No crowds or Queues in our Winter Holiday in Milan, Italy

We travelled to Milan, Italy, by plane over the snowy Swiss Alps, descended through a low bank of cloud, and landed in cold foggy and frosty like conditions at Milano Airport.

Our Milano Friends met us, we dropped off our cases at the hotel and went for a walk along the canal. So cold!! I was so pleased I had 3 coats!! It was freezing!!

The canal area was a place of contrasts. One small section had been closed off and filled in. Around here it was dirty, littered with dog poo and cigarette butts, and had graffitti everywhere. Just across the narrow road, and around the corner, where the canals were filled with water and were used, were shops and cafes, and some hardy people with market stalls.

This area had always been the working part of Milano, warehouses and homes. We were shown a trough of water, which apparantly was used for domestic washing. Today the warehouses and homes are very expensive apartments and restaurants with one or two shops thrown in. However the outsides, as required by regulations look exactly as they did many years ago.

Apparently this canal area is extremely busy in the summer - everyone in Milano comes here, to dine but not today in the very cold. In fact, when we came by the next evening to eat, we had lots of choices from many nearly empty restaurants.

At the end of our brisk cold walk on this our first day in Milan we retired to the car, to inspect some interesting buildings our friend discovered elsewhere in the city.

it is so easy travelling to Europe in winter - you can go anywhere and there are no crowds and queues!

But wait - read more in my next blog about queues.....

Pubs in London during winter

Wnen travelling to London in winter, whether is is to sight see, visit the museums, galleries, shop and take advantage of the winter sales, it is a good idea to relax and recouperate in some of the many pubs which are found on every corner. Not only are the London pubs smoke free, they are warm, well appointed, clean, tidy, and serve great food and beverages. The decor is very interesting, too. As well as the traditional English theme, the decor in some places is rather bohemian chic, or exotic. As soon as I have worked out how, I will include a couple of pics.

We were staying on the outskirts of London City, and most Londoners were out of town on holiday, so the pubs, were quiet, we were told. However, when we called into one or two after eating in the local restaurants, they were full.

It was interesting to note that only one or two London Pubs had music of any sort. Appararently a pub must get a licence to play, live, and even recorded music. it was most pleasant to enter a warm cosy pub after walking and shopping at the London winter sales, and all the interuption to sipping a local beverage was the quiet buzz of conversation.