In the previous episode, we explored the breathtaking beauty of the Duomo cathedral.

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This morning, we packed our bags as usual. Our destination today is Varenna, a lakeside town. We plan to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and its Gothic architecture for a day or two and immerse ourselves in nature. After several days of sightseeing, we were concerned that we might be indulging our assistant tour leader, Little Mouse, a little too much. We wanted to give our young female tourists, like Sud, and our young male chef, like Pa, the opportunity to take selfies with the trees and grass, creating a romantic atmosphere that would make their hearts flutter.

The journey to Varenna takes about an hour by suburban train. Our tour leader advised us that advance tickets were unnecessary as trains run frequently throughout the day. We leisurely checked out of our accommodation, leaving the key with Silvia as arranged, and strolled to the nearby train station with our luggage. Arriving around 9:00 am, we planned to browse the station shops for souvenirs, having spent several days across multiple countries without acquiring any. This tour presented a challenge in this regard, as the tour leader and assistant prioritized sightseeing over shopping, rarely allocating dedicated shopping time. The exception was grocery shopping for ingredients, which we did almost daily. Those considering this tour should be aware that we prioritize sightseeing over shopping.

Upon arriving at Milano Centrale station, we were awestruck by the sheer abundance of art and architecture. It seemed as though every inch of Italy was adorned with sculptures, paintings, and other artistic embellishments. From walls and ceilings to columns, doors, and floors, there was hardly a surface left untouched by the hand of an artist. The sheer ubiquity of art in Italy is a testament to its rich cultural heritage and artistic legacy.

Due to the lack of advance booking, we missed the opportunity to catch an earlier train. When we purchased tickets at the automated kiosk and selected our desired departure time, we discovered that the earliest available train was scheduled for 12:10 PM. This meant that we had to wait for almost two hours before the train's departure.

As a hyperactive traveler, I, Nulek, couldn't bear to sit still for two hours. I had to do something about this situation, Big Brother. I couldn't sit still in the train station for that long. At the very least, I had to find somewhere to walk around. I invited Big Brother to join me, but he said he wanted to walk around the shops in the station instead. I didn't think any of the other three tour members would be interested in going on a tour with me, either. As soon as we entered Milano Centrale and saw the Free Wifi sign, they were glued to their screens. With that, my solo adventure in Milan began.

The elder brother handed a train ticket to the younger sister for safekeeping. If they were to be separated while boarding the train, they would meet at the final destination. The train ticket was for a second-class carriage with no reserved seating. The elder brother assured the younger sister that he would take care of their luggage. The younger sister felt a pang of sadness upon hearing this, as they had always traveled together and rarely been apart. The thought of being separated on this trip filled her with a sense of emptiness. This was not their home country, and they were venturing into unfamiliar territory. In addition to being responsible for themselves, they also had to look after the three tourists they had brought along. If the younger sister got separated from the group, it would mean that the elder brother would have to take care of all three people on his own, which was not ideal. However, the younger sister, being an adventurous spirit, was confident in her ability to handle any situation. She took the train ticket to put the elder brother's mind at ease and set off on her two-hour adventure in Milan, determined to achieve her goal.

To ensure the success of this mission, I opted for the subway from Milano Centrale station to Duomo station, a familiar route that would allow for a swift return journey. This also presented an opportunity to bid farewell to a cherished landmark before our departure, unsure of when, or if, we would ever cross paths again.

Emerging from the subway station, the Duomo cathedral stood out against the clear blue sky and bright sunshine. I decided to explore a different route, one I hadn't seen before. This is one of the advantages of traveling alone: the freedom to follow your own whims. If I were to make others follow my itinerary all the time, they might get bored.

The Piazza dei Mercanti is home to two historic buildings. The first, the Palazzo della Ragione (Palace of Reason), served as the administrative center of Milan in ancient times. Its intricate carvings and sculptures are a testament to its rich history. The second building, which we will visit on our return, stands nearby.

หนูเล็ก's goal was to walk to the pedestrian street called Via Dante. It wasn't very lively at that time, but she just wanted to see the atmosphere. This street is lined with shops on both sides, and locals and tourists alike come here to shop. Perhaps because it was still quite early, the street was not very busy. There were only a few customers sitting at the tables in the restaurants. หนูเล็ก walked to the end of the street and then turned back, taking pictures of the beautiful places and the way of life of the people along the way. She didn't forget to keep an eye on her watch so that she wouldn't miss her train back to the station.

After calculating the travel time to Milano Centrale, there was about half an hour left. I walked back to Piazza dei Mercandi. There was one more building that I hadn't seen yet, the Palazzo dei Giureconsulti. This building is also from the Middle Ages or the 16th century. The building that has been preserved with a modern look is the bell tower, which is called Zavataria. However, the bell was later replaced by a clock, as shown in the picture I took. This place was also bombed during World War II, but it was restored to its former glory and various modern features were added. After the renovation, the name was changed to Palazzo Affari, but most people still prefer the old name.

After admiring the beauty of this place, I emerged onto the Piazza del Duomo. I took one last look at the magnificent cathedral before saying goodbye. The image of its grandeur will remain etched in my memory for a long time. Bidding farewell, I descended into the subway and caught a train back to the train station. I arrived at my destination at 11:45 a.m. and bumped into my older brother, who was just heading to the bathroom.

Glancing up at the platform announcement board, the train we were to take to Varenna had yet to be assigned a platform number. This gave Little Mouse a moment to rest her weary legs.

This review lacks comprehensive information, as it does not cover the activities of Big Brother and the other three members during Little Mouse's adventure in Milan. Similarly, Big Brother and the members only learned about Little Mouse's whereabouts today, when this review was published. Little Mouse's secret is now revealed.

After a while, it's time to set off for Varenna, as the title suggests. Just wait for the train to arrive at the platform. Let's embark on this journey together.

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