Fog. That was the first thing we experienced in Milan. Our plane touched down in a pea-souper straight out of Sherlock Holmes' London and I hear several later flights were forced to land elsewhere.

It was not just those coming directly to Milan who were subject to problems but others flying to other airports. One fan we spoke to was re-directed to Verona from Brescia and as there were no trains running, he was forced to get a somewhat expensive taxi.

Despite the fog most of what we could see of Milan looked impressive. Once we had checked into the hotel it was time to get used to the Metro. The main hassle with this was that you needed change to get a ticket and nowhere seemed to want to sell us one or give us change from our billion Lira notes. Eventually after a confusing dialogue in a pharmacy we managed to get the 1500 Lira necessary for the three of us to travel around for the next 75 minutes.

Car parking seems a major form of entertainment here and if anyone wants to make a swift few quintillion Lira or so there is definitely a gap in the market for a wheelclamping operation. Cars are parked everywhere, on the path, in the road, on zebra crossings, any piece of ground where a car can fit is filled with at least one car.

The scooters are another notable element of Milanese road furniture. Well, not just of the roads as some seem to drive them on the pavements too. There are an awful lot of them too, a bit like Southend seafront on a Bank Holiday weekend.

Some of the scooters even have a roof, which does tend to beg the question why their riders don't go the whole hog and get a car.

The Duomo (cathedral) is impressive. We walked up the steps of the Metro, appearing right beside it and were a touch awestruck. It is huge and has such incredible detail. The Piazza in front of it is large and currently has a temporary stage erected in it, presumably for tomorrow which is a public holiday and when there is a carnival in the city.

From there we wandered down Via Torino and found a restaurant where we had our meals; pasta and pizzas, well, when in Rome... The meals were cheap by English standards as was the wine, while one of the waiters sang 'Liverpool' under his breath every time he walked by us.

From there it was for a further look around and meetings with several other groups of Town fans doing much the same. Simon Milton, who had apparently already made a huge impression on the Milanese fashion houses with his golf jumper, was amongst one group we met, off looking for another bar where the evening's entertainment could continue.

Many Town fans spent time in the bars around Porta Garibaldi, an area of the city made entirely from biscuit. Other centres for entertainment were the area around the canals in the south of Milan and the Rob Roy bar.

So far today we've been off to the San Siro and taken the tour. It is as fine a stadium as you'll see and TV doesn't really do it justice. The towers with the spiral walkways are fantastic. A long way from Elm Park, Reading, Vale Park, Port Vale and all those other grounds we were used to visiting a few years back.

Inside it is just as impressive and noted that the 'Executive Area' even had TVs set into the seat in front in case the game got a little boring. Would have quite liked that at Portman Road during a few games this season.

Into the dressing rooms where we took a look at the tactics board and looked around for a pen to make some confusing changes to their approach this evening. In truth the dressing rooms were not that impressive with toilets of the less than hygienic variety. Also there were only two treatment tables, which is surely not enough for an injury ravaged side like ourselves.

There is a museum of both Inter and Milan's history with an array of shirts of opposition stars who have played there in the past. Presumably there'll be a new blue and white addition later this evening.

Now we're off for a bit of lunch and then back to the Duomo to get a look at it in the daylight and without any fog. Then we might nip off to Piazzale Loreto, the square where in 1945 Mussolini and his mistress were strung from lampposts by their feet after being shot.

Then it's back to the San Siro for the trip's main event...

Photo: Action Images

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