The Last Supper Was Smokin'

Monday, June 24th was the day of departures. Janelle and Ngila left by Uber for the Boston Airport to meet up with Ngila's friend, Rosie, and fly to Calgary. Liam was meeting up with his friend at the same airport to drive back to DC. And we were dropped at the airport Terminal A to fly off to Toronto  then London and then Milan. It all went well with the help of the lounges in Toronto and London Gatwick.

Our driver Massimillion, in his shiny Mercedes, met us at the airport in Milan and drove us to our digs at 16 Via Giovanni Da Procida. Very nice place.

 The Kitchen

First supper.Beatrix made was gnocchis with pesto.





It even has an elevator. Which is good because
we're on the 5th floor.

All of us were whacked when we got to 7 pm.

This morning we took some time to get moving, but after lunch, we went off into a very hot city. We were all fairly quiet. It was a combination of new city tentativity and the heat. But as we made our way, about 1 3/4 miles, to Santa Maria Delle Grazie where, if you plan ahead, you may view Leonardo's masterpiece, The Last Supper fresco.

You pass through a series of small rooms where you are dehumidified. Sheelagh claimed that she should have been in there for a couple of hours. Then you are taken into a stark white room with Leo's work on one end and another guy's scribbles on the the other.

It truly is marvellous. Not just the art, but the story of the one wall surviving the bombs of WW II while all around were destroyed. It's been such fun sharing these experiences with Beatrix.

This magnificent church, Santa Maria Delle Grazie,  is attached to the museum.











When we were shuffled out, through the gift shop as you might expect, we girded our loins and continued on down a few more blocks to the church of San Maurizio, which is called the Sistine Chapel of Milan. Completely covered inside with frescos of various Biblical stories.

We saw this fresco and thought, "Aw, they made a children's corner." Then saw that the fresco to the right depicted the water rising and people drowning. The fresco on the left showed after the water receded, with dead bodies hanging in trees or being pecked at by the released ravens. Guess kids weren't so sheltered back then.

And then we three weary, warm walkers made our way back, via a gelato shop, to cool off in our place.

We think that  pasta may play a part as the first day ends.