churches

We have only been inside a few of the churches here in Milan. The Duomo being the biggest, most prominent, and grandiose of them all. A true staple in Milanese history and geography, the whole city encompasses it. It is impressive in it's immense size and ornate detail that covers every inch internally and externally. You also can experience it's wonderful views of the whole city, only if you can mange to walk up about 215 feet to the top. I'm hoping we will be able to see more of the smaller, more quaint churches around the city. However they all seem to be closed most of the time. I know what your thinking; why don't you go to one on Sunday morning when there open? Well... I will, hopefully... someday.

DAY 3 / Nice, France

Went to the open air markets early the third day, tables were full of local produce- we bought olives, white truffle oil, tandoori spice, balinese pepper, provence herbs, clementines leaves still attached, post cards, books, & soap all with loose change we’d accumulated.

On are way back to our hotels we stopped and watched the most peculiar thing. Don’t really know how to explain it- so here it goes - they were a bunch of kids dancing in the streets - seriously, no music, and no drugs just dancing. I thought to myself this must have been what the audition line for footloose must have looked liked. We were both mesmerized by this odd activity and ended up staying there way longer then expected. We video taped some of it, but don't know how to load it yet.

Here's a youtube link if you want to check out what it is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4fHnJ1W1nE

just imagine bunch of kids everywhere dancing like this, with no music.

DAY 2 / Nice, France

On our second day in Nice we decided to take advantage of the 70 degree weather and headed to the beach. We brought with us some club baguettes and delicious fruit. We couldn't believe how clear and blue the waters was, however it was way to cold to go into. The rest of the day was spent lazily wandering around the pier and shopping area.

DAY 1 / Nice, France

Left for Nice at 7:10am from Milan Central, the train would run south into Genova then west along the coast into Nice going through French Rivera towns and rocky hills along the way taking around 4.5hrs. It was hard to sleep on the train you couldn’t help but look out at the sun on the Mediterranean.

The food in Nice was of an interesting eclectic mix, having the second largest population in France and a wide influx of tourist it was out to please all. We tried to stick to the mother-land-foods- crepes, porchetta, pissadaire, nicoise salads, beignets, mussels and fritts etc. All the food was great with the exception of the porchetta(stuffed suckling pig) I knew it to be how do you say? Back-woodsy/medieval/country/ “rustic”, but still wasn’t prepared for the coarse black pepper, juniper, garlic clove, hard dry liver, cubed fat back stuffing it was killer.

On Saturday night we headed to a club called Hollywood (I know, I know). The club was o.k, o.k people and o.k. music (maybe a mix between Smart bar and Foundation) However, the area that it was in was pretty interesting. It's a few city blocks called Corso Como. No cars can drive in it and it's filled with bars, clubs, pizzerias, gelaterias and a lot of little men trying to sell stuffed dancing penises. Like I said it was interesting.

On Sunday we went to the Supermercato on Grand Navigli. A Market that is on the last Sunday of ever month (for good reason). It runs along a canal for about 10 city blocks, on both sides. The photo above is probably a third of the whole market. Plus, there were many areas where the market would continue down a perpendicular alley from the main street. It took us about 5 hours to walk around the whole thing.

This market is a thrifters dream. Below are just some of the amazing things they sold there.
(notice anything weird about what they're selling in the top image on the left)

Hey, I just finished my project for my SPD workshop. We were suppose to create a booklet of our journey or path here to Milano and SPD. I decided to create a timeline of the beginning of my design life, starting at MCAD.

Lake Como

So before I started my workshop for school, Elliot and I decided to head up to Lake Como for our first trip out of Milano. The train tickets cost 6 euros, and the train ride itself was only 30 mins. We stayed in Como (the main town), but were able to head to Bellagio for a day. It makes sense that the locals call Bellagio the most beautiful town on the Lake. Forming a small peninsula, you can see the biggest part of the lake, with all the surrounding towns. There is also a giant garden that wraps around a big part of the South side. It is safe to say we will definitely be heading back there, considering how easy it was.

Well it’s no secret that Milan is one of the top design cities in the world. The high glossiness of the fashion scene may be a little over-shadowing. What, with its vast array of top designer stores, which could be considered artwork in and of themselves. Stores dripping with mammoth sized chandeliers, glowing walls and non-stop video displays. It’s hard not to get sucked in. However, there are more subtle design quirks around the city, you just have to look a little harder. The usage of 3D type is gorgeous. I just want to ripe them off whatever there attached to and hang them on my wall. This city is a very industrial and that means a lot of graphic wiring, decaying metals, cracking stone and muted colors. All of which, as a designer, am very attracted to. You will be seeing a lot more images of all of the above.

Italians love food. They love shopping for it, prepping for it and or course consuming huge portions of it. Who wouldn't? The markets here make it so easy to enjoy the simple task of shopping for food. Its all laid out in front of you, anything you could possibly want (keeping in mind it must be grown/caught/produced in Italy) of the freshest highest quality.

Came across several persimmon trees while wandering the surrounding hills of lake Como. Along with olive tree after olive tree. Some of the cobble stone paths had many fallen chestnuts you'd roll your ankles on. The place must be experienced, it's foodie heaven.

Fresh porcinis are everywhere right now, table after table filled with them some taller than a foot. The white truffle season isn't the best. They are abundant but never on display, costing right now around $1200-2300 a pound. (who wants some? I'll ship)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2006/oct/24/italy.travelfoodanddrink.foodanddrink.com

Meat markets always have the sexiest Florentine t-bones. Along with fifty different kinds of cured meat and always mountains of fresh rabbit and poultry.

Ciao!

So we have been here for about one month. A lot has happened in that one month. Let us break it down for you.

1. Move 8 pieces of luggage, weighing a total of about 330 lbs.
2. Started 2 language courses the day after we arrive. One from 9-1 the other from 2-5
3. Moved into two different apartments within 2 weeks (moving all 330 lbs.)
4. Painstakingly found and bought all the necessary items one needs. (8hrs went to finding a hair straightener)
5. Eating one caprese salad and gelato a day
6. Spending the whole month trying to set up phones, internet and finding bicycles. (which somehow accomplished in the last 4 days)
7. Drinking amazing wine that's cost about 5 euros a bottle
8. Then drinking shitty rail vodka tonics at a bar for about 10 euros a drink
9. Spent a weekend in heaven a.k.a Bellagio on Lake Como
10. Finally starting to get feel for everything Italian

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