Famous Italian coffee brand illy runs cafés, one of them at Piazza Gae Aulenti – without doubt Milan’s most modern spot in terms of architecture. When my family and I headed inside for a little break, the place was very crowded. I guess that was one of the reasons why our waiter was so overworked and…
Month: December 2015
Creative Cooking
Eva doesn’t want me to host people, so my family rented a small holiday apartment in the south of the city. It’s a beautiful penthouse equipped with everything you need. Also, the bathroom, especially the walk-in stone & glass shower, is extremely luxurious! So on Christmas Day, I decided I’d cook dinner for my family…
An Unusual Christmas Eve
A late afternoon stroll to the Darsena, the former harbor basin of Milan – the venue for “Christmas Village” – and an improvised Christmas “tree” (we used a few fir branches, a random glass vase and a yoga mat) with the presents that would fit into my parents’ Fiat. Merry Christmas!
“Do They Know It’s Christmas Time?”
Finally, my family is here, visiting me for the holidays! On the morning of Christmas Eve, my mum, sister and me went to buy all the food we’d need for dinner when we stumbled upon these four fellas in the metro. They were having a blast playing Christmas songs at eardrum-bursting volume. Their cheerfulness clearly…
Anna Netrebko at Close Quarters!
As of 23 December 2015, I can not only say of myself to have seen world famous soprano Anna Netrebko live. As of 23 December 2015, I am also in possession of an autographed small poster advertising the opera she performed in, Giovanna D’Arco! Fortuna has been extremely supporting: I came just in time to purchase the…
A Forlorn and Forsaken Horse
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, sometime past 11 PM on a weekday. A blue horse is floating just beneath the ceiling, hopelessly trapped. Earlier, it probably escaped the hands of its small owner amidst the crowds of last minute Christmas shoppers and before the little human could’ve reacted, the expensive balloon had already been out of…
Concerto di Natale
Yesterday, Milan’s high society and music lovers gathered at Teatro alla Scala for the traditional Concerto di Natale before Christmas. Franz Welser-Möst conducted several Beethoven pieces (an Overture, a Fantasy for Piano with orchestra and choir, and a Messa) and even though I didn’t like the soprano’s performance, it was an overall success. The concert will…
Smog Capital of Europe
Yep, Milan’s not only got fashion and football. Sadly, the city is coping with air pollution, yesterday being the 88th day on which levels of PM10 (particles with a diameter of up to 10 micrometers) were above 50 micrograms per cubic meter. EU laws only permit 35 “exceedences each year”. In consequence, local authorities have…
Museo Teatrale alla Scala
I recently visited the museum of La Scala! Naturally, as someone who is very passionate about piano, singing and music of the Romantic period, I enjoyed it. Located in beautiful historic rooms in the opera house , I’ve walked past its entrance several times now before a concert, on my way to my seat in…
Christmas Everywhere
With Christmas only a few days away, there couldn’t possibly be more decoration in Milan without it becoming unbearable. I do have to admit though that Piazza del Duomo looks splendid with that huuuuuge tree. And to my great joy, Christmas markets have started to spring up everywhere like mushrooms! Most of them will stick around…
One Café a Week | No. 8
I’ve been to an ingenious cafe called Crazy Cat Café! It opened not long ago and is entirely dedicated to our beloved feline friends who rule the place. The founders – true cat experts I guess – really thought about everything: useful architecture, toys, innumerable sleeping places, rules for customers, upbringing of the cats…! Visitors are charged…
Blue Air – To Be Treated With Caution
On my way back to Milan, I flew with Blue Air, a rather small Romanian low cost airline. I’m not at all a person who has a fear of flying. Actually, I love flying, especially take offs and turbulence. I’ve never felt the slightest bit of nervousness related to flying itself, only because of other reasons –…
Clara in Milan 