You can't spit in Torino without hitting a pizzeria, or in any other Italian city for that matter. So new ones opening up often try be different in some way, while still offering the same pizzas everybody else has. This latest pizzeria we went to was called Strabiglia and was more 'upscale'. The chandeliers looked like jellyfish and the appetizers were more posh.
My appetizer consisted of a warm dish of calamari baked with a butter and herb crusty bread crumb topping. In the center was a piece of cabbage wrapped around a salty molten cream cheese.
Instead of pizza I had a calzone stuffed with mozzarella, prosciutto, and ricotta. You might think that ricotta is an odd stuffing for a calzone but don't knock it till you tried it, it really works.
There was more dancing in my piazza today but this time it was Tango lessons. Anyone off the street could join in, but I decided to just take photos. However, I did pocket some good pointers, after all it's not everyday you receive a surprise free tango lesson.
It was a lovely spring day in Torino and Jolie and I were walking past the Egyptian Museum when we came upon some street musicians. Now, there is no shortage of street performers in Torino. On any one day you might find an assortment of gypsy accordion players, white and gold painted statues, puppeteers, a two man band, a troupe of tightrope walkers, and one old man with a dog and a violin. All of these performers are worth checking out but this time Jolie and I had to not just watch to also take a bit of video because these musicians had some very interesting song choices.
Pier tells me that this would only happen in Italy but you have to watch this video of a classical concert that took place in Rome last month in the Pantheon. Normally the Pantheon closes to tourists at 6pm. In this case the concert was still going with the singers singing their second to last song. When 6pm came the employees turned off the lights and stopped the concert saying in both English and in Italian that "the Pantheon is now closed". Stunned the singers told her, the employee, that they had only one song left and she didn't go for it and shut them down. The musicians try to go ahead and finish but it didn't work. At this point the audience revolted and started yelling obscenities at the women like "shame on you!" and "brava bitch". Watch the whole thing unfold in this YouTube vid. It's like a soap opera.
Follow up news: When the mayor of Rome heard about what happened, the 2 employees who shut down the concert were removed from employment at the Pantheon and asked to work elsewhere. Brava bitch!
Over the weekend there was a costume dance demonstration in my piazza. They did the waltz and several other victorian dances. It was so fun to watch and it made me want to join the historical costume society.
Some of the onlookers wanted to join in on the dancing, even if it seemed that they were dancing to their own tune.
This blog is about all the weird and wonderful things about living in Italy. This includes the big as well as the little things. Take spinich for example. Here, frozen spinich comes in cubes. It makes me laugh every time I look at it. It's the little things that amuse me. Picasso would love this, Cubist Vegetables.
Many people don't know that Kobe Bryant speaks perfect Italian. When Kobe was 6 years old his family moved to Italy when his father, Joe Bryant, played professional basketball there. For this reason Kobe does alot of Italian press interviews which has made Italians love him. Kobe learned to speak Italian and Spanish. He returned to the US for High School. Here is and example, with translation, of and interview. I'm in awe.
Most of you know that I'm a vintage girl. This often includes my taste in music, as I was raised on my Dad's LP's which included every Beatle album and every single artist that played at Woodstock. I love to go further back as well to the 50's and early 60's swoners that made women faint at the first note of their smooth voices. They had their fair share of swooners in Italy as well which I'm having a fun time discovering. Tony Renis was one of these men. His song Quando Quando Quando is a song that every Italian knows every word to no matter how old you are. It has been covered by every famous Italian singer and even several American ones, and I have discovered that if I ever want to be be assimilated in this country, I better get to know the words as well.
Tony sings his song live in an Italian film called Appuntamento In Riviera (above poster 1962).
Listen to the song here:
Translation:
Tell me when will you be mine
Tell me quando quando quando
We can share a love devine
Please don't make me wait again
When will you say yes to me
Tell me quando quando quando
You mean happiness to me
Oh my lover tell me when
Every moments a day
Every day seems a lifetime
Let me show you the way
To a joy beyond compare
I can't wait a moment more
Tell me quando quando quando
Say its me that you adore
And then darling tell me when
Every moments a day
Every day seems a lifetime
Let me show you the way
To a joy beyond compare
I can't wait a moment more
Tell me quando quando quando
Say its me that you adore
And then darling tell me when
Whoa lover tell me when
Oh darling tell me when
Oh come on tell me when
Yea tell me when
This weekend is especially good for flea market shopping. Starting with the Extravaganza today and tomorrow, my favorite, the One Day Market which takes place at the FIAT factory.
My neighborhood had a small chocolate festival over the weekend and even though it snowed all day Sunday, we braved the weather to check out the artisans gorgeous treats.
Finally after 14 days, 4 visits from the repair man, 6 fires in the fireplace, sleeping with 3 sweaters on, and 10 bucket showers, with out heat or hot water, we now have heat again! Thanks for all you well wishes as me and Jolie blogged from under the covers!
Lesson learned: There is nothing better than a warm home.
Found on the streets of Torino, the smallest office in the world. This man was hard at work inside his tiny shop stall. Surrounding him in the display cases were antiques of a most delicate nature, antique car ads, nazi memorabilia, and victorian porn.
And all the way back there is the front door to this private residence. Isn't it beautiful? Just goes to show that in the middle of the city you never know what gems lie behind closed doors. I found the door open just by walking by one day headed to the post office. This door is not often open so I was glad that I had my camera with me. Now, if this is how pretty the entrance is , I wonder what the inside looks like?
Yesterday was Immigrant Rights Day in Torino. Some supporters stopped me in the street and gave me a yellow ribbon in support if immigrants coming to Itay. As I am one, I wore it proudly, after all without immigrants there may not be any pasta in Italy.*
(*Many historians believe that pasta came to Italy by way of China )
