WanLi was refused entry as she was wearing sleeveless, so had to wait outside for us. Took quite some photos and left for the next place, Galleria Vittoria Emanuele. This is just a shopping area housed inside an old building. Then we walked around the city centre aimlessly. Basically we have finished the important sights. We skipped the art museums and opera house though. Everyone says there is nothing much to see in Milan, but I think they still have the usual sights like cathedral, museums and old buildings but I certainly don’t feel the touristy atmosphere in Milan besides at the Duomo. It'’s not very exciting in Milan and plus the weather is HOT too. I guess Milan is a place where you just enjoy city life and culture unlike Rome.

* ...Milan Central Station... *

* ...At the Metro... *

* ...Cenacolo Vinciano (Looks Boring)... *

* ...Sample of Last Supper... *

* ...The Duomo... *

* ...Main Area... *

* ...Artworks Lined Along... *

* ...A Nice Altar... *

* ...A Nice Background... *

* ...Stained Glass... *

* ...EeeRy Figurine... *

* ...The Square Outside Duomo... *

* ...Galleria Vittori0 Emanuele... *

* ...The Main Gate... *

* ...The Inside...Grand!!!... *

We had a late pizza lunch about 3pm along Via Dante. This is the biggest pizza I have ever had in Italy and it only cost €8. The lunch really stuffed me, making me sleepy and wanted to go back for an afternoon nap. Then went back to the city centre around the shopping area. They say Milan is all about shopping and we spent a lot of time in the Ferrari store, buying souveniers and test driving the F1 car simulation…which was so difficult to steer. The car was extremely sensitive…but still Good Fun!!! Got back to the hotel about 6plus to rest abit, but eventually got none as we had to change rooms. Apparently, the air-cond in our room is not cold enough and also their air-cond operates from 4pm to 10pm only. Goshhh…how can they do dat…they should have it running after dinner instead, as it’s a tourist hotel with no facilities, no one would stay indoor during daytime. This is so BaD…and luckily the night was cool enough…Imagine if it was Hot Summer Night…Sigh!!!!

* ...Lunchtime... *

* ...Dionz: Meat & Egg Pizza... *

* ...Mine: CheeZe & Olives... *

* ...Girlz: Capriciossa... *

* ...Walkin to Shopping Area, Having IceCream... *

* ...Ferrari Store... *

* ...Look at the Inside...WoW... *

* ...My Ferrari Bear... *

* ...Winning Look... *

* ...Me in a Ferrari F1... *

* ...Dion: Hi Everybody... *

* ...Let Me Try Sepang Circuit... *

* ...Here I GO... *

We left the hotel about 9plus for some clubbing. Tonight is the opening night for Absolut Icebar Milano. Found this on the website and we should all go for the experience. Drinking vodka and freezing your ass off in a bar at a temperature of -5degree. That will be very EnjoYable!!! Took tram no.33 in Garibaldi train station and got there just in time. I think we were early coz the place is pretty quiet, in fact this Icebar is not exactly in the happening spot of Milan. Paid €17 for entry with a free vodka cocktail and thermal wear. We had a GreaT time inside, taking loads of picture and talking with the bar tenders. They can only work up to 2hrs, need to rotate and heat up the body. The ice are carved from melting water of River Thorne, Sweden and imported to the Icebar. Sounds Fabulous rite!!! But the shameful thing is they have one in London too, and we went all the way to Milan for this…Sigh!!! There are Icebars in London, Milan, Tokyo, Stockholm and its original place Jukkasjarvi, Sweden (with an Icehotel too). Have a look at the pictures!!! We got out after an hour and each having 2 cocktails and a shot. I could barely feel my fingers and toes. We had to defrost in the reception for awhile before we leave. I noticed a guy who went in for 10mins and came out nose bleeding in the toilet…That was Horrible!!!! So be wary for those of you who cant stand real COLD!!!!

* ...Tram Ride... *

* ...Absolut Icebar Milano... *

* ...Display of Vodkas... *

* ...IceWalls and IceTable... *

* ...1st Cocktails... *

* ...The Girlz... *

* ...8th Group Photo in Milano... *

* ...The Menu & Its -5... *

* ...WanLi @ The Bar... *

* ...The Couple @ IceChair... *

* ...New: Absolut Level One... *

* ...A Shot of Me... *

* ...Drink Up... *

* ...Here U Go...2nd Round... *

* ...2nd Cocktails... *

* ...Cheers... *

* ...Feeling Tipsy... *

* ...Defrosting... *

* ...Happy Memory... *

* ....Now She's High... *

* ...Now to Navigli... *

Got back to Garibaldi station and took the Metro to Porta Genova, Navigli area where all the bars and pubs are located. The area looked kind of dodgy when you leave the metro station but when you get to the river, its Happening!!! We walked up and down the streets looking for FooD, but most kitchen was closed as it was nearly 12am. Ended up eating take away pizza on the streets, which was SaD!!! This place is not exactly a clubbing area, more like street pubs. But sure is Crowded!!! We don’t even know how to get home coz trams and metro stop after midnight. We were lucky to get Help from a stranger who called a cab for us…Thank you Mr. Italian Stranger!!! Got back to our Hotel for some sleeps without Air-Condition…but Good Night Out!!!!

* ...Navigli Area... *

* ...Street Pubs... *

* ...My Pizza... *

* ...Pizza By the Roadside... *