Milan - Saturday
I always love to visit supermarkets or outdoor markets whenever I go abroad, think of me in Rome, taking one photograph of the colosseum and 15 of fruit and vegetables in the Campo di Fiori market. So on Saturday morning I asked Anne and Silvio if they would take me to the supermarket - and what a supermarket - fresh fish galore, fresh pasta, hundreds of types of cheese and cooked meats - oh and all the things you find in the UK too!
I bought some mortadella, a salami, taleggio cheese, smoked scarmozza cheese, some grappa.....and just took in all the beautiful food!
After lunch we went into Milan and walked around the Quadrilatero - home to the most amazing array of designer stores and the beautiful people!
We then went to Brera for "un aperitivo" - a typically Italian activity - drinks and snacks before dinner. Many of the bars lay on a wide array of snacks, all free, when you buy a drink. The bar we went to had a great selection of food - stuffed breads, veggie sticks, mini pizza - I know that I really shouldn't have eaten so much before going for dinner!!
Where else in the world could there be an enormous statue of a lipstick and a giant sewing needle - representative of Milan's status as fashion capital of Italy! I also loved the innovative shopping baskets in the supermarket - on wheels with long handles so you can pull them around like a pet dog behind you!
New Camera
I forgot to tell you that I had a new camera - at Christmas I managed to break the screen on my Canon Powershot - to be honest, even though I had only had the camera 8 months, I was quite glad to have an excuse to buy a new one - screens not being covered by any warranty.
What did I buy? A camera that I have already fallen in love with - a Panasonic TZ3 - fantastic build - metal body, not plastic like the Canon, a huge screen, a Leica lens and most importantly a 10x optical zoom!! Here's an example of that zoom in action - 2 photos taken from the same spot of the Castello Sforzesco.
It also has settings for taking pictures by candlelight and I love the way the candles in the duomo came out! All in all, I would highly recommend this cute little compact camera!!
9 comments:
Wow I am sooo jealous! I still have never been to Europe period so your posts just taunt me.
my parents still live in verona (where i grew up) and every time i leave nyc to go to italy and visit, going to the market is my favorite activity. I LOVE IT!!!
Congrats with your new camera, I can understand why you love it (... now to find an excuse of my own...)
I have always loved food markets and enjoy spending time just walking around and looking and smelling (and preferably also tasting) ;-) But it mostly happens when I'm abroad too.
I also love markets when I'm on vacation. I planned the trip for maybe a few days and then after I look at markets, food "boutique" and restaurants web pages for weeks (need all the info before the trip). Food is very important...especially if it is nicely put on a market table! How did you break you camera screen (I have a canon powershot that I carry around in an old mitten)?
Have a good weekend :)
Thanks for sharing! It sounds like a wonderful trip! That sewing needle is very impressive. And all that food. p.s. we have those shopping baskets in one of the supermarkets we go to here as well :)
What a nice camera, but I think you could use anything since you have such a good eye for what makes a lovely photo.
Wow! I am laughing because i have a Canon Powershot and HATE it!!! I even broke the screen on the back, but it isn't bad enough to convince my husband that it should be replaced!!!! I love these photos... aw Italy. What's not to love!!!
I LOVE scamorza! yumeee! That candle picture is great, very atmospheric.
Mmmmm smoked scamorza! One of my favourite bits when visiting Milan was the supermarket. Amazing produce! Great pics Diane.
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