First day in Milano

So we finally left Rome and headed to Milan. We arrived with no issues (although it was funny to watch Simon try and talk on the phone to the Italian manager of our unit to explain we had arrived). We are staying in a private unit in suburban Milan close to the main station. It is really lovely, off a little courtyard and everything. Plus we have a washing machine and full kitchen.
We decided we better head for Monza where the F1 track is so we could check out the pit lane walk. Catching the train to Monza was the easy part but once we got there it was pure shambles. Firstly there was no shuttle buses to the track as the racing doesn't start until today. But there was also no signs and a bunch of really confused tourists who were leading each other around like lost sheep. We befriended a British couple and decided to find a taxi. After walking past the taxi stand and being ignored by several taxis we eventually found the taxi stand and then a taxi. When we got to the Autodromo (yep that's what it is called!) it was chaos.
We followed the crowd and made it into the pit lane after walking for ages. And WOW. Now I am obviously not the F1 lover in this relationship but I got a whole appreciation for the passion people have for the F1 and it was addictive (and this was just the pit lane walk). Going down the pit lane was like walking through a massive mosh pit but add in tons of excited Italians, Germans and Poms all yelling in their respective languages. We finally pushed our way through to Webbers garage in the pit which was all the way down the end. Eventually they started moving people down so that the drivers could come out and wave etc. At this point I followed some people right down the end and managed to get on the wrong side of the barrier! Simons face when I waved to him from the wrong side was priceless. Simon then joined me on the wrong side of the barrier but by this stage security realised that hundreds off us were on the wrong side of the barrier and then pushed us out by making a police line.
Then as we moved out of the way Simon nearly got run over by a scooter, being driven by Lewis Hamilton (a British F1 driver who frequently pulls stunts like driving a scooter through the crowd on the pit lane). Simon was so shocked he didn't have time to even take a photo.
We then decided to try and work out how to get back to the train station, as there were no taxi's. We ran into our British friends from the start and thanks to google maps found a bus stop not too far from the Autodromo. However we did manage to get on the bus without buying tickets (oopps) but luckily the buses were so full no one noticed. After finally getting back to Milano (and seeing a train door broken by some people trying not to miss the train- note the train doors here actually stop if you grab them when they are closing!) we found a supermarket on our way home. This was a lot of fun and we were amazed at how cheap things were (Simon was also amazed that they sold beer in 3 packs not 6 packs). So we got ourselves a feast of salami, pesto, cheese and pasta and 2euro bottle of vino to go with it. We then headed back to our cute little unit to enjoy our feast! (and to get a good sleep so I can face the first day of time trials at the Autodromo!)