Tuesday 6th October Milan

Wake up to another promising day weather wise. We are off to Milan today.
Before leaving today I fill up with fuel at the local garage, managing to spill some at the same time! When we drive past in an hour my diesel stain is still on the forecourt!
I leave the hotel at 09:00 and soon realise I should have left at 08:30! For some reason I think it is an hour to Milan when it is in fact an hour and a half. No problem except we are due to meet our guide at 10:00.
While queing at the final peage into Milan I call the guide and say I will be late and she seems happy with that. A good job too as I miss the turning I want but am soon on the right track. At 10:30 I pull up at the castle in the centre of Milan and meet our guide Oriana.
The first part of the tour is a walk through the castle, where there are toilets, for half an hour before rejoining the coach for a short tour. The tour by coach doesn't last long as there is little to see, everything of interest has been demolished in previous times with the canals circling the centre filled in to make roads. The city lacks a bit of soul and the most interesting part of the drive was following a bus with a large picture of Scarlett Johansen modelling underwear! I drop Oriana and the group off close to the Duomo (Cathedral) and head back to the castle to park.
As I approach the castle I can see a Parry's coach and lo and behold it is my friend Chris. I manage to find a parking space and walk back to speak to Chris who has a young lady courier with him. I am sorry but I didn't catch her name but she was very nice! It is always nice to meet up with friends and is the first time I have seen Chris this year. He is a funny bloke who makes me laugh.
He has been on a 15 day tour of Italy and is nearing the end, with only a few nights left, and still smarting about the signposts (or lack of them) in Rome where he spent a frustrating hour looking for the coach permit office. I can fully understand as this can be a problem in Italy. If you drive around long enough you will come across the lost tribe of the wherethehellarewe's!
The pound to the euro is not good at the moment and my mate is down to his last €5! We have lunch in McDonalds!
After lunch I leave Chris and his accomplice on a mission to find a hat with Fiat written on it which he has been looking for all tour.
Chris leaves (in his beautiful coach!) at three minus his hat vowing to meet up again soon.
I am away just after four with mixed views on Milan. The square with the cathedral is lovely and is connected to the castle by a long, wide shopping street that is mostly pedestrianised but doesn't sell Fiat hats. The cathedral itself is a stunning building unlike any cathedral seen in other cities. It is all white marble with over 300 statues on it and truly stands out.
These parts are lovely but the rest of the city is a bit boring.
I arrive back at the hotel in an hour and twenty five minutes and soon receive a text from Chris asking if I want to meet at his hotel and help spend his €5 on a beer! It is a bit of a rush to go now but may go over after dinner as he is staying in the next town about four miles away.
I have a word with Gianluca, the barman, and he says I will not get a taxi after nine o'clock as they all finish working! Sadly I'll have to pass on the beer tonight.