Views with the wind in our hair

Hubby and I have always enjoyed putting on our socks and sandals, bumbag (fanny pack), and taking in the tourist spots that most avoid. Open bus sightseeing tours have always been our initial introduction to a city and were a success for us in London, Rome, Stockholm, Paris, Oslo and Helsinki, so we figured this would be a great way to explore our new home, and to perhaps get our bearings. The convenience of hopping on and off the bus as you wish is quickly washed away with the mini me passengers that now cling to our sides. The Milan tour had two different routes, so we decided to take one Saturday and one Sunday.

We had not planned for such hot weather, but a supply of iced water, carrot sticks, headphones for daughter and slinky (never leave home without it) for son, resulted in a bearable family experience with pretty views, and the wind in our hair (perhaps not soul mates hair, but you know what I mean). It was difficult to comprehend facts from our headphones (princess kept switching my language from English to German and Japanese) while trying to entertain the children, but all the same, was a great way to see the city.

I did retain some information about Milan (or perhaps just cheated from the Internet?);

• There are still Roman ruins visible in the city that are traced to Roman Times 222BC.
  


• The city became a commune (city-state) in 11th Century.



• Milan came under Spanish rule in 1535 and passed to Austria in 1713.



• Napoleon made Milan the capital of his Italian Republic in 1802 and the city was the site of his coronation as King of Italy and Milan in 1805.



• The Austrians (not Australians) came back briefly but were driven back out in 1859 when Italy was incorporated into the new Kingdom of Italy.



• During World War 2 the city was heavily bombed, but was quickly rebuilt and grew into its now mix of old, industrial and modern.



• Leonardo da Vinci's most famous art work "The Last Supper" lives here, (this is not the painting of the dogs playing poker).



• A man may be arrested for wearing a skirt.
  


• Striking someone with a fist is considered a felony, and



• The average Italian eats 1/2 pound of bread a day. (I am now an average Italian.)

So this is home. The most important thing we have learnt about Milan so far; coffee is cheap, ladies fashion is great, gelati is not a sin, and men love to wear coloured slacks...