To Italy and beyond: Friends old and new (Milan part 1)

I got off the train with that adrenalin kick that comes with a new city. I got to where Alex was living and found a cafe just a couple of doors down, so as I could use there Wifi. I sent Alex a message to let him know I was in town, a few pastries later he come down to meet me, it was good to see the face of an old friend. He gave me the grand tour of his apartment, a comfortable three and a half roomed living spot, and located in a awesome spot, right in the old town. Alex was playing 5V5 football that night, so I went down with him to watch him play.
Before departing from Perth airport, I bought two duty free bottles of Penfolds wine. The first was opened on the day of arriving in Rome the other I had been lugging around to give to Alex as a thank for his hospitality, a little taste of home. We went back past the shops, bought some food and I cooked dinner that night. We made an attempt to watch the first Pokemon movie, which become a repeating saga over the next few nights until we finally managed to stay up all the way to the end.

The next day I took a look around Milan. I had the mission to find the skate shop, seeing as my skateboard got stolen back when I was in Rome. When I got to the metro, I decided to make a detour instead and head to Milan's Duomo, it hits you like BAM! When you rise out of the subway, there is the huge Gothic complex in perfect white (Fifth largest cathedral in the world). The pigeons gather in the courtyard before it, to beg for scraps of bread, many sat perched when incentivised on the arms of photo-ready tourists. Inside, the Duomo I took the audioguide, which I am glad I did. It has had a funny old history, from it's conception to put Milan on the map and six centuries of construction, to the closing of its side entrances to stop farmers and carts using it as a thoroughfare to the market, to the gracious donation of a relic it now claims, one of the nails reputedly of Jesus' crucifix.

I found the skate shop and constructed myself a suitable replacement for my board. Then I felt my withdraws subside from there peak upon my fist push, as I glided back towards the metro line with the closest skate park freshly marked on my map. A medium sized bowl, well painted I dropped in and let that feeling flow though me. While talking to some of the skaters, someone said "Skateboarding is a fire inside some people, it may diminish but never go out" I rolled out to his after a little while. Then waiting by the front door I met Kevin. A friend of Alex's doing his second euro trip; over the next few days we traveled on day trips together.

In the morning Alex was headed to Amsterdam for the weekend, to experience the flavors the city might offer. Kevin and stayed at his apartment and used it as a base over the next few days. First day, we took to the streets of Milan, first back to the Duomo, this time taking the stairs all the way to the top to see the view, and to be able to see the magical spires up close. Then we jumped on another metro and walked around the enormous football stadium, though not surprising in a country where football is taken as seriously as religion (approx 85,000 capacity). Back home we worked on a our respective journals and had dinner, then bed.

Kevin rights an excellent blog of his travels; it's a great source of inspiration and a good laugh. If you want to give it a look the link sits below:http://haydendoestheworld.blogspot.com/2013/11/berlin-i-love-nightlife.html