Castello Sforzesco

Sforza Castle (or Castello Sforzesco as it is known here) was our destination for today. We had equipped ourselves with 24hr tram passes so that we could scoot around the city a little more quickly.

My Tram Expert thought we should get on the No 9 which leaves from just outside our apartment and goes to 'Centrale'. It would have us in the centre of town quite quickly, we could have breakfast there and catch another tram to the Castello.

So, about half an hour later we found ourselves at Central Station. It was the end of the route and looked like a pretty impressive building

so we thought we would do some investigating while we were there.

The station was built in 1933. Another one of Mussolini's monuments. Nothing understated or minimal about this building. It had a shopping concourse and more cafe's and restaurants than you could poke a stick at, so we thought it was as good a place as any to have breakfast.

Back on the tram retracing our journey back towards the Duomo and the actual centre of town. Changed trams and eventually made it to the Castello. Built in the 15th century on the remains of a 14th-century fortification, it was later renovated and enlarged. In the 16th and 17th centuries it was one of the largest citadels in Europe. Extensively rebuilt in 1891–1905, it now houses several of the city's museums and art collections.

Focusing the camera upwards towards the top of the tower actually made me dizzy and loose my balance slightly. The scale of the building is monumental. Actually, the scale of many of the buildings here is monumental. I suppose the Milanese are not going to start building little inconsequential buildings after have the Duomo in the centre of town.

Behind the Castello there is a large park - Parco Sempione. It was quite lovely and lots of people out enjoying the end of the season. At the far end of Parco Sempione there is another monument - The Peace Arch. Completed in 1838 it was dedicated to the peace that had brought together the various European powers in 1815.

We emerged at the far end of Parco Sempione and decided it was time for another meal. I felt like something other than Italian for a change

and we found an American Wild West Restaurant. That'll do. However, pretty disappointing.

On our first visit to the Duomo we found a huge concert stage erected in the square in front of the Cathedral. We wondered about this a little but hadn't seen any posters or anything advertising what the stage might be fore. Found out this afternoon that there is going to be a free Duran Duran concert there tonight.

So the surrounding streets were closed early afternoon. The trams running through that area were cancelled. We ended up having to get a taxi part of the way and after waiting aimlessly on a tram stop for about an hour set off on foot to catch the No 9. Got back to Porta Romana and the Irish Bar where John wanted to watch The Game about 10 minutes after kick off.

I returned to our apartment to catch up with my Diary and keeping up with the Rugby score on TVNZ Live Updates while doing so. Too scared to check during the last five minutes. Got the good news from Cousin Hilary at home in Taigumville and Cousin John in Castlederg Ireland via Facebook messages. Was getting texts from the Irish Bar downstairs too but had to put a stop to that because it was all just too nerve wracking.

Good news waiting in my emails. Our gorgeous landlord, Simone is coming round at 9.15 to help us get our luggage downstairs. If he gives me another one of those Continental kiss, kiss, kisses I think I might faint.

What about that little dog all dressed up in his collar and tie? and those sewing machines are in various locations around town.