Italy May 2010

Jerry and I had planned a trip to Italy and decided that we would begin our month-long trip in Milan. We had been told that Milan was an industrial city and therefore, we did not need to spend more than two days here. But we were pleasantly surprised by the beauty of this major city and fell in love with it.

Milan is a fashion capital and all of the major labels are represented there. Window shopping is a delight and the main city market was a great introduction to my obsession with Italian market browsing. Each market in Italy has similar features: they are open from early morning to 1P.M..; local produce, cheese, meat, sweets and bread are sold by local merchants; clothing can range (depending on the city) from cheap cotton dresses, shirts, pants (men's pants come in a variety of bold colors), underwear, scarves, belts and of course, shoes and purses; kitchen tools; tablecloths, toiletries; toys; plants; and occasionally, furniture and decorative items. In Milan's main market, one can purchase designer shoes made by Prada and Roger Vivier. We observed all walks of life in the market and bargaining is part of the buying experience.

 Train station commissioned by Mussolini

The architecture in Milan is extraordinary. The main train station was commissioned by Mussolini and is an imposing structure. The parks are large and surrounded by beautiful buildings and filled with families enjoying the sunshine and soccer. Jerry and I walked around this great city and found so many interesting neighborhoods with shops that still offer hand tailored suits. Once you leave the tourist areas, you will find tiny shops with cobblers teaching their craft to young apprentices. Each Italian city has these shops that specialize in handmade leather and cloth goods. Linen clothing is a speciality item in Italy and I highly recommend you purchase something here. You won't find anything like it at home.

Italy is a series of regions and the food is a representation of each region. Make sure to have the specialties of the area. I make Milanese risotto at home but I love the way it is prepared in this region. Everything tastes better in Italy because of the fresh ingredients.