Milano/Cinque Terre

Hello friends,
I'm back from a lovely 6 days of fun in Northern Italy. I had 4 days off this week because FAO had a conference about food safety and global climate change and all non-essential personnel were told not to show up. Yay for being non-essential. You may have seen the conference in the news?? It seems to have gotten a lot of press.
Anyhoo, my gentleman friend, Peter, happens to be working in Geneva this summer for the UN's World Intellectual Property Organization. So, he and I met in Milan over the weekend. We had a lovely time in Milan. We walked the streets of the city, window shopped at the designer stores, and saw the Last Supper. I was unaware before reading about the Last Supper (by Leonardo da Vinci) that it is on a wall and is about 29 feet long. Finally, a famous piece of art that didn't make me think "I thought it would be bigger." It was immense and really amazing in the space. I could only imagine having dinner in that big hall and looking up to see that painting on the wall--very powerful. We also had an amazing sea food meal--mussels and clams, followed by seafood risotto and then a local fish. It was so good.
Milan was very different from Rome--the roads are wider, the streets seem cleaner, and the buildings newer, but it also seemed more sterile in a way. Part of the fun of Rome is that there are people everywhere all the time and it seems so full of life. p.s. I love it here.
On Sunday we took a day trip to Stresa on one of Northern Italy's lakes. Some guy built a palace on an island in the lake with a giant garden. Let's just say conspicuous consumption did not originate in the US. This place was almost gaggingly decorated--lots of naked babies with wings, seashells, and the coup de grace...a giant unicorn on top of the gardens that can be seen in all its glory from the mainland. It was a beautiful day and nice to see the foothills of the Alps and be outside in the fresh air.
Peter went back to Geneva and I went on to the Cinque Terre on the Mediterranean--5 old villages on the cliffs overlooking the sea. I did the 8 mile walk between the villages on Tuesday and was tired of climbing stairs by the end (I was having Nepal flashbacks!) and Wednesday I sat my butt in the sun, next to the water and alternated between reading my book and watching the water. It was lovely.
This was my first real time off since spring break and it was nice to do nothing for a little bit. I think last year really took a lot out of me and I'm tired. But I'm happy to be here. I get why so many people visit Italy--because it's pretty awesome!
My one semi-complaint...the food. Great, wonderful, etc for a 2 week vacation. Three weeks of eating food derived from bread and cheese is taking its toll on my poor tummy. I require more roughage and some whole-grain products.
I hope you are all well. I'll post some photos soon.
Hugs,
Lauren