Green Steps

So we were in Milano in June this year - Jesse, Jimmy and me. Well, Leah, Jasmine and Daina were there too but they were at the conference - the main reason we were in this northern Italian city at all.

We were left with nothing better to do than drink coffee, wine and to explore the city. On this day we decided to head away from Piazza Duomo which contained the popular tourist attraction, Duomo di Milano. We walked north-west, past the huge outdoor adventure store and the train station and into Castello Sforzesco - a 14th century built residence for the Milanese rulers.

The castle was damaged in WWII by allied bombings but is still impressive. I regarded the castle and it’s gardens as one of the finest things I saw in the city. the galleries and museums that are now housed in the castle are arranged in series so you move in and out of each wing during the tour. On occasions you emerge from a turret and up outer stairways formally patrolled by Milan’s best military men.

I loved this place. The free tickets given to us by the burly, gruff security man was as unexplained and scary then as it is today. We carried “Jordan in pram” up and down the many levels of the castle and drank beer in the garden bar. Jimmy and I felt regal but unfortunately only Jesse could strike the pose.