Our plans in Milan didn't include sight seeing because we couldn't get tickets in to see the painting of the Last Supper but Paulo called to say that he would take us on a quick drive to see a little bit of Milan. He tried to flatter his way inside to see the painting but that didn't work. So instead we found parking on the quiet Sunday morning and walked to go see the Duomo cathedral. It is the fourth largest cathedral in Europe, if I remember correctly. The square vas very empty because it was early but there were a few other tourists and some African men trying to get money out of them. They would put bird feed right in your hand so the pigeons come and land on your arm. I was taking pictures of this happening and then a man gave me some too. Unfortunately I had the camera and I think my mom was the only one who saw before the grains, and therefore the pigeons, were gone. Then the guy started tying a bracelet on my wrist, "where are you from? This is from Nigeria, like me." I told him that I didn't have any money but he insisted it was fine. It is a friendship bracelet. I kept saying that I didn't have money but then the bracelet was tied on my wrist. "This means you are my friend!"
Of course as I was walking away he asked for 2 euros.
I said I don't have it. He asked to see my money.
I said no.
This repeated a couple of times until he walked away, obviously disappointed that I wasn't a dumb tourist he can get money out of. Well too bad for him. He should learn NOT to approach every girl he sees and expect them to pay him for flattering words and a cheap bracelet. Honestly, of he had just offered nicely some of the grains to feed the birds (Mary Poppins style) for a little money I probably would have said yes. I'll do a lot of things for a good picture.
We also walked to see the Opera house, La Scala, which is across the street from a monument to Leonardo Da Vinci.
Walking back to the car through the downtown area, I noticed the cafés getting ready for the day and you can't miss the impressively large buckets of delicious gelato flavors, so colorful and SO tempting.
One more stop at the Castillo Sforzesco, an old castle fort. I was taking pictures of the fountain and the building while Dad walked went through the arch to get some pictures of his own. So, since I was almost by myself again, maybe you can guess what happened. A SECOND african man came up to me and YES, he put a bracelet on my wrist, even though I insisted that I wasn't going to pay him. This man was even more forward than the last. He claimed that this bracelet was for me because he Loved me. Oh yes. I'm sure he did.
All of the times on this trip that I have gotten similar attention from strange men, I always laugh inwardly at how my parents react. But it always just reminds me of my mission. I'm sure Elders get similar awkward moments, but I just don't think it will ever be the same as what sisters have to go through. I could almost confidently say that it happened every day. So its a good thing I don't get unsettled every time my parents walk away and I'm alone for a few minutes. And hey! Now I have TWO african bracelets for free. Hehe.
After we said goodbye to Paulo and checked out of our hotel we set back on the road out of Italy and into the south of France. For the first time, I finally had a view of the French Riviera, and the sun was shining brilliantly, though there were impressive looking clouds hanging over the land- it actually made for some interesting views. But we hoped to beat the clouds and not get caught in them.
We drove by the Monte Carlo casino and cruised down the small and medium Cornishes before lunch. When we got hungry we found a crêperie and enjoyed some very large and delicious savory crêpes, followed by two DELICIOUS dessert crêpes.
When we were driving on the Middle Cornishe we got some incredible pictures of the beautiful coast but when we started driving on the Grand Cornishe we were not fast enough to beat the clouds. We drove to the top of the ridge and marched through light rain to find an old roman monument, the Trophy of Augustus in La Turbie. Despite the rain, it was a beautiful area. I think the rain interrupted some fun Roman festival on the monument grounds. There were tents and people dressed as Romans galthering up their stuff. It would have been a very fun thing. But luckily, since it was raining, the woman just let us through the gate for free. yay!
We drove through Nice and headed a little north, away from the coast to a small place in Provence, called Avignon, where we are staying for the next 3 nights.
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