When One Door Closes, Another Opens

So our last full day in Italy was spent with dear friends, Cathryn and Lorenzo Minoli. Cath and have been friends for 40 years this month. We didn’t plan our 40th reunion, it just happened, like our friendship.

Chazy’s death has left a great hole in my life and my heart. This trip was set up as a first step toward healing that loss and pain, and having Cathryn (and Lorenzo) back in my life again so fully has truly filled me in a way I didn’t think possible. I am so lucky to have both Cathryn and my other dear friend, Marie, so steadfastly by me. It’ll never fill the void of my big sister, but it really has begun to give me joy again.

So, the morning was less eventful than yesterday. Just your average coddled egg, mortadella and artichoke, grapefruit salad and a double cappuccino. A Kim Kardashian look like with bad table manners, a few poorly dressed Russians and the odd, loud, offensive Brazilians rounded out the breakfast crowd.

Totally gorgeous day today — Spring was in the air.

We walked across town past La Scala and through the Brera district over to Castello Sforzesco. We read all about the Sforzas last night, so it we were ready to live the history.

The Fortress is huge, and it is now filled with different museums and collections and gardens. We spent about three hours there and didn’t scratch the surface. Just cleaning the place must cost a small fortune — there is no way to give you an accurate sense of scale.

The Leonardo da Vinci exhibit was a multimedia wonder. He lived in Milano during the building of the fortress and the Duomo and was an architect for both in small areas. He also shares a birthday with me!

Here is a sample of a few different collections:

Lorenzo took us to a fabulous place in Brera, and we were treated like visiting royalty. As only the Italians can do, we were greeted, and fawned over and escorted through 4 rooms into a quiet back room for dignitaries. Out came the onslaught of items not on the menu, but available for special guests.

The best thing we’re these fried fresh anchovies. I know, it doesn’t sound swoon worthy, but my God!

And then there was the traditional coteletta!

We walked and talked and popped into the most beautiful stores with the most wonderful things.

And then Lorenzo and Brad had a near miss in wild traffic.

We parted ways to both head home, but vowed to make the time and effort to see each other again.

As we walked back to the hotel in the soft warm night air we stumbled upon the Officine Gullo showroom and I began to swoon….

That’s what I’d like to bring back from Milano!

We made it back to our luxurious hotel and stopped downstairs for a swanky drink. Ed and Julie would have loved this.

We chatted about the trip, about our privileged life, about our future. What a lovely end to a perfect trip. I’m getting ready for my nightly amaretti and lavender chamomile spray. Sogni belli