We have been in Europe for the past 4 days... moving through Italy, France and Spain. It's what I love about the Europe leg. The event producer drops us in one place (this year that's Milan) and we have to find our way to a second spot (Barcelona) on our own ...mapping out our own unique route from one place to the other.
There were two logical routes: North into Switzerland or South along the Cote D'Azur (the French Riviera). We chose South and LOVED it.
The first day we spent the morning in Milan. Scavenge #1, rent bikes. Sounds easy? Not so much. The Italians have perfected the art of making "renting a bike from a public bike stand" akin to creating a space ship out of wire and tape. After almost 45 minutes of failed attempts and frustrations... finally success. And off we rode to a castle and through a beautiful park.
Plus an Arc Du Triomphe replica (apparently a very popular icon... we say three of those in the last few days in various cities)
And my personal favorite scavenge... find the Devil's Column... which is a marble column in front of a church where, legend has it, the devil drove his horns into the base in anger (who makes up these stories?). Obviously historically accurate because the evenly spaced horn marks are clearly visible.
Then, off on a train to Turin to see the Shroud of Turin. It is back on display for the first time in years and it's a REAL ordeal to see it. Long lines and lots of "pilgrims" but, in my opinion, worth the effort. Questionable authenticity but since Pope Francis is coming to visit next month maybe the Catholic church is going to finally endorse it.
Then we took a long series of train rides, with layovers in odd little towns, all the way to Nice, France where we are going to sleep for two nights.
There were two logical routes: North into Switzerland or South along the Cote D'Azur (the French Riviera). We chose South and LOVED it.
The first day we spent the morning in Milan. Scavenge #1, rent bikes. Sounds easy? Not so much. The Italians have perfected the art of making "renting a bike from a public bike stand" akin to creating a space ship out of wire and tape. After almost 45 minutes of failed attempts and frustrations... finally success. And off we rode to a castle and through a beautiful park.
Plus an Arc Du Triomphe replica (apparently a very popular icon... we say three of those in the last few days in various cities)
And my personal favorite scavenge... find the Devil's Column... which is a marble column in front of a church where, legend has it, the devil drove his horns into the base in anger (who makes up these stories?). Obviously historically accurate because the evenly spaced horn marks are clearly visible.
Then, off on a train to Turin to see the Shroud of Turin. It is back on display for the first time in years and it's a REAL ordeal to see it. Long lines and lots of "pilgrims" but, in my opinion, worth the effort. Questionable authenticity but since Pope Francis is coming to visit next month maybe the Catholic church is going to finally endorse it.
Then we took a long series of train rides, with layovers in odd little towns, all the way to Nice, France where we are going to sleep for two nights.
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