So many networks, sites, etc., so little time

For most of this trip I have been posting on my FaceBook account. You can find me by my user name, kingjean. All the photos are there.

I'll be updating this blog once I'm back home. Right now I'm at the tail end of my trip. I'm sitting around in un-air conditioned London typing this as I wait to print out my boarding passes for tomorrow's flight back to the states.

All in all it's been a good trip, drank from a water fall, went to a castle or two, toured a fjord, rode the vaporettos around Venezia, and went to art and museum shows everywhere I went. What more could I want except more time and cooler temperatures?

See you all soon back home in Texas.

Day 2: Milan

First view after exiting the Metro

I took the Metro down to the Duomo this morning.

After looking around the neighborhood of my hotel, which feels a great deal like Houston, flat, hot and humid, it was wonderful to come up from the underground to a setting that could be no place else but Italy.

The morning was cool enough to be enjoyable. I wandered around the area of the Duomo and the Galleria for several hours observing architecture and people.

I have no pictures of the interior of the Duomo. Apparently I am one of the only people taking the signs at the entrance seriously, for inside the Duomo is full of tourists blatantly violating the rules posted at the door. A series of signs using the international "No" sign show what not to do. No cell phones. No cameras. Inside the cool, dim interior is a light show of strobe flashes from the tourists' cameras. Several people walk about, cellphone to ear, seemingly unaware of their surroundings. In the midst of all the intrusions and confusion, over on one side of the church are several confessionals where several priests are listening to the various sins of their congregation. I have to wonder if any of them are confessing to taking photos and talking on their cellphones.

For 8 Euro, I took an elevator ride to the roof of the Duomo


Gargoyle on the roof of the Duomo


Bambini should be held by the hand. Do not dangle them by the feet or hold them by the throat or hair. Oh, yes, and no smoking by you or the kiddos.

Meanwhile, back down on the piazza.


I was wondering whether this boy's older brother was helping him out by turning him into a human bird feeder or if he was hoping the pigeons would either fly away with or devour him.


Bicycle rental on the piazza


In Milan even the fashionistas ride bicycles, in platform shoes yet. I loved this woman's attire and her well-groomed dog.


The Galleria, inspiration for the Galleria in Houston, Texas or so they say.


Inside the Galleria, in the same structure where you find Prada, you can find a lovely McDonalds.


A beggar just inside the Galleria. It was impossible to tell anything about this person. The scarf completely concealed their face and head. They shook and quivered, although I noticed that the hand with the basket for coins seemed steady enough.

I was reminded of Hieronymous Bosch's paintings. There was something incredibly disturbing about this person.

I took this last photo and wandered back outside. When I returned less than five minutes later there was no sign of the beggar anywhere. Your guess is as good as mine.

I wandered on.

I took a break in one of the stores, enjoyed a gelato and headed back to the hotel in time to take a nap before time for dinner.