Sunday 26 September 2010

CathDaq Torino Market Report

After a couple of days of very sluggish trading on the CathDaq in Turni, Sunday has seen a surge in stocks.

Two nuns who were either members of the “Little Sisters of the Fabulously Well off” or the “Conventi di Bling” spotted with Gold crosses and Louis Vuitton handbags (are those standard garb issued by the Vatican I wander)

Then later in the day a very rare spot. A monk in full brown robes (complete with sandals, no socks), in the company of a lady, near the Capuchin Monastery. I’m assuming it was a female relation or friend...

Saturday 25 September 2010

What a difference a day makes....

...24 little hours. At 20:30 last night I was walking along the edge of the Piazza San Carlo trying to avoid getting soaked looking at a completely empty square.

Tonight, with the last of the evening sun having faded away, but the warmth still in the air, the square was heaving, with lots of people sitting at the cafe’s and restaurants, including me at a particularly pleasant (if slightly expensive) restaurant at the southern end.

This feels much more like Italy!

Would that be because of the Footballers strike?

I couldn’t help but notice that around 14:30 today there were van loads of police (of varying types) all over the city centre.

There didn’t appear to be any protests taking place, and I couldn’t spot any major event taking place.

Is it just possible that they would normally be out at the football stadium keeping the fans apart, but with all the top flight Italian footballers out on strike this weekend, and the entire fixture list cancelled they haven’t got anything to do.

But surely, you would then just cancel the overtime and tell them they don’t need to work...

Friday 24 September 2010

Thank you for the architecture

Turin is a grand city, full of arcades, piazza’s and squares.

However, on a particularly foul Friday night, I think it was the arcades that I found most interesting, or should that be useful.

It’s incredibly easy to get around the centre of Turin in a hefty downpour without getting absoultly soaked thanks to all the arcades. The only time you actually have to get wet is the short dash across a road on a green man.

Despite all the arcades it doesn’t stop the local street merchants trying to sell their wears, which tonight appeared to be exclusively umbrellas.

I can only assume that there is a warehouse somewhere on the outskirts of Turin which has weather appropriate items in store for the vendors (though it should be pointed out that I don’t think these are licensed by the Torinesi town fathers!) and that at some point this afternoon the cry went up, rain clouds coming, fetch the umbrellas.

Still, they appeared to be doing a brisk trade, which seamed a little pointless, given all the arcades.