the truffles started growing in mexico!

Okay, now that would just be silly and highly unlikely considering the differing climates that the two places have. So, no the truffles are not growing in Mexico but that is just a glimpse into how my Sunday turned out.

We woke up early Sunday morning to try and make the 7:15am train out of Milan. (By early, I mean I woke up at like 5:30am.) We missed the first tram by mere seconds and had to wait about 10 minutes in the freezing cold (40 degrees F) until the next one came. We waited, and waited. Once we got to the metro stop, we ended up sitting on the subway for 5 minutes. (Who knows why.) So again...we waited. Realizing what time it was, we decided it was highly unlikely that we would actually get there in time, but decided to try it out anyways. Once we got to the train station it was 7:10am. No way were we going to make it. We hadn't even bought our tickets yet. So instead we looked to see when the next train was: 11am but wouldn't get in till after 1pm. Totally not worth it. I would spend more time on the train then actually there. As you can see, Italian transportation is not that efficient. Actually nothing in Italy is that efficient. They enjoy a leisure pace where time doesn't really matter.

Deciding that I was hungry and needed to eat became our next mission. That was until we realized that it is Sunday and everything is either closed on Sundays or doesn't open till later. What were supposed to do for these next few hours?

Going to our central point (but not at all central to the city) of the Duomo, we thought to look around there. It was dead. I have never seen that piazza so bare. Then again I've never been there at the butt-crack of dawn on a Sunday. With no other options, we entered the Duomo. Neither of us had been inside before and we figured it would warm us up as well as provide something to do. Everyone was heading to the back so we started following them. We saw a "No Tourist" sign and questioned continuing. However, after little to no deliberation we decided that we weren't tourists (technically) so if they can go in, then why can't we? We ended up at mass spoken in straight up Italian. Even though I'm a cradle Catholic, I still had to follow the nun who was a few rows ahead of me (until she bolted before mass ended, tsk-tsk) because I was slightly unsure about what they were saying. Now if they said it in Latin, I would probably be able to follow along a little bit better which is weird...cause I don't know Latin. Anyways, we decided that our mothers would be so proud of what we had accomplished so far. (And it was only 9am! It's like we couldn't be stopped.)

I want to say we went on the rest of the day doing great things for people and seeing amazing things but I'd be lying. The only amazing thing I learned was that yes, you CAN buy wine at 9:30am on a Sunday. Way to go, Italy. 384 points for you! (I have been slacking in the points distribution. Apologies to both sides.)

Oh, now about Mexico. We decided that since we hadn't done anything all weekend we should go to a real restaurant and see what Milan has to offer. So naturally we picked a Mexican restaurant. It was so good. And so worth it. Words can not suffice. I did go into a food coma after. It reminded me of Thanksgiving (except we never have Mexican food there...so the resemblance is just about the food coma).

In more exciting news, they haven't turned on our heating yet. Right now, its 52 degrees F. At night it gets down to the 40s. We asked them and they said they will turn it on "soon". "Soon" in Italy means a few weeks. At least in a few days, I will be in a real place where heating exists. Last night, I slept with gloves on and double layers. I am convinced that our room is way colder than everyone else's. It feels like I am basically standing outside, but I am in fact still inside. Ah, well. Such is life. Crazy, Italians. I am still deducting all the points I just gave you. Okay, okay. I'll only do half of them.

I get to see my family soon! I don't remember the last time my entire family did something together. Well, I guess Mark will be there too. For the time, he can be part of the family as well. I am sure they won't mind.

Ciao, ciao!