Still in Sydney

As the visa process is proving to be very slow and slightly frustrating, we're trying to make the most of summer in Sydney. I've been enjoying a weekly coast walk ticking off one beach at a time.  Hopefully I'll be doing something similar round  Lake Como before 2013 is over.

Here's a link to my beach walks on this nifty new website - tripline.

Buon Natale

 As Christmas day looms closer, so does our temporary departure from Milan. Snow is predicted for Friday when our flight is scheduled to leave, so fingers crossed that we'll make it home in time to celebrate Buon Natale with our families.

 

In Milan we've been enjoying some Christmas cheer with Stephen's colleagues from the office.  Last night we were invitied to a very cool aperitivo bar, Alchimia on Via Brioschi, quite close to the Navigli canal area.  Although the aperitivo plates weren't as tasty as the delicious eggplant parmagiana that we sampled last week (the name of that bar escapes me), the company was lots of fun, and the vino rosso was most agreeable.

Our chilly walk home showed off the streets of Milan with pretty Christmas lights glowing. 

The Christmas decorations are mostly quite understated in Milan.  Lots of simple Christmas trees in shop windows, like these that I spotted on my many trips to the city.

 

Even the Duomo piazza tree follows a simple theme of red bows and twinkling lights.

The simple wreaths made from fresh leaves and vegetables also caught my eye.

I'm already starting to plan where to next in Milan as I've discovered, there's lots more to explore in this little gem of a city.
Buon Feste!

Arrivederci Milano!

White walk to work

It had been predicted, but it was still exciting to wake up this morning and see a Christmas tree in the courtyard. Snow seems to add that Christmassy layer to everything.  

Following Monica and Xavier's example, I've been walking Stephen to work. To my Australian eyes the buildings, trams and people, that we see along the five minute walk to the office, seem impressively European, like this building across the road from Stephen's cosy apartment.

But this morning everything looked even more exotic decorated with a thick coating of white, fluffy snow. 

 

 

My excitement about the white walk to work wasn't entirely shared by the worker himself, who was busy dodging puddles, while mentally reviewing his presentation for this morning.

 

Before wandering back through the snow to layer up for another day of sightseeing in Milano, I quickly stopped for a cappuccino and delicious krappfen. Memories of Austrian winters came flooding back with the first mouthful!

Snow is forecast for today and tomorrow, so I think it's going to be a day of visiting galleries and possibly a couple of bars. Must remember not to order a capuccino after noon and to stick to a limit of one krappfen per day.

Ciao, ciao!