Friday (Venice to Milan)...

A final breakfast in Venice. Packed up our new treasures and dropped our bags with the bellman for a final stroll. Made our way to the Basilica del Frari, which we had visited last with Curt and Cheryl. Learned a quirky fact about the Frari: that the interior brick walls of this enormous church had been plastered over at the time of construction so that the walls could be decorated. So what did these folks paint on the walls? Bricks. Still pondering this architectural puzzler, stopped for one last gelato from 'Il Doge' in S. Margherita. Nutella and menta were today's choices. Picked up our bags and departed the Ca' Pisani for our winding path to the train station (Ferrovia). Walked today versus the vaparetto. Met up with Chris and Sherie at the station. Boarded our Eurostar train: Carozza 1, Posti 16/14. Watched Venezia fade into the distance as the train crossed the lagoon. We will surely return again. Lunch on the train (sandwiches and chips) near Padova. Three hours to Milano Centrale train station. Checked into the StarHotels Anderson, which is a really hip looking hotel directly across from the train station. More importantly, this hotel has 'pillowmania'! Hopped on the Metro #3 linea to go inside the amazing Milan Duomo. (On our last visit to the Duomo with Curt and Cheryl, we chose to go on the roof...which is equally stunning.) Unfortunately, can't say much else other than that the Duomo is huge, old (early 15th century?), and beautiful. The church ushered people out 15 minutes early, so our stay was very brief with no time for reading. Walked through the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, built in the late 1800s as 'Millan's sitting room' that today houses Prada and Gucci stores. Chris and Sherie joined us from their shopping spree at Armani where Chris picked some hip new shades. Walked through the Piazza del Duomo, filled with hundreds of cheering World Cup fans watching Germany and Costa Rica play on a giant screen. Had a final dinner nearby in the shadows of San Sebastiano--amazing wood fire oven pizzas. Back to the hotel and into bed early. Tomorrow is an early flight home and the Malpensa airport ain't close!