Milan 4/28 | random fog | david combest

Hotel Brunelleschi

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:10:11 -0500

This is home, sweet home in Milan. It's about 3 blocks from the Duomo.

La Scala

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:07:25 -0500

La Scala Opera House at twilight. We went into an anteroom, but got busted trying to go further -- no tickets.

_MG_3972

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:07:22 -0500

Bull spinner

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:07:19 -0500

This Asian lady was teaching her daughter to spin on the bull. I thought that she was pretty enough to take a pass on the spin...

Taurus

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:07:15 -0500

The Galleria has zodiac signs done in mosaic on the floor. Once upon a time, the bull was anatomically correct. Legend has it that if you spin on the bull's testicles your love life will improve. Looks like a lot of people have spun and the bull's become a steer.

"Out of the Loop"

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:07:12 -0500

Domed alcove just outside the Galleria. This guy is pretty tattered and sitting on a backpack and bedroll having a smoke.

Vendor goodies

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:07:07 -0500

Some of the offerings of the vendor in the previous photo. Saints and rosaries compete with "Security Team" Polizia cars.

Portico vendor

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:07:03 -0500

A vendor has set up under the portico that runs around the piazza. This guy is competing with Prada and Louis Vuitton.

Duomo at dusk

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:07:00 -0500

Very long shot of Duomo across the piazza. We had lunch just on the other side of the green in the foreground, behind the pedestal of the statue. Purchased goodies from a vendor cart and claimed a spot among the hundreds of Milanese that have an outdoor lunch here.

Antique wall

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:06:56 -0500

I don't know how old this is because there was no plaque. There was, however a roundabout here around this preserved slice of history.

Ateno Caffetteria

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:06:53 -0500

We stopped across the street from the campus to get a bite to eat and get out of a light rain. This seemed to be a fairly popular happy hour spot for students and faculty.

BJ enjoying bruscetta

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:06:49 -0500

Part of the happy hour offering was toasted bread soaked in olive oil and covered with diced tomatoes. BJ pronounced them very good.

Nearly green birdcages

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:06:45 -0500

These birdcages have LCD screens that display slideshows of birds. They're powered by solar panels. No birdseed, no newspapers, pick your favorite type of bird!

"Ambrogio"

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:06:41 -0500

Statue of the prefect of the city/state of Milan in 397 AD.

This tells about Ambrogio

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:06:38 -0500

Textured Hexagons

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:06:35 -0500

Sample of airy, multi-story building made of hexagons that are made of recycled product. This was about 3 stories tall.

Mesh chairs

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:06:31 -0500

These would be light and airy and low maintenance, eh? There was an example (no photo here) that had some kind of ivy (presumably not poison) growing through the mesh and covering the chair. I guess the goal is to have seating that is vine covered -- assuming you pick your vine type carefully.

Snake on the Commons

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:06:28 -0500

The college is built around a green commons. Part of the artistic display was a 50' snake - not sure how he fit in with the "green" motif.

Cardinal Green

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:06:25 -0500

The theme this week was to "go green". Various parts of the college were sprayed with a paint that showed up when a green light was shone on it from below. When I took this photo I thought someone had vandalized the statue.

College that was a hospital

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:06:20 -0500

Hotel Lobby from mezzanine view 2

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:06:17 -0500

That's a revolving door entrance. Up the steps to the front desk.

Hotel Lobby from mezzanine view 1

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:06:14 -0500

Waiting area. Lounge starts at green carpet.