We are finally back in Milan which is where our adventure began.  We have mixed emotions.  We are tired, but floating in happiness and satisfaction knowing the entire trip was a huge success beyond our wildest dreams!   From the time we arrived in Milan to the day we left Milan for the airport again we had logged 2,060 miles in two weeks while taking our large circle tour!  That number paled in comparison to the total number of miles logged for the entire trip which was 12,647.  No wonder we were a wee bit tired.

 We arrive at Milan Centrale train station which is HUGE.  By now we were pretty good at finding the Trenitalia office for help with train issues, bagnos, food areas and were really proud of ourselves that we could stand along with throngs of others and stare at the huge billboard of train arrivals and departures and actually know what we were looking at!  

Making our way through this immense station we were suddenly looking at a fantastic advertisement for Il Volo’s upcoming concerts in Italy!  WOW, it looked great!  Marie was so excited she kissed her hand and touched each face on the marquee.  No,  Marie, I am sorry, but as far as I know you can not extract DNA from a picture.

We had good intentions of shopping and site seeing on our last day, but soon realized our bodies were begging us to do something else…REST.  A quick decision was made to shop at the airport the next day and rest up today.  A very wise decision I might add.  

The next day we get on a train that is taking us to Malpensa Aerporto, a one hour ride from Milan Centrale.  I am sitting across from Marie so we both have different views from where we sit.  She is smiling ear to ear and NOT at me.  She then informs me there is a “Gianluca look alike, especially the EYES” sitting directly in her view in a seat just beyond ours!  I take my time, but have to peek a look at this vision that is tantalizing Marie.  Yep, she’s right!  Now we have spotted many handsome Italians along our journey, but Marie realizing these visions of  good looking men will soon be but a memory, decides she will have one lasting close up encounter with our Gianluca look alike.  Keep in mind we have only been on this train for maybe 10-15 minutes of an hour long ride when this handsome man stands up in the aisle right next to Marie as he is getting off the train at this point.  Marie quickly leans into his handsome face and is eye to eye asking him if this is the Malpensa Aerporto stop?   He kindly replies that no, we have 4 more stops to make before the airport.  Marie thanks him, “grazie” (using her best Italian skills) sinks back into her seat with a smiling glow about her.  She is now looking at ME with this ear to ear grin.  I can only think, “smooth Marie, R-E-A-L smooth”.  If only I had had my camera ready to capture that Kodak moment.

~~Jane~~