Milano

Sorry it has taken us so long to post something. Internet is not exactly easy to find, nor is it cheap. I did make it safely to Milan and the flight was just as miserable as I anticipated.

After Ryan picked me up from the airport we headed to where he was working. The best way to compare this area would be to think of Forest Grove in reference to Portland. Although a total drag of a place, we had an amazing meal.

(Sorry if we end up blogging a lot about food, but while in Italy…why not?)

We were recommended to eat at a little place just outside the industrial park we were staying in. Ryan thought that going for a jog and swinging through would be a good idea. On his jog, he realized it was about a mile away from the hotel and there were no sidewalks, no street lights and felt basically deserted. I was a little concerned for our safety and we asked the front desk if it was “safe”. Sure enough, it was good to go. Just dark as hell, rats in on the sidewalk and scary small fast lizards and a small one lane tunnel to run like the wind through before a car comes.

Dinner was amazing. The chef personally came to our table to help us order and chose our wine for us. Did we accidentally order way more food than necessary? Yes, due to language barrier issues. Our first course was eggplant with buffalo (spelling) mozzarella. Gorgeous! Second we had pasta with mint, zucchini and lemon. (Ryan is still talking about that pasta). I thought it tasted a little like a mojito. Very unique. We also had a pink asparagus risotto that was amazing. Thinking dessert was next, we had an enormous plate of tempura sat in front of us. Not just any tempura. Fontina cheese and veggies, drizzled with balsamic. They have a flavor that is familiar, and it is still driving me crazy trying to figure out what it is. Finally dessert was ordered, a chocolate gelato with coconut in the middle. Not bad at all. Thinking we were done and ready for the check, we misunderstood one of our servers and apparently ordered the most bizarre drink ever. What is it? We have no idea. It was served in the tiniest stemware glass. Looked like lemon pudding, tasted like lemon and went down with a big burn. Kind of like a distilled lemon liquor.

Feeling full as ever and a little tipsy, we headed back. As we were walking through the tunnel a car came up behind us. I guess I hollered CAR! And ran like Phoebe on friends (if you have seen that episode, you would understand). Good times!

The following day we headed to Milan. After being turned down by a bus driver since we didn’t have a ticket (we were told we didn’t need one) we had to call a taxi. Our hotel front desk called the taxi for us and they were kind enough to send a fancy black audi with tinted windows. Not cheap either.

Ryan had walked around Milan so he knew his way around. We saw the Duomo and all the designer shops. We wanted to get to our next destination by train and walked about a mile dragging our bags and breaking our backs to find out we went the wrong way. Live and learn!

Ciao!

Kate & Ryan