Benvenuti a Milano - prego! prego!

Milan in best for people who love high-fashions and shopping. For me, the best time for me to revisit Milan is when my pockets all full including the pockets of my immediate banker. D&G, Armani, Diesel, Gucci, Prada are among the names to visit and revisit. Surprisingly, it is more expensive than what I found here in Barcelona (some of them, but I am not keen in shopping, so forgive my limited knowledge). As shopping is not my main interest, I focus more on my visit - to see the places where Da Vinci´s code movie was filmed.

This is the one and only old castle in Milan - Sforzesco Castle's. It is a Museum of Historic Art as well as Gallery of Modern Art. The Pinacoteca di Brera exhibits collections of medieval and Renaissance art, including the work of Napoleon. Visitors also can find the last unfinished statue of Michaelangelo here.

Cathedral Santa Maria Nascente is where most tourist always got confused with Cathedral Santa Maria de Grazie, where the painting Last Supper is located. This cathedral is made from white shining marble. During a hot sunny day, the reflection may hurt your eyes, yet at night the sight is breathtaking.

This is the real place where visitors can find the painting of Last Supper by Da Vinci. To get in, pay €17.50 and you can view the painting maximum 15 minutes. The building is also protected by UNESCO due to the fact that it contributes to human civilization. (Quoted from plaque on the wall).

View from inside dome of Galeria de Vittorio Emanuele II. Here most designers outlet can be found, whether Italian or non-Italian designers. All are high fashions, so expect nothing cheap. Many designer brands can be found here.

As shopping mood is not in set, Red Riding (without) Hood decided to have a nice stroll with little Blue Riding Hood.

Have you ever find McDonald without red and yellow? It was my first time to find black and gold McDonald! I bet it meant to suit the luxury and elegance of the gallery.

Sometimes, the photographer also needs a break. Instead of taking picture of his various subjects, I took his picture in front of Prada.

In front of the old castle is a huge park. When we were there, we took the opportunity to let our little one to stretch her legs. It was amazing to see her run and climb, trying to jump and imitate us, till a lady approached us and asked whether we wanted to bring her to their agency and audition as a model. My baby as a model??!! In Milan? No way! Glamorous won´t fit in our lifestyles - punto. So those who want to be a model, why not try to start your career in Milan.

See?? The tower is just as tall as my hand reach!

All in all, Milan is better as shopping city. People go there with aim to find good quality items with names. Little can be done for sight seeing, but if you insist, it is still far from hear breaking. At least we achieved our objectives. Oh ya, food is easy to get, just spare your notes. To save a little, go outside the city center a bit and you get good, tasty halal food from Turks.

A broken dream

Fancy, savouring blini with caviar at Red Square Moscow, relishing the Cathedral of the Resurrection, or also known as The Saviour-on-the-Blood, and a walk at Peterhov, enjoying the last fall of snow...A wish will never come through unless we worked for it. Without hesitate, after discussing with my sister who is still in Moscow, we bought our flight there. While preparing the documents for obtaining visa, we watched lists of documentary, to get the grasp of what not to miss. (Ehem, that was basically only me).

From day to day, we worked on small steps towards our visa. First, we need an invitation letter. As my sis´s university refused issuance for us, we obtained it from an online private agent (the site was given by the uni).And it cost  us almost 100€. But, beforehand we needed to show that we already had booked an accommodation, it cost us another 30€ as 10% deposits. As what are requested by Russian Consulate, we called to make an appointment to process our visa. The reply was discouraging. We were required to obtain it from appointed agent as the office do not process any visa application from individuals. Only agents are entertained. We started panicking.

As the ticket already in hand, we contacted an agent. As every agent on earth would say," owh...that is invalid, the further requirement are actually more than the advertised, there was a new rule, and since you are not applying from your home country we have to this, and that...and this one too. You see, the procedure is...blah blah blah". And the list went on and on. At the end, we were forced to make a choice between adding up about 500€ to our budget (which we do not have!) if we insisted to go there or to change the route and top up the difference. If we decided to proceed, still there is no assurance we will get our visa. At last the decision is made, to change the route and go somewhere else.

Like shattered crystal into thousand pieces, I see my wish turn to thick white fog. What went wrong? At this point of time I really hate them. My closes friends know how upset I am. We discuss about the political policy, human behavior including why in many Hollywood movies most villains are Russian. I am not saying that one party is better than the other, that is subjective. The point now is, I am sad because my vacation plan to visit Russia is now back in wish list. Ay blini.

(Since I fail to get myself there) instead of blini with caviar, this is Russian blini with salmon.

My head is spinning

Tight schedule disallowed me to update my blog

I need to find flights for my vacation, yet no destination have been decided
( please help me to decide by voting at the poll corner---->)

I need to complete part 1 of my research, my SV is expecting it real soon but he said ,
    "Dress me slowly (because) I am in hurry"

Sale season is in now, waiting for the third cycle so I can get a real bargain on the long wool jacket

While I am squeezing all in one short moment, I envy my lil sis. She is finishing her exam in her second last cycle, and she is OFF for VACATION. How could her! Oye, don´t forget my thing aaaa...