Turin

A day trip!  Instead of Pisa, why not Turin?  I thought I'd like to see this Shroud but it's not on display, which is perhaps a good thing as there are no unnecessary commercials in the vicinity of the cathedral and no crowds either, which would have been unbearable in the heat.

The train ride took two hours but was thankfully cool.  We left at 09.20 and arrived at 11.15, then took a cab to the cathedral straight away.  We'd both seen the documentaries on Nat Geo and now we can say we've seen the place where it's kept.  Or maybe it's not there right now?  No matter.

After the cathedral, we had a quick bite, then into the palace of the dukes of Savoie, whose descendants, it turns out, are still alive today and living in comfortable quarters not far from the palace.  The palace is now owned by the state, but I think it's more like on loan, as the family still have some say on how to exploit it, as it's obviously too large to live in anyway.  The interior is lavish, and even that is an understatement.  Were it not for its smaller size, it would rival Versailles in style and statement.  I consider it to be a bonus as I didn't know much about it at all.

Around 15.00, we were back at the station and by 15.55 our train left, punctually, and we were back in Milan by 17.45.  Another hot day, so the time spent inside anywhere is precious and cools down tempers and mellows moods.

Tried to get some work going on the cancellations and date changes but the hotel WiFi is down at the moment, which is frustrating.  Until that is done, both Nan and I will continue to be slightly on edge.