007 TRAVELERS: 007 Travel story: Milan (ITALY) 2015, day 3/3

In order to read our Italy 007 travel story from day one, click here.

Monday 3 August 2015

007 Travelers (Pirita, Mika and Little Agent Traveler) had breakfast at Da Vinci hotel´s restaurant. After that we checked out and took our luggage with us. There was still time before our flight back to Finland, so we wanted to see more Milan.

We took a taxi to Principe di Savoia, which is a Bond hotel in Piazza della Repubblica 17, in Bond book "James Bond, the Authorized Biography of 007" (1973). We took a snack and drinks at the awesome lobby of the hotel.

Mika / 007 Travelers

The balcony which explored in the book?

"During fairs that lasted four days he had a double room at Hotel Principe e Savoia. He liked that too. Hotel was stable and precious, bartender poured large doses and knew all rumours of the city. In the bar Bond met a girl, who saved his life. Girl's name was Melissa. She was English, recently divorced and was meeting his Italian lover in Milan. Man had to stay in Rome and girl was obviously lonely. Bond offered her dinner in one of the finest restaurants in Italy - Giannino, by Via Sciesa. They ate artichoke and osso buco alla milanese - and Bond spent a night with her. After grappa and gorgonzola it felt like a perfect ending for a perfect evening.

Lucky for them, they decided to go to Melissa's room. Around four o'clock in the morning there was an explosion in the hotel. Bond's double room was destroyed completely. Carabiniere told afterwards to Bond that the bomb was placed under his bed.

"Luckily I occasionally don't sleep in my own bed", Bond said.

Carabiniere laughed, but before Bond left Milan, he send a golden bracelet with warm thanks to girl. And in this case he thought, there would be a reason to send a bill to the section."

John Pearson: "James Bond, the Authorized Biography of 007"

After visiting Principe di Savoia, other Bond hotel was really close. This was Hotel Palace, which is located at Piazza della Repubblica 20. Bond and Fredericka (Flicka) von Grüsse stay there in John Gardner's book "Never Send Flowers" (1993). Bond also mentions Principe hotel in this context. He would have liked to stay there instead of Palace.

"So, when they reached the airport and turned in the BMW, she made another call, while Bond got them on to a flight to Milan.

'All set,' Flicka told him. 'We have a booking at the Palace.'

'Oh, you couldn't get us in at the Principe e Savoia?' The Palace in Milan is sister hotel to the Principe, and regarded mainly as a good, but no frills, hotel used by businessmen and provincials in town for one or two nights. The Palace was not noted for being an hotel of the grand school, but a resting place without luxury and with rooms designed in the utilitarian manner.

'I didn't even try the Principe,' she snapped. 'If you want kitsch, overdecorated five-star places, you can go and stay there on your own. Anyway, Bodo will know where to find us.'

'He's repaying your favour?'

'More, he's coming to see us. With information, I hope.'

He did not press for explanations. Already he had learned that Fredericka von Grüsse liked to do things her way, and she would tell him only when she was good and ready. Bond respected that, for he knew it mirrored his own attitude in arcane matters.

They arrived in Milan at a little after six in the evening, and by seven were settled into the Palace, amidst chrome and furnishing which were serviceable, though far from the luxury Bond would have preferred. However, the mini-bar was well stocked, and it was Flicka who suggested that they break out the champagne."

John Gardner: "Never Send Flowers" (1993)

After that we traveled to Milan Fair area: The Expo 2015 site is about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) northwest of Milan, in the municipalities of Rho and Pero, and covers an area of 1.1 km2 (0.42 sq mi).

EXPO MILANO 2015

Duration: 1 May - 31 October 2015
Tickets: 39 EUR / adult, 33 EUR / child