We grab a newspaper as we board BA 576, an Airbus 319 from Heathrow to Milan Linate. B4 has a fascination for British Royals and there is a big article about Prince Charles.
As she sours it, I gaze at the terrain beneath us; first France, then Switzerland and finally Northern Italy.
There are two airports that serve Milan, Italy. Linate, where we land and Malpensa, from which we will depart a week from now. Linate is tiny; like one in a medium to small town in America. The line for immigration is almost rural. The immigration officers are friendly. A child escapes her mother and runs through the immigration checkpoint and everyone laughs while the agent waves the distraught mom by so she can corral her wayward three-year-old.
We have only carry on bags. We stroll through customs where the uniformed guard cares not one bit.
Our driver is Luca Benassi and he awaits us outside customs. His English is as polished as is our Italian but we understand each other well enough. Ushered to his brand new black Mercedes with its gigantic Tesla-like electronic dashboard and GPS map system, we leave for our just-over-an-hour drive to Parma on a road that would make US government infrastructure planners drool. The far left lane is reserved for those who want to drive very fast--a Panamera zooms by with its spoiler proudly engaged. We spend our time in the center lane while lorries and pensioners occupy the far right.
B4 is asleep before we have driven for five minutes; I follow her lead twenty minutes later.
The town of Parma is, as we drive in, unremarkable. So, too, is the Hotel De La Ville, its five-star placard notwithstanding. Check in is efficient, the bellman is at the ready and our room is small, spartan and clean. I can't figure out how to work the light at the front door but I will solve that problem later as B4 wants to nap and I want to jot these few words.
The Vacation Begins
Sunday, April 09, 2017
Milan, Lombardy, Italy
Other Entries
-
1Departure
Apr 081 day priorKansas City, United Statesphoto_camera4videocam 0comment 0 -
2En Route,
Apr 081 day priorChicago, United Statesphoto_camera5videocam 0comment 0 -
3Airport Number Three
Apr 09earlier that dayLondon, United Kingdomphoto_camera2videocam 0comment 0 -
4The Vacation Begins
Apr 09Milan, Italyphoto_camera7videocam 0comment 0 -
5Not Cheesy
Apr 09later that dayParma, Italyphoto_camera8videocam 0comment 8 -
6Gastronomic Camaraderie
Apr 101 day laterParma, Italyphoto_camera18videocam 0comment 10 -
7They Can't All Be Winners
Apr 101 day laterParma, Italyphoto_camera3videocam 0comment 3 -
8We Eat It, They Make It
Apr 112 days laterLanghirano, Italyphoto_camera14videocam 0comment 5 -
9Berylaggio
Apr 123 days laterBellagio, Italyphoto_camera12videocam 0comment 10 -
10Ursalunch
Apr 134 days laterIsola Comacina, Italyphoto_camera19videocam 0comment 4 -
11Can't Say No at Cernobbio
Apr 145 days laterCernobbio, Italyphoto_camera14videocam 0comment 9 -
12Presto dobbiamo dieta
Apr 156 days laterComo, Italyphoto_camera6videocam 0comment 9 -
13Home Stretch, Leg One
Apr 167 days laterMilan, Italyphoto_camera6videocam 0comment 0 -
14Home Stretch, Leg Two
Apr 167 days laterNew York City, United Statesphoto_camera2videocam 0comment 0 -
15Home Stretch, Leg Three
Apr 167 days laterDallas, United Statesphoto_camera1videocam 0comment 0 -
16Home. The Diet Begins in Earnest
Apr 167 days laterKansas City, United Statesphoto_camera0videocam 0comment 0
2025-02-11