Monday 10 December 2018

Into Europe

I've spent the last two weeks in Milan, Italy. I treated myself to first class trains there and back, which is a much pleasanter way to travel than flying in a cramped smelly aircraft from grotty airport terminals with aggressive and abusive airport staff to contend with. I broke my journeys in Paris, which I haven't been to for many years. The Alps, clad in winter's first snows, were impressive to ride through.

Just a few images from my trip:

Milan Cathedral, one of the world's largest and most impressive places of worship

Beautiful shops everywhere. I had to be careful not to stare at the frocks too much. Nor should you. So here's some fish instead.

1928 tram stock, built so well that they still form the backbone of the Milan tram fleet after 90 years on the road. Polished wooden seats, leather grab straps, glass lampshades and wooden doors. Based on the classic San Francisco street car design, they are impressively swift and a delight to ride in.

Dog roses are in bloom everywhere in December

Harvested paddy field in Piedmont, Italy

Only in Paris do you get to see your partner shower while you are in bed!



The one bad thing is that I am staying with a family member, they don't know about my trans side and, given my family's bigotry, it is best that they remain ignorant. So no girly clothes. Well, apart from my shoes and socks which are women's because my feet are so small that men's sizes that small don't exist. So I am always connected to my femme life in that way. My stay with family is temporary until I find a more permanent abode.

I am back in England for a few days before I return to Italy for Christmas.

Sue x

5 comments:

  1. Lovely photos. I hope you had a good time.

    Btw, transport from 1928? Don't tell TfL :-)

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  2. Hope you had a lovely time.
    For a Catholic, Milan at this time of year is really interesting, as the season of Advent is six weeks instead of the four everywhere else (because Milan alone has retained the Ambrosian Rite instead of the elsewhere universal Roman Rite).
    Hope all is well.

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    1. As it happens, 7 December was St Ambrose's Day and is a local public holiday. It creates a long break as 8 December is Immaculate Conception, which is a national holiday. So there's no excuse for not getting your Christmas shopping done! Sue x

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  3. Sounds like a new life's adventure...hope everything works as you have planned! BTW follow my new blog by searching google for "Mandy's Miscellany" and let me know that you can find it.

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