Milan & Lakes

First taste of Italy. The Fashion capital of Southern Europe and a vibrant, modern city. Well yes, but it's also busy, dirty and covered in Graffiti. It boasts the third biggest Cathedral in the world, and climbing to the roof of the Duomo is certainly worthwhile, allowing views over the city and an ornate view of the many spires that adorn the roof. We spent time looking at La Scala, the famous opera house, which wasn't much to write home about from the outside, and unfortunately we couldn't get inside while we were there. We had lunch in the dramatic Shopping centre alongside the Duomo, which maintains its grandeur despite having a McDonald's in one corner. Maybe we overdid it but after all this and walking around the Sempione park we browsed through the fashion district and collapsed in another park near our hotel. After an evening of Aperitivo (order a drink and fill yourself on bar snacks - and I'm talking bowls of pasta and risotto rather than a bowl of olives and some crisps) by the canals we came to the conclusion we had seen pretty much all Milan had to offer. We couldn't get Last Supper tickets and there was nothing on at the San Siro so we decided the next day we would take a train to the nearby Lake Como.We got there and it was another sunny day, the boat across the lake came in good time and we cruised across to the resort of Bellagio where we could look around the village. After grabbing a lunch of delicious lasagna we walked up and around the small cobbled streets, looking at the shops and eventually finding a cafe with a "panoramic viewpoint". The selling point of Bellagio is that it sits in the cross point of the y shaped lake, meaning that at the edge you can see two ways and do indeed get an impressive vista. We sat here for a while, chatting to the local ducks and enjoying the serenity. Until it started to get a little chilly. And then the sky turned a nasty blackish colour, and we decided it might be best to head back for the earlier boat.We crossed the lake in the midst of a torrential thunderstorm, but thankfully the catamaran was stable enough so that we weren't seasick!Beautiful countryside though!