The photos shared in this blog are dated back to June 2015 and serves as a loving memory for many reasons. The first being it was the first time my sister and I travelled together alone to visit relatives in Milan. The second being that it was a trip where we went to pick up our grandma after having stayed there for a couple of weeks. Our emotions were ambivalent. We were so excited to see our grandma again and seeing relatives whom we haven’t seen since we were kids. Yet, anxious and hoping shyness doesn’t take over in any reintroductions and interactions with extended family. I say this candidly because I wish back then that my timidness wasn’t seen as a weakness but as a way to show that I care and just didn’t know how to circumvent it. Now that I can use this platform to openly express that there can be instances when I can be shy, I think that I always tackle this head on to proactively work towards comfortability. If there is any lesson that my grandma taught me is that the family she raised and nurtured follows one of accomplished supportive honorifics. Respecting with confidence. With that said, there was lots that we planned to do in Italy alongside our family and we were all ready to go! Here’s what we did!
Boarded the train from Milan Central Station to Venice with a group of beloved family
Ventured the narrow streets, observed a fascinating network of canals, and saw The Basilica di San Marco
And ate carbonara at a restaurant located by the Piazzo San Marco
Grabbed Gelato back in Milan with enthusiastic cousins before strolling around the neighborhood
Made our way to the Piazza del Duomo where we observed the famous cathedral and browsed famous designer and retail stores at La Rinascente
Visited the smallest country in the world, The Vatican City
Spent a full day of exploration in Rome visiting the must-see landmarks such as Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, The Colosseum, Victorio Emanuele II Monument and The Pantheon
Rode the Milan Trams to grab some cappucino and freshly made sweets and pastries!
Played a few games of bowling with family before eating some delicious sushi
Spent a Friday evening enjoying patio season in the summer heat and taking the patio party with us to the streets
Showed up at Juliet’s Balcony before exploring the sweet streets of fair Verona
Drove to the beautiful aquamarine waters of Lake Como in Northern Italy
And finished up the trip visiting other popular areas including the Piazza Gino Valle
For Inang