Milano

I travelled! I actually went somewhere other than home! Granted the trip didn't get off to the best start (we sat on an immobile train for 1h and a half before being told said train would have to return to the station and we would continue by bus)  however by the time we got to the airport  (where we proceded  to get breakfast) none of this mattered as we were finally off. After a standard uneventful flight we arrived in Milan. Now, the thing to know about European cities is that all of us tend to have this romanticised idea of  old buildings everywhere and quaint little side streets. I can 100% assure you that this doesn't happen. No matter where you go there will be modern development. Milan was no exception. We travelled through what felt like street upon street of grubby, graffitied 60s style tower blocks to get to the central station. From there we continued by foot to the Hilton (staff discount obliges). Now I have a thing about decor, ie I like things to look coordinated and modern with a vintage twist (not complicated at all...), whilst the rooms were clean and certainly of high standard it was all a bit dated. So far I felt underwhelmed by the whole experience. Then came the room service, oh my. I have genuinely never been so impressed. A proper table on wheels complete with a hotbox, complimentary bread and breadsticks, completed by some of the best food i have had, fantastic. Needless to say  we went to bed content. The next day we decided to explore the city, find the old buildings we'd read about. We discovered that although the hotel was supposedly central,  a taxi was inevitably necessary unless you already knew your way around (the one time we went without we got lost, awkward). However, once in the centre we found the history we were looking for. The Duomo with all it's imposing turrets, the shopping gallery with it glass roof and haute-couture shops , old buildings still retaining their rustic charm; we had found what we had come for. We visited the duomo and were thouroughly creeped out by the REAL skeleton of a monk, wandered through the gallery  who's architecture was imply stunning, went into prada and swiftly exited, did a 20th Century art museum tour, housed in the building where Mussolini used to make his speeches (for someone interested in WW2 this was vastly more interesting). Each day we would visit a different part of the city. We even did a touristic sighseeing tour. We also went to a designer outlet, now don't be fooled designer outlet means over 1000 quid for a dress ( we most definstely hever have and never will have that much to spend), but left rather quickly. As pretty as the old part of milan was, it was all very compact,ie the historical old buildings were in a very small part of the city and everywhere else was, to be perfectly honest slightly scaffy. After seeing all there was to see in Milan, we decided to go on a roadtrip for our last day of the holiday, we decided to drive to venice. I was the designated driver as I learnt to drive in france and therefore 'knew how to drive on the wrong side of the road'. After 3.5 hours of motorway, we arrived. I can honestly say that while packed with tourists venice was just as old, quaint and picturesque as you would imagine it to be, narrow side streets lined with shops selling every thing from venetian masks to quills (and yes I got one of both), restaurants and hotels, leading to the big cathedral. Now anyone who has read books on  venice (The thief lord by Caroline Funke, author of the Inkheart books, also well worth   a read) will understand how nice it is to finally understand and see for themselves where the caracters go and where tbe places are.  I loved every second of venice and would gladly go again, the tiny canals with their gondolas, front doors opening onto water, tiny streets lined with buildings, it was truly the experience we were expecting from Italy. In short, remember that time has taken it's toll, and left it's mark on every single town and city. It's a shame but that is the way the world goes. It is sad that not more is done to keep  cities from falling into desrepair, it really is. I did my first year of uni in the French city of Grenoble and whilst there too the outskirts are places to avoid, they are kept apart and the city itself is still old and quaint, most of the roads are pedestrianised only used by pedestrians and trams. I think more cities should look into this to preserve their heritage. All in all it was a great holiday due to the company and the various anecdotes that we returned with. I shall however give this advice: remember that cities expand constantly and that the gems are often hidden in places you would not normally go. However, if you wander off the beaten track, you will find authentic cuisine, cobbled streets, tiny shops and welcoming people to guide you on your way and i have to say the two days we just let ourselves get lost within the centre were the times we enjoyed it the most, we found small streets, cafes and shops which really heightened our experience,  on one occasion we ended up wandering through chinatown. Never stick to where the other tourists go. Always take a day to just get Lost in wherever you are going, find your own track. Trust me, you won't regret it.

Ps: we played the Les mis drinking game, it definately works as shown by the multiple pictures of the evening, plus Russell Crowe in a uniform MMMMMM.