My Expo passport

During our stay at Expo 2015, we collected stamps for a souvenir passport. It is an activity probably intended for children, but we wanted to get in on the fun, too.

For a list of the countries, see the Expo website. If you can't see the slideshow below, click through.

I was a guest

The Alitalia and Etihad Expo pavilion hosts a cooking show, The Imagination Lounge, three times a day, demonstrating the cuisine available on the business class flights.

We missed it the first time we stopped, but they were filming when we returned for my companions to try the Boeing 737 flight simulator over Naples. But that is another story.

The video is a mixture of Italian and English. It is obvious that the hosts, Francesca and Enrico, are having fun. Pietro(?), the chocolate chef from Modica, Sicily, is trying hard to get his creation demonstrated. Marco comes in and out later. From what I understood, their boss was viewing the taping and "Tomorrow fired!".

I have noted noted some interesting points:
3:05 My husband tries to cross under the camera.
13:00 I am called up and appear with the toque which is put on various heads through the episode.
13:34 "I love chocolate!"
15:14 Francesca and I are tasting from the bowl.
17:55 "Our guest want to beat our seeds."
19:05 "First of all...", when I use the wrong end of the pestle.
20:30 "Thank you, madam."
24:10 A description of what makes Modica chocolate special.
28:30 "Amazing plate for our amazing guest"
29:25 "Back for the best!"

There is an addictive streaming channel, if you want more.

My room has the scent of Salvatore Ferragamo

We are home and now reliving the memories as we unpack. My wardrobe did well. I didn't have to worry. I knew it would be hot and it was. We made it through with easy laundry options along the way. The Singapore Airbnb apartment had a machine and drying rack on the balcony. The B&B hostess in Italy offered to launder piecework. We took her up by the load - wash, dry and folded for 8 €, almost $9. It was worth it not to give up an afternoon to haul it to a laundromat. We did four loads during our twelve day stay, counting down the days in clean pairs of underwear. 

Everything in my suitcase was not just dirty but also sweaty from the record heatwave in Italy. I guess there was a clean long sleeve T-shirt that I didn't need to wear on the plane. But it was easy to unpack and dump it all down the clothes shoot.

We picked up things along the way, including some airline swag. My son was passionate to book our reward flights in first class - three one-way trips around the world. The last leg was changed days while we were in Italy, as flights opened up.  We flew Asiana, Thai and Lufthansa first class, trans-oceanic flights.

The swag is over the top. It's not just a small pouch with eye shades, ear plugs and socks. I unpacked three designer sets of pajamas to add to the laundry. Then I tackled the zip-lock bag of liquids, now brimming with lotions, shampoos, cremes collected from our travels. I was careful pulling it out because sometimes leaks occur. I didn't notice anything damp, but the smell was delightful. As I came to the bottom, I found the perfume bottle had popped it's lid and the Salvatore Ferragamo had pored out and evaporated over the contents of the bag.

My room now has the scent of Salvatore Ferragamo.

What I left behind

We didn't get to the Expo until later in the afternoon. 

We spent the morning packing and running around to ATM machines to get the cash needed to pay the B&B bill. We had lunch at the local restaurant, Speedy's, returning for our fourth or fifth time during our twelve night stay. 

Once we got to the grounds, there were several things we wanted to do. We wanted to get stamps at Columbia, Uruguay and Equador. Funny how they were all South American. Uruguay was added to the now long list of countries where my husband would like to retire.

My husband didn't have a clean shirt for the trip home. He wanted something more dignified than a T-shirt. After visiting many pavilion gift shops, he decided on the embroidered shirt from Equador.  

My son wanted to get some exotic Italian chocolate for his friend. He chose two different bars, chili and lemon, from Modica, Sicily, the location where chocolate was born in Italy. 

I had picked up souvenirs earlier. I have a Foody Expo magnet to add to our refrigerator. I also picked up spicy Hungarian paprika to make goulash suppe. The sweet clerk at the Hungarian pavilion gave me an beautiful carved wooden pen. I also received a hand-made pin from Guatemala because I knew of the quetzal, the national bird and the name of the currency.  

I prefer bringing home little things, useful things like the white linen Tilley hat I bought five years ago in Perth, Australia. I wore it this whole trip. The weather was hot and the nice wide was perfect. I commented several times that it was showing it's age, wearing around the edge of the brim and dis-colored from the sweat at the ventilation grommets. 

As we collected our things after a fish-and-chips and beer stop atop the U.K. pavilion, I realized I didn't have it. Was it kicked or blown off the balcony? Did I leave it on a bench somewhere?

I started to retrace my steps, but quickly realized that it was unlikely that I would recover it.

I looked back at the Decumano, the main street, now filled with lights and people, I realized it was OK. 

We had a good trip. I left my hat behind. Something useful, that I loved, would remain.

A big Expo day

We are now trying to get to major pavilions, before the lines get long. 

We accomplished a lot yesterday.

We were at the Italian pavilion which is at the far end of the grounds, soon after opening. While waiting in line, we were lucky to see part of the Tree of Life show: music, dancing waters, lights and flowers. 

We had lunch at the Swiss restaurant. I splurged on dark chocolate mousse for dessert. 

We hit the Germany, Japan, Azerbaiian, and Ireland pavilions, with dinner in Romania. 

I am writing this at lunch on top of the UK pavilion after we did Kazakhstan, which is hosting Expo 2017, first thing this morning. 

I have filled 23 pages in the Expo passport book. Just a nook and cranny here and there left open. 

The train to Stresa

We decided to take a day trip up to the lake country. It is a cooler day and we are riding on the upper level of a car without air conditioning. We are comfortable.

I just finished a kebab sandwich that I picked up in Busto Arsizio during a layover between the suburban train out of the Milan area and this regional train. 

I can see mountains across the valley. 

Now I see the lake. 

We have another 20 minutes until we get to Stresa. 

Angola

I loved the Angola pavilion. The tree has stories of women. 

Bigatt

We are staying at a two room B&B that celebrates the region's history of silk production. "Bigatt" is a silk cocoon. Our hostess, Laura, loves design and has decorated with many beautiful objects and paintings having to to with textiles. 

Notice the small crank machine from the Soviet Union. She once had guests and couldn't find a common language to communicate. But they were able to demonstrate on a napkin that the machine did make a stitch even still.

Rope net at the Brazilian pavilion

It was a hard trek up the net. 

I was determined not to sink to my knees for fear I would never get back up. 

I was laughing hard by the time I got to the top. I remembered 30.5 year ago, the day my beloved asked me to marry him, on top of the Santa Fe ski area. I had fallen out of the ruts on the rope tow. The only thing I could do was crawl on my hands and knees until I got to a run to ski back down the hill. I was so glad my intended didn't witness my frailty. 

I was able to stay on my feet this day and my companions, both beloved, did not have to rescue me. 

Tickets

We are applying the 2-day passes towards a season pass. My son used his Swiss student visa to get a student pass.  

EXPO 2015!!!!

Had to stop in Monaco for a refreshment

With music from the dancers at the Qatar pavilion floating across the esplanade.

Useful stations

Water and waste. Note that you can get either still or sparkling water to refill your bottle. 

Stamps in our passport

We ate our way around the world. Brunch in Switzerland. Lunch in Mexico. Coffee and dessert in Hungary. Dinner in Italy. I watched a chocolate demonstration from Sicily while my companions headed over to get samosas in Bangladesh. 

We are getting stamps, even at places where we don't eat. 

Expo Day 2

We have our routine figured out now. We take the S5 two stops. My companions are hiding in the shade. 

Train from Turin

The train was the red nose, I.e. fast service, to Rome. We were on it only an hour. We were afraid the snack cart wouldn't make it to our back of the car seats before we had to get off. But they made it. We were able to get a beverage and the choice of a sweet or salty snack. 

We got off at the Expo station and transferred to a local train, two stops to Vanzago. Our B&B is in the small suburb - so small that there were only two restaurants the host recommended. The better one was closed on Sunday. 

View from our bed, early Sunday morning

SG 50

Celebration is building for the 50th anniversary of the founding of Singapore in August. This topiary with the soldier defined by flowers is in the airport, honoring the 50th anniversary of the army. 

Ramadan

It is close to the end of Ramadan. There were signs of impending celebration in Singapore. 

It's the little things you find along the way

My husband found this pencil case at the Japenese bookstore branch in Singapore. 

It is a perfect souvenir on so many levels. 

Textile tourism

We hit a few markets full of fabric, bling and zippers. 

The YKK sign may not mean that much to you. Let's try a simple survey: if you are wearing a garment with a zipper, is it branded on the pull "YKK"?

Raffles

We had a lovely walk through the Raffles Hotel, a Singapore institution. Maybe I'll take up Singapore Slings. 

The Colemans on Coleman bridge

So cousin George built a bridge in Singapore. 

National Orchid Garden

I didn't try to take pictures of all the beautiful orchids. You have to go visit. 

The ginger garden

We walked through the Botanic Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

My husband wants to sketch. My son is contemplating things unknown to me. 

Our home-away-from-home

The view of the hall from the kitchen to the door. I am excited to try the Quiet washer/dryer combo to keep my limited travel wardrobe fresh. 

We are willing to follow all the rules of the house.