Have Heels Will Travel: Milan

Wednesday, October 1

We are in the bus

on the way to Milan.

You are so not gonna believe

what happened this morning.

So we were all ready to leave

for the airport.

Bus stations are there.

We were out of the room

by 8 am.

This morning, we planned

to walk to the airport.

16 minutes by foot.

When we opened the front door,

we saw that it was raining.

Oh dear.

We were not aware that

it was raining. The rooms

were so sound-proof.

No choice.

Bryan started to call for a taxi.

This was as early as 8 am.

After trying for about

15 minutes, Bryan suggested

that we wait in our room.

We were just standing at

the front porch then,

waiting for a cab.

We couldn't get one then.

No one was responding.

So we went back to

the room.

He continued to call

for a cab.

One hour passed.

It was 9 am.

Still no sign of any driver

responding to our call.

I tried to be helpful.

I suggested to Bryan to try

some OTHER cab companies.

Not just THAT one.

"I'm doing that ..."

came the flat retort.

Fine.

I wasn't helping.

Finally, he suggested ...

... defeatedly ...

that maybe ...

we might have to skip

Milan and go straight

to Verona, since we won't

be able to have much time

in Milan ... looks like.

What?!

Awww mann ...

But ...

I purposely brought my

highest platforms

to strut around in Milan.

This

does

not

look

good.

I looked at the time.

It was 9.30 am.

We were supposed to

check out by 10 am.

So how?

Where will we wait?

The rain has not stopped.

Continuous soft drizzle.

We won't be able to walk

to the airport.

Cab people were still not

responding.

In my heart, I couldn't help

but think ...

Everything was just so perfect

at Mother Mary's sanctuary.

Now that we are out of there,

the reality of daily trials is

beginning to set in.

I found myself saying,

"Aiya, ask Son to send us a cab.

He will send us a cab ..."

Almost immediately,

Bryan jumped out of bed

and said,

"Use your phone and

call that number."

What number?

There was a number on the wall

along with some important

notices like check out time,

where to leave the keys etc.

There was a number to call

for a taxi.

I started to key in the number.

First call at 9.36 am.

It went into recording.

I tried a second time

at 9.38 am.

Somebody picked up the call!

Gosh.

We were so happy.

After more than one and a half

hours of no response,

hearing someone's voice

on the other end was a

big relief.

To say the least.

The lady on the call said,

a taxi is on its way and

it should be there in

6 minutes.

Unbelievable.

I said to Bryan,

"The minute you mention

Son ..."

The taxi arrived promptly.

"I speak few English,"

said the lady driver.

Oh, but we understood

one another.

Bryan was asking her about

buses and trains,

how to get to Milan etc.

She advised us to take a bus.

Bryan lowered his voice,

"This is a mercs..."

I looked over.

"Mercedes?" I asked.

It wasn't like Mom's car.

It looked kinda long and flat.

He nodded his head,

impressed that the taxi driver

was driving a Mercedes.

I said,

"Son was in a Mercedes..."

(that carried him after his

farewell mass to the -

departure lounge)

Bryan said,

"Yes, it's the same model."

What?!

"Similar."

We arrived at the bus

station shortly.

I couldn't wait to get out

of the car.

I went straight to the back

to see the number plate.

Ahh.

The angel numbers.

44

Bryan is right.

It is a similar model.

At the time of blogging,

I'm checking the

time of that call to the

taxi person.

09.38

938

12 44

21 44

Angel numbers

all the way.

In the bus.

About 10 minutes after

we got on the bus,

it left the station.

At 10.07 am.

One hour ride to Milan.

Ticket : Euro 12.

"Son really sent us that cab.

He must have whispered to you

to call that number.

I mean, that number was there

on the wall the whole time.

You have been trying for one

and a half hours.

The minute I said,

ask Son to send us a cab,

you suddenly knew

what to do."

We were both grinning

from ear to ear.

Milan was almost a lost cause.

The Plan was back on.

We have arrived in Milan.

It was about 11 am.

Many ...

... large ...

... buildings.

Milano Centrale

First thing we did was to keep

our bags in the locker-store.

Then, Bryan spotted ...

Order No : 36

12

21

Happy Meal.

The double cheese burger

is so so so juicy.

Dylan orders double

cheese burgers at home.

Double the joy.

Double the happiness.

Follow Dylan.

The cappuccino ...

... is so good.

Now this is how

cappuccino should taste like.

Intense.

Milky.

Smooth.

Finger-lickin' good.

Double cheese burger

with bacon.

So so yummy!

We can't get this back home.

It was 12.30 pm when we finally

stepped out of the Milan Central.

We were going to

walk to the

Duomo Di Milano.

The Milan Cathedral.

Famous for being the

third largest cathedral

in the world and

the second largest in Europe.

At the same time,

we would also visit the

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.

Italy's oldest shopping arcade

and a major landmark

of Milan.

The 2 historical sites are situated

adjacent to each other.

That's good.

We don't have that much time.

Walk walk walk.

A straight road.

We saw a whole bunch of kids ...

... on their field trip.

Impossible.

A cafe.

Instant flashback.

The Impossible.

2012 film.

About a family surviving

a tsunami at Patong Beach

in Thailand.

On 26 December 2004.

See the date.

26 12 24

4 21 42

4 21 21

(21 x 2)

Angel numbers.

At the end of the movie,

one of the sons told his mother :

"I saw Daniel.

He is okay.

He is in somebody's arms."

Diana knows this movie.

We talked about this at length.

The film was made in 2012.

That's 21 X 2.

That message was clearly

for me.

Walking on ...

Still on a ...

... straight road.

Armani - whole stretch

from left to right.

Black sign board with

white sun shade.

We should have taken a tram.

Many motorbikes parked

along the way.

Big bikes.

Fendi.

Easy to walk.

Still on a straight road.

The Cathedral took our ...

... took our breath away!

Look at that.

Oooooh!

Standing tall ...

... looking majestic ...

... and so grand.

There are many pigeons

that will come to greet you

at the square ...

... but I'm not that friendly.

I'm choosing the path

no pigeons have trod.

Oh no.

I spoke too soon.

Here is one brave pigeon

standing in my way.

Shoo bird, shoo!

Darn.

There's another one.

The 2 pigeons are ganging

up on me.

Shoo! Shoo!

Get out of my way, birdies.

Ahh.

That's better.

Quick, quickly walk.

Get out of the square.

Roasted monster chestnuts.

By the side of the Cathedral.

We must have some.

By the way, the guy has sight.

That's just a bad photo.

Every single chestnut was

looking like they were about

to burst from their shells.

He showed us 2 containers :

Euro 10 or Euro 5?

We chose the Euro 5.

We are still converting to

RM despite telling ourselves

we should not.

Bryan gave the chestnut guy

a Euro 10 note and then turned

to walk away - so happy

with the chestnuts.

I saw the guy waving a

Euro 5 to get Bryan's attention.

"Don't forget your change."

Awesome!

The shell comes off easily

unlike the Genting chestnuts.

See?

We stopped by a street cafe

to get a drink.

21 x 2

Nice.

Cheers!

This is the

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.

(Photo from Internet).

This is the entrance ...

... from the Cathedral.

This shopping arcade ...

... is beyond our ...

... imagination.

Rolex ...

... and all the ...

big names ...

... in the fashion world ...

... are here.

Fendi ...

Gucci ...

Guess ...

Dior ...

Givenchy ...

From A to Z.

All the famous names like ...

Chanel ...

YSL ...

Louis Vuitton ...

Prada ...

... who are somebody ...

... in the fashion world ...

... are right here ...

... in this mind-blowing ...

... magnificent ..

... and stunning ...

... galleria.

Wait.

Let me fix my hair.

Make sure we get the flowers.

Check out the height of

the glass roof top.

Someday, we shall step inside

these boutiques.

For now ...

... we are very happy ...

... just taking selfies

of designers' ...

... display windows.

Chuckle.

Laugh.

Grin.

Everyone is doing the same.

We took the underground train

back to Milan Central.

Arrived at 4.15 pm.

On the way to collect our bags,

we passed by this bakery station.

The sandwiches look so yummy.

Zoom in on the pizzas.

So cute ...

... the display glass.

Bryan is getting our bags.

Euro 24.

5 hours and a bit.

After collecting our bags,

we were hurrying to our

platform number 10.

I was practically running

behind Bryan and trying

to catch up.

When I did, I asked :

"What time is our train?"

He said : "5.25 pm"

"What time is it now?"

I asked next.

He took out his handphone,

keyed in his security code,

and this -- appeared on the

handphone screen.