Time To Turn Over, 2013

A year of disappointments, desperation, chaos....Italy and others, let's make 2013 a year to turn over.

Circo Vertigo Carillon - Dragon

Another set of the Circo Vertigo Carillon. with the theme of dragon. The performance was excellent, the show was entertaining and beautifully executed.
I was surprised to realize that the performers are all so young, yet so professional.
The final show will be on the 6th of January 2013, I want to be there again to watch!

A Foggy Cold Day - Statues

It was foggy, cold and humid, a walk along the almost deserted river bank, caught sight of the statues of ponte Umberto I through the leafless bushes. From a certain angle, it seems like the two figures cleaning branches in a bush.

Opposite

Another scene of the Circo Vertigo Carillon, there will be another performance on the 29th of December with the theme of dragon, hope I won't miss it....

Santa Crossing

Part of the Circo Vertigo Carillon show at piazza Castello, a rope crossing Santa Claus....

Circo Vertigo Carillon

A spectacular living Carillon in the heart of Piazza Castello, to celebrate the festa of Christmas. The acrobatic artists of Cirko Vertigo hanging in mid air, bring amazement, excitement and wonder to the audiences, performing aerial choreography by concatenating the circle, fabrics, rope and trapeze. Meanwhile, the light-hearted Vertigo Brass Band, accompanied by three-wheeled bicycles, animates the carousel on the ground with cult songs rearranged for the occasion.

Santa Claus

This Santa Claus has been hanging there since few weeks ago, Christmas is soon over, is time for him to come down and rest for the rest of the time till next December. Bye bye, Santa!

Once during Christmas season, these Santas could be seen all over the places, now there are just a few hanging here and there on some balconies or windows. Even Santa is affected by the crisis....

Calendario Dell’Avvento

The giant Calender of Advent was elected at Piazza Castello in December.
Every evening the firefighters opened the window of the Advent calendar by creating a little show for the audience of children and adults present in the square.

Last Leaves Hanging

Last leaves hanging on the branches, soon the remaining last color, last beauty of autumn will say goodbye.....The pleasure of living in a country with four seasons is got to witness the beautiful changes of the nature.

Shell Shaped Balcony

Along Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, one of the main street of Torino, there are many beautiful buildings.  while walking under one of these buildings, saw these shell shaped balcony, imagine standing on the balcony, does one feels like venus who was just born from the sea and raised up in a giant shell?

The Last Roses

The world didn't end, so the Maya was wrong and the Oreo was right.
However, today is the official opening of the winter, roses in the gardens no matter how resistant they are, are fading away.....

The roses at Piazza Carlo Felice

Traffic At Dusk

Torino center is very heavy with traffic, especially in the evening. With most drivers want to rush to the front of the line and not many especially fond of respecting the traffic rules, the streets are chaotic.

Stone Blocks By Road Side

Not sure why are these stone blocks by the road side of Via San Francesco D'Asissi, but they make nice shadows on the ground when the sun is low and shine through the street, in these days just past noon, the sun is already quite low.

First Snow 2012

First snow of the year, few days ago.....
It was not so heavy, just enough to see tiny snowflake dropping from the sky, by the time they reached the ground, they turned into water, but in the parks and grounds without much traffic, snow can be seen covering the ground. That was few days ago.....

Christmas Ornaments Bauble

This is for the spirit of Christmas. Christmas baubles hanging down from the top in the indoor market at Porta Palazzo, from the reflections on the baules, we can be seen waiting in front of our favourite cheese store.

Sparrow In Winter

Little sparrow taking advantage of the clear day sunlight to resist the cold in winter at piazza Castello....

Under The Foot Of The Mountains

The name Piedmont comes from medieval Latin Pedemontium or Pedemontis, i.e., ad pedem montium, meaning “at the foot of the mountains”. Torino being the capital of Piedmont, is obviously situated under the foot of the mountains, surrounded by the western Alpine arch.
In a clear day, the alps can be seen from the city center, pretty impressive view.

Presepe

Presepe (nativity scene) at Piazza Carlo Felice, it was place here few years ago and last year was transferred to piazza San Carlo.This year, it is back to piazza Carlo Felice, in one of those years which it was placed here, someone took away the baby Jesus and a ransom note was issued, hopefully this year they will leave the baby in peace.

When Bike Lights Up

Luci in bici by Martino Gamper, installed along the city streets, four are fixed in location along Via Carlo Alberto. It is one of the two new addition to the 'Luci D'Artista' Torino.
It is fun to look at, especially when the light on the rotating wheels formed into different colors and images, kind of awesome.

When The Pigeon Has landed

These few days the sky is extremely clear, although very cold, but still, is a really fine day to walk around to snap some photos.
The piazza in front of the main station 'Porta Nuova' is piazza Carlo Felice, there is a pond near one end of the piazza, the water seems to be icy and thin ice have already formed on the surface. Occasionally, pigeons which gather around the piazza fly over to get a sip of water or to look for food.
Here is one which is landing on a rock in the center of the pond.

Winter In Love

In this freaky cold season, captured an image which managed to warm up my heart in this chilling morning....

Noi di Luigi STOISA

The work of artist Luigi STOISA, Noi, part of the Luci d'artista installed at Via Pietro Micca, caught an image of this opera with its reflection on a small pond of water left by the rain the day before.

 

Close Encounter

The quasi humming musical sound, the continuous changes of lights and shadows, almost hypnotic, yet creates a calming and relaxing effect. The close encounter with these Bwindi light masks is positive and magical.

Bwindi light masks

Bwindi light masks is one of the 'Luci d'artista' that I like the most. A art piece created by Richi Ferrero, installed at Palazzo Reale.

'Forty identical masks, from the Bwindi National Park in the most remote heart  of Saharan Africa, are placed as small monoliths in dark space similar to ancient terracotta pieces. The ritual comes to life when artificial light changes the colors of the masks creating a dance effect, supported by bi-vocal sounds of Tuva (Central Asia), which in turn creates a painting of shadows. A new ritual takes shape through anthropological universal archetypes: the African mask has always intermediaries between man and the supernatural, singing harmonics typical shamanic of Tuva and light. The most interesting aspect of this timeless rite lies in the relationship between light and sound, often present in ancient cultures in which the religious sense of the performance is given by  getting the substance of the sound, evokes the the divine light to establish a contact between this and the man.'

Another Day, Another Protest

Another protest passed by under the bock, the protest ended at piazza Castello. Regarding this protest, I have to agree with them, the government indeed has done too little to help, all the cost saving programs are to cut cost on pension, welfare, healthcare, workforce...and nothing was done to cut expenses on politicians , how about the church not paying property taxes on their commercial used properties and the ridiculous 'pensione d'oro'?

Madama Knit

Exhibition of Knitting at palazzo Madama, the gate is decorated colorfully and beautifully but these knits, it matches wonderfully with the big poster of 'eyes' above it.

Stars, Moons And Planets

Wish upon all the stars, moons and planets, may Italy recover from the crisis and everyone gets to have a happy and fulfilling Christmas.

Opera of luci dell'artista decorates Via Po with stars, moons and planets.....

Mirrors, mirrors On The Wall

Mirrors Mirrors on the Wall, Who Is the Fairest of Them All? 

A shop in Via Palazzo Di città, near to piazza Castello placed a full wall of mirrors next to its door, sort of fun to look at while passing by in front of it.

 

 

 

 

 

Firefighters in Piazza Castello

Yesterday firefighters and their fire trucks were exhibiting themselves at piazza Castello, beside showcasing fire vehicles of different era, children were also allowed to dress up in tiny firemen suits and helmets, climbing up tiny ladder.