Sunday.

Our last day in Milan arrived too early. Just like the blister that had arrived on my foot the day before. I was sore, but I wasn’t sunburned, so it’s the little things that I count as victories. After another filling breakfast, we packed our backpacks (that’s all we took) and walked the few blocks to the train station. Our friends met us there, and we decided a city tour by bus was a comfortable way to spend the morning before we caught our train and they caught their plane.

The tour was nice, they give you cheap little ear buds that you plug into the bus seat, and then you can choose your language to here the audio guide. It is also a hop on/hop off tour, so at any of the 13 stops, you can get explore then catch the next bus. We only hopped off at one stop, Sforza Castle. You can read all about it here.

Ignore that tourist in my photo. He wasn’t with us. I have to admit, I was suffering from tourism overload and didn’t take as many pictures as I should have. But they did have a cat colony living in the (former) moat! It was a great game of ‘find the kitties’ as we walked around the grounds.

Following a fairly quick look around, we had to catch the next tour bus back to the train station. Paul and I were scheduled on the 2:45pm high speed rail back to Bassano del Grappa. Our friends didn’t have to catch their flight until later, but they did have to catch a bus at the station (it doubles as a bus terminal) and go back to the airport. We enjoyed one last beer (and a soda for me) at the station before saying ‘arrivederci’ to our British pals. The ride back home was uneventful, we napped mostly, but what else do you do when your train is cruising along at 300kmph? #SoooSmooth You’d never know you were even moving, it’s that nice a ride.

It’s taken a few days for the blister and the soreness to subside, but of course it was worth it. The freedom of grabbing your backpack, hopping a train to a new place, and just wandering around, is beyond priceless. And while Paul and I would go explore anyway, like we did this time last year in Rome, it was so much better with friends. The people I have met through Diesel Bear have all been amazing, both online and in person. I wouldn’t trade any of them for the world.

Arrivederci!