Actually been back home for a while now, but thought Milan definately deserves a mention! Stayed in a hostel for the first time (much to my mother's distaste) and it was fine - can't really complain for £15 per night! Used the metro to get into town each day, which was really easy and cheap. Pretty much passed the time walking round, drinking coffee, eating ice cream and looking in shops i couldn't afford :)

Didn't go in the cathedral, since i whorishly had my shoulders on display due to the 35 degree heat :0 shock-horror. But Palazzo del Duomo is nice and all the little streets that fan out from it are really nice! Also went and had a look at the castle and Parco Sempione, which were both nice.

Went to the Emporio Armani store, which is pretty impressive and definately worth a visit even if you don't buy anything!! Surprisingly, the shop assistnats didn't give us evils - for all they know we could be rich tourists! - No need to let on that we weren't :P Same for the Gucci cafe in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II (Huge ornate arcade in the shape of a cross with such shops as Prada and Louis Vuitton in it), which was no more expensive than the other cafés near the cathedral.

All in all - a great little trip! Must go back when i'm rich so i can go to the opera and actually buy things in all the amazing shops! :)