Mumbo Jumbo Italiano Milano

Finally!  I wish someone would show me how to use the air con in hotels. I always struggle and my room is at 20 degrees which is far too hot for me. I just saw a made in the corridor and with some universal hand gestures asked her how to turn down the air con.  A great deal of smiling, fiddling with the control and it resulted in ..... nothing!  So I am still sweating at 20 degrees. Just had breakfast and it was rather lovely.  The Italians love their coffee.  I think I am going to have to go to rehab to get off caffeine when I get home.  The Americano I have just had with my breakfast was amazing!  Such good coffee.  Breakfast was good too.  I have just come back to my room to freshen up, pack my bag, recharge the phone and get ready to go out for the day.  I do like Italy.  I have been before, to Sorrento and Capri with husband #2 for our be...

With some of the Anglos in Milan - Finally, some good food I did not sleep well.  I finally managed five hours sleep and was up again at 6.15 to finish packing case, shower before breakfast, which is the best meal of the day.  I am disappointed about the food at the hotel (along with the Italians who are really angry about it).  It has been bland, colourless and repetitive.  I think I could do better.  Last night, the starter was described as a tomato tart.  I do not know what it was.  It was served in a glass and I suspect the base was polenta (cold) and then there was a spicy tomato ketchup type sauce on the top.  I left mine and filled up on the salad, olive oil (not from Italy - the Italians are angry about that too), balsamic vinegar and some bread, which I think is good; the Italians do not.  The second course was roast beef and potatoes...

Early start this morning as I had to wash my hair.  Quiet breakfast then I went for a bit of walk along the lane; once again it is a beautiful blue skied morning.  Then classes begin. A group session with me and an American and two Italians. I couldn't get a word in edgeways but that suited me; a break, then a 1-2-1 with Samantha who planned my itinerary last night for me for when I arrive in Milan.  She is lovely, and we went for a walk in the woods and chatted about travelling and things we want to do with life.  Then a 1-2-1 job interview over the phone with Roberto who, to use his word 'was terrified'.  I told him that nothing pleases me more than a terrified man!  He did really well, then we finished off the morning with a group session, me, an American (who was lovely) and two Italians.  it was funny and we all had a good laugh. Lunch was not very e...

After an eventful night sleeping at the Hacienda (all I need was a glow-stick) I was not feeling particularly rested at 4.00am when I ended up watching Naimh Kusack or one of the Kusaks speaking Italian.  So this is very much my day.   My accommodation Wake up, shower etc, breakfast at 7.30 to 8.50.  Surprisingly, breakfast was very good.  I knew this before but for many of the English people, they were not aware.  In Italy you only drink cappuccino in the morning, up to 11.00am.  For the Italians, you only have milk as a breakfast thing.  I do not normally drink cappuccino but felt obliged to be Italian.  I had a drink, some orange juice, some scrambled eggs and some of the delicious Italian bread (it is so good).  I then had my cappuccino and a cinnamon type fruit cake; this is traditional and was rather lovely. At 8.50 we start and are put into groups. Today I...

Finally caught some sleep, but as usual was up early, showered, packed and out the door.  I was a woman on a mission.  I walked back to the train station and took some photos for you.  It really is a beautiful building.  Then I wanted to find a plug after the debacle of yesterday.  Now as many of you know, I do like a market or a supermarket and today I was not disappointed.  Nestled in the bowels of the train station was a little supermarket.  The vegetables and fruit were amazing and the delicious smell of bread filled the aisles. There were selves of coffee but I wanted a plug.  I opted for the universal plug which means (apparently) I can use it any country in the world.  €15 later and a packet of Tic Tacs I went to find the hotel where we were all meeting for breakfast. It always amazes me how I find my way around.  When you travel with someone you can bounce your ideas off each other, when there is just you, you just have to g...

Good Morning Pippin, it is time to fly .......... it has been a while!     Airports never cease to fascinate me. So many people, going where?  And why are there so many children around too?  Shouldn't they be at school.  Can you believe I never used to like flying.  It terrified me.  Now I love it!  I still have no idea whatsoever how that huge hunk of metal gets up there, let alone comes down again.  I know my friend Lee (hello Lee in Stoke) has tried to explain it to me countless times, but I still don't get it.  But I don't have to really do I?  I have got to 29 years of age without understanding it, so why should I worry now.  Those of you who have followed my other adventures will know that I feel the many people should not be allowed a passport to leave the country because they are stupid!  Today, has been no exception.  The only difference is I suspect these 'pe...