...I almost forgot the best part of the DAY!

...the best part of the day today is that I officially have an apartment! and where is it you ask? well you are looking at it. It is just a step away from the canal in the beautiful yellow building to the left on Via Paoli.  It is the most incredible location and I could not be happier! I will update with more pictures as soon as I move in:) 

Market on the Canal (aka my new home)

Ciao!  Today, September 25th is the last Sunday in the month of September.  This may not mean much to you, but to the Milanese it means the amazing Mercatone dell' Antiquariato sul Naviglio Grande (also know as the Best Flea Market Ever).  This market is set up along the beautiful Canal in the Porta Genova area and takes place the last Sunday of every month. I was incredibly inspired by everything I saw at the market.  It  had such a different feel from all of the flea markets that I have been to back in New York.  Milan is filled with so much history and I honestly believe that all of it can be discovered   at this incredible market.  Aside form the breathtaking display of vintage Prada, Valentino, Missoni and Gucci clothes, bags and shoes, the market was full of cultural trinkets and gadgets that I never would have expected... 

Hand-crafted and pained kitchenware

Antique buttons

Hand-woven Afghan textiles

Vintage telephones

A view of the market from a bridge

Antique instruments

Beautiful vintage chandeliers

Skulls, Renascence paintings, Vintage quill and ink 

Cinque Terre

Yesterday we went to the beautiful towns of Cinque Terre.  It was about a 3 hour drive south by bus.  Cinque terre literally means five lands and stands for five little towns hidden in hills overlooking the Mediterranean sea connected by hiking paths.  We took a bus to the first town of Monterosso, where we walked around and snapped some beautiful photos.  We then got on a ferry boat that took us to the second town of Vernazza.  This little town was home to Italy's most famous Focaccia bread and I have to say I agree; it practically melted in my mouth! Next, we took an hour and a half treacherous hike that i was not in any way prepared for.  We weaved up and down rocky mountain paths in 95 degree weather until we reached the town of Corniglia where we devoured a much needed gelato.  Seeing as we were a group of 13 fashion design students and not Olympic trainees we opted to hop on the train to the next town of Manarola.  Lastly we walked along the much shorter and more stable "love path" to the town of Riomaggiore.  The love path is breathtakingly scenic and filled with stories.  Couples take the walk along the love path which is lined with metal fencing.  They bring a lock with them and attach it to the fencing where they etch their names into the rock.  They then throw the key into the Sea sealing their love there forever.  Once we reached the final town we took a quick dip in the Mediterranean.  This was by far the most rewarding part of the experience.  It was a perfect day in one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen.  

 

FIRST DAY EXPLORING MILANO

I am utterly exhausted form the nearly 20 hours of travel, 5 hours of sleep, 6 hours of orientation meetings, and the 6 hours of walking around the beautiful city of Milan that made up what I feel safe to call the beginning to one of the best experiences of my life!  So, before I go and grab a much needed pizza with the group, I'll leave you with a couple of pictures from various parts of the city.  The last picture is of my small class of 13 in front of the breathtakingly magnificent Duomo in the center of Milan.  Did I mention that my residence is only 3 block from here! How lucky am I?