STILL IN MILANO….

where they eat with stylish simplicity.
This was a starter of fresh, raw artichoke - dressed with good oil, lemon juice, a little seasoning - and topped with shavings of a hard and salty cheese.  That's all.

I even know the Italian word to describe it:  perfetto.

IN MILANO….

they take their shoes seriously…

Here are some heels by Dolce & Gabbana - crammed into a case lined with decadent scarlet satin. 
I imagined what kind of man might buy them (vampire? fetishist?) and take them on a midnight visit to his mistress...

And in case you're wondering - I'm using all this as valid *research* for the Milanese hero I am currently creating.  He is going to be as spectacular as the city in which he dwells!

WHERE AM I?

I've just come back from an amazing city….

which has a spectacular Gothic cathedral (the fourth largest in the world).  Here is a photo of it  soaring upwards towards the skies….

Known for its delicious risotto, it is the fashion capital of the world.  It's also the capital of Lombardy and will host the Universal Exposition in 2015.  Have you guessed yet?

I'll tell you more about my trip when I have better internet access - at the moment the signal is dipping and dying - probably because I am in the middle of a beautiful wood, beside a lake (and beneath a tree).