so much to tell! milanese adventures and little bit of paris

ciao!  bonjour!  sorry to have been a negligent blogger... i've been busy!  last week was a really good week!  after classes tuesday, wednesday, and thursday, i devoted friday to sightseeing.  first, i walked up rue royale, home of some of the spiffiest shops. current windowshopping favorites include: massimo dutti, HERMES, and longchamp.  i nearly fainted out of love for the scarves at hermes.  then i was off to see the beautiful madeleine church for a little architecture amidst my visits to the haute couture boutiques.  then i took a lovely walk to the opera garnier, a spectacular building inside and out.  then, as has often happened during my almost two months in paris, i nearly tripped over something wonderful... galeries lafayette (paris's premier department store).  no, i did not go in, because the place is a complex, and i just wasn't ready yet.  but soon, i will be ready!  i walked some of the way home, passing palais royal as well.  saturday morning i was off to visit  my roommate brittany in milan.  upon arriving i was whisked away to the magnificent duomo and luini's for panzerotta (fried calzones).  after a stroll through the galleria (ciao, prada!), we went to the castle (similar to the ones in fairy tales).  then we went the the national cemetary, which was a spectacular sight to behold.  rows upons rows of sarcophagi and monuments to the wealthy milanese family awaited us with some truly spectacular architecture.  definitely a must see that could easily be overlooked!  thenm we were off to aperitivo for cocktails and snacks at the local cafe before making dinner (pasta, of course) and gong to a concert.  sunday, we woke up early to tour brittany's school, a wonderful cathedral and the couture shops of milan. thenm we found ourselves back at the duomo with some delicious sandwiches taking in the sight of children dressed up for carnevale and tourists photographing the magnificent building.  what an amazing trip!!  back in paris, i started off my day at place des vosges, looking at all the neat art shops and then was off the a macaron-making class.  the macarons were delicious, and i can't wait to make them again!  now until spriung break, i'm staying in paris, so there is much sightseeing to come!  check out my mobileme for milan pictures!  bisoux!