Friday news

By
Friday, October 15, 2004

*Despite delays caused by seven tropical weather systems this summer, construction of the new Cooper River bridge remains well ahead of schedule
-Charleston Post and Courier, 10-15-04

*Storms Spare Winter Bars - Clam Farmers May Benefit from Drop in Supply
-Apalachicola Times, 10-14-04

Passport to the World.

A 21day visit to Europe and the Mediterranean, 23rd September/14th October 2004.

Thursday the 23rd. of September 2004.
We did not start well, 1.5 hours late as Austrian Airelines lost their computer link with Vienna, leaving check in staff floundering by the need to document Boarding passes by hand. All very frustrating.

Late into Singapore, but Business Class excellent, and quite superb service and cuisine.

Friday the 24th. of September, 2004.
Prior to an early arrival into Vienna, the cabin stirs, the lights go up, ladies reach for their make up mirrors to view the ravages of a night's jet travel, and no doubt wish they had not bothered, we touch down gently having made up an hour.

A minimum of fuss with the authorities and we seek out the Austrian Air desk to ticket our onwards flight to Milan, make this connection to face a second breakfast with superb baby croissants.

Milan Malpensa Airport.
At this International Airport, no customs, no immigration, we merely walk off, could have been two Australian terrorists. In my haste to grab a taxi, I am unaware that we are almost 50 kilometers out of Milan, this proves costly, as the ride costs 70 Euros, about 140 of our poor weak Aussie Dollars, not a good way to start our journey, but a salutary lesson. On arrival at our hotel, it proves adequate, but is some way from the centre of Milan, Milan's Duomo.

We negotiate the Metro underground rail system, counting the 9 stops to the Duomo sitting at the end of a large square. The Duomo one of the world's largest churches, has 135 spires and some 3,400 statues. It was commenced in 1386, but not completed until the early 1800's.

It was on this huge square, that Mussolini and his mistress, having been murdered by Partisans were hung upside down in WW2. The beautiful Galleria flanks one side, and leads to the famous La Scala Opera House, unfortunately being renovated, and rather squalid scaffolding covering its exterior.

Leonardo da Vinci's painting of the Last Supper.
This famous painting is in the Refectory of the Santa Maria delle Grazie Church which dates back to 1463, and is several stops on the Metro from the Duomo, we make a visit joining visitors from many and various countries. In 1943 the Refectory was destroyed by bombs, but somehow the Last Supper survived, to become a great tourist attraction.Saturday the 16th. of September 2004.

We walk some of Milan's streets.
Off to the Metro, we are old hands already, only needing to know which line, and its final destination to ensure we are travelling in the right direction. Yesterday's 24 hour tickets are still valid, so no need to buy new ones.

In a major shopping area we walk and look, stop for coffee, but in my view, Denise's machine made Cappucino back home still hard to match. All the world's leading brands are here, but for the obviously Italian appearance of the locals we might be in Melbourne,