Weekly updates on what happend in Richard Art life in the last 7 days
Here is a few photos of last Sunday afternoon that I did not include.
Raclette.
Zooming in to see the melting cheese.
The master chef himself Danilo.
Monday we were up early and on a train to Milan. Danilo dropped us off at Lugano Train station and we got our tickets for €40, 2nd class. It's only 90 minutes. I managed to catch up with some Monday morning banking and Joanne as well.
We arrived at Milan train station and it is by far the busiest train station I have ever been to on my travels. We were told to keep our phones safe and be aware.
Train station people traffic jam.
Our first stop was to drop off a parcel with Tobias at the Restaurant across the way from Milan station. He recently bought the first Cape Diem Lodge series and I personally hand delivered it. It was great to meet him and catch up. He gave us some Milan advice, and we were off to do some tourist stuff.
A very happy collector Tobias, from the North of Switzerland came to Milan to pick up his artwork.
On the train, as we crossed over the border from Switzerland to Italy the border control boarded and questioned me about the artwork I had all wrapped up in brown paper. They asked a lot of questions and went through our backpack. I ended up showing him a photo of the artwork and he was happy with that. I think they were more worried about money going over the borders as EURO10,000 is the max.
Nonetheless, coffee done and we decided to walk to Duomo, the big marble cathedral in the town centre. It took us 35 minutes as we soaked in the City.
We did stop and buy some fruit as we hadn’t eaten fruit for the last five days, as you will notice from all the Pizza and Pasta photos in last week’s blog.
Quite a marvel what they got up to back then. We didn’t book tickets to go inside as Joanne and I are not big on Museums and the likes. We just did a loop of the Duomo and headed off through the glass gallery and got the pic. Joanne jumped the queue of the Duomo to get to the gift shop. Apparently that was allowed. She bought a few bits and pieces for the kids.
Got the photo.
Joanne is dwarfed by this big door.
As an artist I feel very small when I see these marble artworks carved out painstakingly. There are so many artworks. I just asked Joanne how long it took to build, and she googled it: 579 years. No wonder. Here is the google response: Thousands of sculptors, artists, and stonemasons were involved in carving the more than 3,400 statues on the Milan Duomo over nearly six centuries. Construction began in 1386 and continued until 1965, requiring generations of craftsmen to create the statues, gargoyles and figures adorning the exterior.
The famous gallery.
No one got this pic except us. Phone on the floor with 3 second timer.
We then put art district Brera into Google maps and headed off in that direction. That also took about 35 minutes. We walked about and soaked up the district. We spotted a beautiful Italian restaurant called: Taverna Del Borgo Antico. It was the busiest of the four or five in the centre of Brera. White Italian table cloths as they do. We sat in a great spot to eat and admire the location and people.
Love this architecture.
Checking out the local art supplies.
We also ordered a salad, as that too was missing from our diet all week in Lugano.
Joanne wanted to try an Italian lasagne before we left and today was the day. It was delicious. A little different to the one we make, but still delicious with a local beer Angelo Poretti.
As Bertus Basson would say "Simple, but delicious". Italian style
Also, simple and delicious.
We got to know the waiter Richard Scott style, and I gave him a pack of stickers. I had a new admirer.
Then we walked off the lasagne and headed to the Canal district for a look see and a afternoon Aperol Spritz.
You got to love how they serve you complementary olives, crisps and salted sweet corn.
The canal was very scenic.
Exploring the city by foot, the old Roman Ruins.
Canal View.
Doing what tourists do in Milan.
Then we checked the underground as Danilo sent a message “Come home for supper, I am cooking”
On our way home.
So, we took the green line direct to Milan Central Train station which was still just as packed.
We missed our train by 5 minutes, but the station helpers told us to get onto train 8 as it was stopping in Lugano.
It was a real fancy train and about 25 minutes in we were asked for our tickets and the conductor said we were on the fast train and needed to pay another EURO20 each (R1,000.00). Both Joanne and I started telling our story, but he wouldn’t budge. Neither would we, so he said we have to get off at the next stop in Lake Como. Blah Blah Blah, the joys of traveling.
Nonetheless, we got off and platform 3 and the conductor was nice enough to tell us the next train on platform 2 was the right train. Low and behold, it was the train we missed in Milan, so there’s a new travel tip. LOL
We decided to get off at Paradiso, one stop before Lugano as it was closer to Danilo house. We took an uber up and were finally home at 7pm.
Danilo invited four guests over for supper and had a great time.
Early to bed as we were off to Sardinia in the morning.
Signing Claudio's helmet.
Claudio and I got on like a house on fire as he has done three Dakar's. He loved my art and stickers.
Spot the Fake.
Tuesday morning early Danilo offered to drop us at the station which super cool of him. Easy check in and we were off to the Lounge. Joanne has access to all the lounges in the world through her banking status. So, I am learning to travel.
I did my weekly end of month banking and so did Joanne. Early bird gets the worm.
Well, here I am now typing to you on board Easy Jet. Very nice airline. Highly recommend.
Our transport for 11 days. Hybrid, nogal.
Our home for 11 days: San Pantaleo.
Exploring the town.
Few floral photos for Angelina and my mom.
Supplies sorted.
Spotted this 999 Ducati and sent to Richie. As you know he owns one from the year he was born, 2002.
Supper part 1.
Supper part 2.
Hmmmmmmmmmm.
Wednesday was Beach rekkie as we had so many suggestions from friends that we decide to drive to all of them and look see as it was kinda overcast. Here was the plan:
We only managed to do the first 4 and the last one was quite a hike.
To many beaches.
Absolutely spectacular.
Hiking up a path to find a hidden beach.
Porto Cervo. Spot the Super yachts. More to come in Summer.
After that we tried to get in for lunch at Agriturismon Murualvata, as per Danilo’s suggestion, but they were closed. The owner, Andreas did come out and say they were supper only, so we booked Friday night. I am sitting on the veranda typing to you on Thursday morning, So news to follow on this one.
Back to Wednesday: We spotted a big Supermarket and we stocked up on all the basics:
1. Fruit, Melon, Nartchie, Pineapple, Banana’s and a few other exotic local fruits
2. Cheese of course.
3. Italian cured meats
4. Wine and beer
5. Coffee
6. Almond Milk
Sent this to Andre at the brewery. He said its six times our price. So, enjoy your steak in ZA.
We decided to do lunch at a spot we randomly found on the map. I said to Joanne we should just wing it. As we turn the corner to enter it was our home town. San Pantaleo. We both had a laugh. We ended up back at Nina’s for an aperitif and decided to lunch on a fresh crunchy salad and try their Lasagne. The salad was delicious; we were so hungry we scoffed it even before the lasagne came. The lasagne was different but nice to taste different recipes.
Tasting more delicious local food.
Joanne's new favourite side: Pane Carasau.
After lunch we headed back to the villa and chilled on the veranda and played cards.
The veranda.
Typical local San Pantaleo villa.
We did have a late supper, like the Italians do. Joanne made us a caprice salad from our hall at the supermarket, the best ever, and I cooked up the ravioli di Formaggio we bought.
Supper.
Early night as Thursday we planned to do a beach day.
Today we are going to Golfo Aranci to chill and then we have a lunch at Ristorante la Spigola.
Joanne just made us a delicious fruit salad, for breakfast, from all the different fruit we bought yesterday and then we were off.
Our beach for the day.
The photos do not do the view justice.
Lunch time.
Spending time in paradise with the love of my life, my soulmate and my wife, Joanne.
Talk about lunch on the beach.
The mussels we also Simple, but delicious.
Wiped my plate clean with the delicious bread.
Exploring Golfo Aranci by foot.
When in Italy.
Cool historic photos.
Even the water in the harbour is crystal clear.
Friday was hike day. It was a 4 1/2 hour hike to the top of Monte Zuppo. Here are some photos.
Four hour hike, here we go.
We did all three.
Another beach on the way up, Del Cervo.
Madonna.
Fauna and flora pics for Angelina and my mom.
Interesting rock formations. Sardinia is all about the rocks.
We made it to the top.
360 degree Pano from the top.
Saturday we planned a day trip on the ferry to an island north of Sardinia called La Magdelena and Caprera.
You can drive around the island in 30 minutes and we stopped counting aqua blue beaches after 50.
Never experienced this before.
Beaches are breathtaking.
We found our favourite beach, Spiaggia Monti d’a’ Rena, and hung out catching some sun and a good swim in the clear blue waters.
Then we popped over to Caprera which was very back to the 1970's. There was a beautiful Italian style beach called Spiaggia I due Mari, that we stopped counting aqua to see then back to the main town on La Madelena for some spaghetti Bottargo. We chose a back street spot and were told afterwards the chef was the best from Rome.
Then a quick squizz around the town, a gelato and then back home to San Pantaleo, Sardinia to chill for the afternoon, or shall we say siesta, as we had a 8pm reservation at Agriturismo Murualvata, around the corner from home thanks to Danilo’s suggestion.
Ferry vibes.
Found our beach after searching four beaches: Spiaggi Monti d'a' Rena.
No words.
This is why we came here. We both had to pinch ourselves.
Bit chilly, but so worth it.
La Maddalena. Island north of Sardinia.
Also, quite little town.
Lunch: Spaghetti Bottarga.
And then.....
Super time.
Supper at Agriturismo Murualvata.
Got the pic with owner Andreas.
Joanne doing the walk of shame for us both. There was way too much food and we even ordered for one.
Sunday was up early and off into the town to find Wi-Fi. So here I am sitting at NINA’s adding all the photos on the blog while Joanne shop’s the village and catches up on her phone with the outside world.
Sunday diary doodles.
Working on a Sunday morning in town.
Lunch at Surrau, as suggested by Claudio in Lugano.
Sardinian wine has more depth because of the granite.
Wine Tasting.
Cheers to my beautiful wife and spending time with her.
Desert. That's a wrap.
Thank you for reading and viewing.
r i c h a r d
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