Milan

So the next day we headed up to Milan, Italy.  I didn't realize before when I was planning this trip that expo 2015 was going to be there.  David and I talked it over most of the ride about whether to go or not.  It is a one time thing so we decided to go ahead and do it.

Before we left Moneglia, I had to take a picture of this car.  Michael not only matches the color, but he is taller than the car!

It was quite a journey to get there, this was the second part of the trip heading in by train.

Don't my boys look so excited?!?

We finally made it to Expo 2015!!!  I was excited about it and the boys had no idea what it was going to be like.

It was a LONG walk from the train to the actual expo, but I thought this was cool.  They planted plants on the walls to keep the sun out.

The topic for this expo is Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life.  There are 140 different countries participating in Expo 2015.  This is a platform for the exchange of ideas and shared solutions on the theme of food, stimulating each country’s creativity and promoting innovation for a sustainable future, These are the food people.  They are the guardians of food and of fruits of agriculture become witnesses of nutrition and welcome visitors to the Expo.

It was amazing what they built just for the expo.  They brought in streams, huge buildings, escalators, elevators, shaded walking paths and so much more just for six months and then it gets taken down.

They had these set up all throughout the expo, this one was wine and grapes.

We headed into the Ireland one.  The boys found the information interesting and we all really love Ireland!

This is just to show you the lengths that the countries went to in building their exhibit.

I think this was the boys favorite country - Czech Republic because they had a pool.  I told them to try and not get too wet.

So we took off their shirts to they could get their head wet, it was a really hot day.

I think this was one of David's favorite places as well, sitting down, relaxing in the shade, drinking a good beer!

Then the boys ended up getting completely wet, all the way.  They had soooooo much fun and who was I to say no.  They played for quite awhile!

Michael decided to try and dry off a little bit before we headed off.

We didn't make it too far because David did find his favorite place - Belgian Beer!!!  He was so excited to get a really good beer!!!

And of course AJ had to get a Belgian waffle and Michael some french fries.

David enjoying his beer!

They had cool stuff all over the place.  Here Michael and David are furthering their education!

Michael said we should go into Brazil because the line was long and that meant it was good.   :-)

It was a pretty cool one, you walked over this net and of course my boys had to be monkeys!  :-)

On the inside they had all these different shapes and sizes of planters hanging from the ceiling.

Each country also had food from their own country for sale.

Look at these cute little pineapples!!!!

The boys in front of an Italy cow!!  They had these all of the expo.

This was a neat one, there was a movie playing down below and each tube was a different language.

The boys taking a little break at the relaxation station.  These were actually really, really soft.

This was only the front of Thailand - amazing!

Next we headed to the kids playground.  The first station they stood under the bell and smelled.

Then they had three different plants to choose from, to see which one they smelled.  They pushed a button to see if they were right.

This is what David was doing, and enjoying it!!  He was glad there was grass and shade there.

Here they had to catch water and then help water the plants.

The boys together weigh as much as 409 sea horses.

This is always fun, you are the tree and wherever you put your arms and legs it creates a new branch.

The boys riding bikes to power the water, I like this one because it is lots of energy and they don't go anywhere.  ;-)

They fish for a ball and find a message inside.

Then after they read the message they write one of their own and put it back into the balls.

Then off they go down the chute and then up and into the water for another child to find.

Here they were hopping from fruit to fruit!

This was the center and the tree of life.

I think we all agreed we like Germany the best.  They had these cardboard squares that when you put them over places they told you the information in your language.  It was so cool!!

Here the boys had to make their own wind power to try and make it to the finish line.

They had an umbrella that you pointed at a certain point and it showed different weather fronts.

AJ, my little vegetable!!!

This is the new solar panel, it is shaped like a tree and is much more cost effective and productive then the old square panels.

David checking out some information.

They had huge shopping carts going around the building, some had information about items you can purchase that are better for you than junk food.

And of course there was a McDonald's there.  David made the little guy and is trying to smile like him.

This is what I get when I come back from the bathroom.  I LOVE my boys!!!!!

Onto the United States of America!

As you can see their walls were made out of plants and they used these to cook the food everyday.

The top of the tree.

David enjoying the view, we were at the highest point that you can be in the Expo.

The boys checking out the crowds below.

Michael and David talking about all they are learning.

So I found out that Cirque du Soleil was performing there that night and I really wanted to go.  They are always amazing shows.  The only problem was that it started at 9 pm at night, so it was going to be a late one.  Luckily I have the best husband in the whole world and he agreed to let us go!

These guys were the comedians of the show.  They did such a great job!!  They spoke mostly Italian, but some English.  Thankfully the gentleman sitting next to us translated some of what they were saying.

AJ and one of the dancers during the show!!

Amazing feats of acrobats and check out the background, it changes as the scenes change.

These guys could dance and actually both boys want to do Hip Hop now because of them.

Look at the background now - they are all spices, etc.  These were the two main guys in the show. 

These ladies danced on bendy poles.  I have never seen it before, but they were really good and synchronized!

She is holding up him - that is some strength!!!

And again the background changed and the comedians were back!!!

This guy was jump roping on a bike!!!

Do you see the guys falling from the top?  They bounce right back up like it was nothing, going through the holes and right over the top to fall again!!!

A little closer view of him.

It was a FANTASTIC show!!!  We all LOVED it!!!!  The boys were enthralled the whole time!!!  After the show we started hiking it back to the train station.  By the time we arrived back to our hotel it was almost 1 am.  I decided that we weren't going to get up early and go sight seeing.  Then David and I talked about it and we decided to go ahead and skip Milan.  It would be a long trip to get to the city center and then walking around.  I think the boys were very glad about this.   They were getting done with all the sight seeing we were doing.