CDP July Theme : Flea Markets

  CPD July theme is Flea Markets.

 The biggest flea market in Turin is at Porta Palazzo, and it is called Balon.

Every Saturday till evening there is the usual Balon, every second Sunday of the month, there is the big Balon.

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Location: Balon

Continue On Balon

Some stalls at the flea market Balon on Saturday are setup by the shops along the street, so basically the shops place their goods in front of the shops and business as usual.

Compared to the independent stalls, the things sell by the shops are more valueable, such as antiques and collectable items. Unlike the independent stalls which have more surprises.

 Location : Balon

Saturday Flea Market

Flea market at Balon on Saturday is something to experience once in a while. It used to be more chaotic, more packed and more erratic.

Visited the flea market last Saturday and found that there were lesser stalls, many areas were not allowed to have stall setup, so overall, it seemed less crowded and less interesting, also less 'dangerous'.

Many illegal stalls were sent away, and the remaining stalls were selling more 'traditional' items.

Nevertheless, Balon is still a place worth to visit on a nice Saturday morning, just beware of the pickpockets.

Location : Balon

Cleaning Up

Saturday evening after the flea market at Balon, the cleaners begin cleaning up the street with this vehicle.....

Presepe World

A small presepe exhibition at Porta Palazzo's balon, inside  Cortile del Maglio a big presepe is on display, beside it, an entrance leads to room of tiny presepes from different places....

  The Big Presepe

 Cotton Presepe

  

Built In An Egg

 Presepe Gallura

 Germany Playmobil Presepe

 Built In A Shell

 Mexian Presepe

 Italy Venice Murano Presepe

 Peruvian Presepe

 Polish Presepe

 ALESSI Figure Presepe

Presepe In Silver

Merry Christmas !!!

Presepio

Nativity scene, a tradition during the Christmas season, I have to build one in my house every year....

This one is a display in Balon, Torino 

My presepio

High Fashion

'High Fashion' at the Balon.....
Balon is the flea market in the Aurora district of Turin.

 

Sermig Arsenale della Pace

Sermig - Arsenale della Pace at Balon
The young missionary service (often referred to by the abbreviation SERMIG, from "Young Missionary Service") is a group founded in Turin on the May 24, 1964 by Ernesto Olivero together with a group of young people with a desire to eradicate hunger in the world through works of justice, promote the development, experiencing solidarity with the poor. Initially born as a missionary group with the intent to cooperate with various missionaries around the world, then the SERMIG began to care about the poverty present in Turin, while extending its work to other places around the world.

However, the last time I brought a female friend there to give away her used clothing, something happened which  makes me question the attitude of some of the helpers towards foreigners.

While I was with the friend standing in front of the containers which collect donated items, we were wondering why there was a bag of old bottle plastic corks in there. Suddenly a woman came right up to us and asked if she could help us anything. Before I could answer, she grabbed me on my shoulder and shouted : 'No, you can't do this, you have to come with me to the center!' She begun to drag me away, then I realized that she thought that I was there to steal.
I stopped her and said :' We are here to give, not trying to take!'
She startled for a moment, and I said to her :'You think all foreigners are poor, all are thieves?'
She quickly apologized, not actually to me, she apologized to my friend who is an European, asking my friend if I was with her.
It seem to be a bit petty to mind, but the instant instinct reaction reflects what a person actually think, to me, deep in her mind and heart, I think she does 'discriminate foreigners (especially those happened to be around Porta Palazzo )' with a concept that they are all poor and tend to steal.
That makes me wonder why she bothers to care for the job? To make her feel superior?

Low Sun At Balon

One late  morning at Balon when the sun was low and the rays were strong, created sparks on the pavements and outlined everyone passed by.....

Anna Dancing at Balon

In Torino there are a number of people with special personality, I would say that they are prominent, Anna is one of them. Whenever I see her, she is always so cheerful, dressed up in her unique style and loves dancing in the street.  Is always a joy to see her, no matter what other say about her, I just think she is unique and free spirited.

Balon Flea Market

The Balon is the flea market of Turin, it was born at the end of '700, even if placed in another area. The present layout dates back to 1856 when a resolution of the then city council moved the market for scrap iron from its previous location near the Porte Palatine.

It takes place every Saturday in the historic Township Ball (Borgata del Pallone), located in the area of ​​Porta Palazzo, between the historic food market of Porta Palazzo, one of the largest open-air markets of Europe, and the river Dora Riparia.

The Township ball named after particular habit of the workers who were in the hour break to bet their meager earnings in the fronton of which remains as a trace only the surviving wall with the writing "Bowl Game".
The name arose from the saying of the workers "Andoma to giughé to balon" (aka: "Let's bet at elastic ball game"), from which comes the name of Ball Township, and in Piedmont remained the name Balon .