Well I must say it is very good to be back blogging as it means only one thing... The Beans are 'About the World' again. This is our first trip abroad together since getting back from our travels in April and we are very excited (although having only just got over the monumental post travel blues we are hoping it doesn't open up old wounds!)
It's all been a bit last minute but as a 5th anniversary present to Nat / myself I thought I'd treat us to Pearl Jam tickets at the San Siro in Milan. Rude not to.
We get the 13:00 sleazyjet flight out of Luton to Malpensa. Turns out it isn't the easiest to get into town from Malpensa (or at least from the terminal we landed in). After a wait for a bus to the station we get the train, get off at a station that seems to be nearer to our hotel (we are staying a little bit out of town, nearer to the San Siro) but then can't get a taxi for ages. After a long wait we manage to find a number and track one down and finally arrive at our lovely hotel - the Radisson Blu.
http://www.radissonblu.com/hotel-milan
Italy are just about to kick off against Costa Rica do we decide to have a bite to eat in our lovely hotel courtyard. A nice Peroni, a great pizza, sitting back in the glorious sunshine watching the game - not a bad start.
At half time, with Italy 1-0 down and England as it stands definitely out of the World Cup we call a taxi and make our way on the short 10 min journey to the San Siro.
It's pretty impressive when we get there. Such a fantastic stadium. Can only imagine what it would be like on derby day.
They have the Italy game on big screens around the stadium which was really cool. Surprisingly the Italians seemed quite subdued. I know they were losing but I would have expected a far more electric atmosphere watching a big game in the San Siro. England fans are far more passionate (despite having lower expectations and being rubbish).
We have arrange to meet up with Laura and Steve (the Knaggs') in the arena which is great. We have a few beers with them until they scuttle off to the inner circle. They are Ten club members so get additional perks when they buy tickets. Note to self. Must join the Ten club.
Pearl Jam actually come on at around 8.30 which is pretty early due to the fact they play such a long set. There is also no support act which I think is cleverly down to the fact that they showed the football instead.
A very excited Nat. Always a bit emotional at the first sight of Eddie and the gang!
They start off with some slower songs (Release, Nothing Man, Sirens) before ripping into a great version of Black. Such an amazing atmosphere. I also love it how Eddie Vedder also does a speech in the local language at every foreign gig he does. Very nice touch. His Italian doesn't appear to be that great though!
The footage on the screens was so cool. Such great shots. Needless to say we are not back stage. This is just a picture of the screen.
Bottle of wine in hand as usual.
Good to see Nat's picture taking ability is still as bad as ever. Really wanted a picture of me and the back of this guys head. ;-)
Love this picture.
Penultimate song. The usual cover of Neil Young's Rockin the Free World. Awesome.
Eddie actually brought his 15 year old son in stage to play Rockin the Free World with him (red t-shirt). That kid is definitely going to get laid next week.
Finishing up with Yellow Ledbetter before a very grateful crowd says farewell for now.
The set list - 32 songs in just over 3 hours. Such great value. And every gig has a different set list too. (I must add that I did not make notes throughout the gig - this is in fact a picture from their website of Eddie's handwritten set list).
Now for the admin part - Getting home which was a bit of a nightmare.
After walking for about an hour with no real public transport options available and no taxi's we finally managed to get a taxi. Although we were nearly back at the hotel by this point. Great great night though.
The next morning we have a bit of a lie in then head into the centre. Luckily there is a tram stop right outside our hotel that drops us next to the duomo in about 25 minutes.
First sight of the Catherdral is pretty impressive. Wasn't quite expecting such an amazing building.
Such an amazing choice for breakfast in a little back street Italian cafe.
The smoked salmon and cream cheese (middle of the pic below) was the clear winner for me. Delicious.
Little explore around the area.
We then stop for a beer and a people watch in a cafe on the side of the main plaza duomo (it is after all well past beer o'clock - it's 1pm!!) in a place called Cafe de galleria.
After we pay for our over priced drinks we head into the galleria which is one of the oldest shopping centers in the world and home to the very first Prada store. We sample some gorgeous Italian gelato here before deciding to walk down to Naviglio Grande for a few beers which is a nice area down by the canal.
Milanese selfie.
After a half an hour walk in the glorious sunshine we arrive at Naviglio Grande a little bit sweaty and more than ready for a beer or two. The canal is lined with lovely little cafés, restaurants and bars. The perfect place to spend a lazy Saturday afternoon. Our first stop is a lovely restaurant called Vetusta Insignia which had some great craft beers. A wheat beer later and we make the long 50 meter walk to the next bar.
Brellin cafe for more people watching.
The worlds smallest floating football pitch on the canal. Looks good fun.
By this time it is about 5pm so we make our way back to the hotel to get showered and changed. Two trams later and we are back at the hotel. The tram is pretty much the only viable way to travel around Milan as there is quite an extensive network.
Before dinner we decide to head to the fashion district of Brera for a few aperativos as the locals call it. We head down Via Brera to the corner of Via Fiori Chiari and sit outside a lovely bar called Bar Brera.
They had a lovely choir singing to us outside which was pretty cool and a bit different.
We then make our way down back to the main plaza for dinner.
Back through the galleria.
The restaurant where we ate is in the bottom right of this picture. Great views of the cathedral, the galleria and plaza.
We arrive at the gorgeous Giacomo Bistrot and take our seat on the terrace overlooking the plaza. It's not that busy but a lovely restaurant and we have a great meal. Nat had the scallops to start and monkfish for main and I had the seafood ravioli and entrecôte. The food is delicious and service great. Big thank you to EY for offering to pay for our meal as a thank you present to me. Tastes so much better when it's free!! :-)
http://www.giacomoarengario.com/new/chisiamo-en.php
Fantastic view from our table in the restaurant.
How to pour wine in 7 simple steps.
1. Take one good hand.
2. Add a bottle and a glass to the other one.
3. Start pouring.
4. Put your best concentration face on to avoid spillage on white shirt.
5. If feeling generous share with wife.
6. Yes. Yes. Yeeeeesssss.
7. Be sure to get every last drop out.
After dessert and a dessert wine we are pretty full and comatosed so decide to head back to the hotel. The catherdal looks amazing lit up at night.
The place is still buzzing. So many corners and squares with live music playing.
After getting the tram back we hit the hay Feeling funny being away and it's out last day tomorrow. I thought all trips were lasted five months now??? Two nights just doesn't seem to cut it anymore.
Sunday morning and we end up getting up a little bit too late. Damn you black out blinds and Egyptian cotton bed! We check out and head back into town on the tram and get there for around midday. Our flight is at 4.30pm so we only have a couple of hours.
Luckily Nat has a good recommendation for a place for lunch. Unluckily it was closed when we got there so we had to find another place. We end up in Charleston's which was set in a nice square just off the duomo. After a nice pizza for breakfast for me and a salad for Nat it was time to jump in a taxi to Cardona station to get the Malpensa express.
It's been very short but very sweet. We have had a lovely weekend and Pearl Jam were out of this world. It has also been great to be reacquainted with an old friend... my blog. Oh how I have missed you (mainly because I only ever see you when I am in great places!). Now it's time to put you away again until August when we will get to spend two weeks together again (in fact it will be a threesome as Nat is coming along too!) ;-)
