Torino City Marathon

A 42195 km city marathon was held this morning in Turin, it started at 9 am and lasted till 3 pm.

The run started at piazza Castello and ended at the same place. On the way, it passed by via XX Settembre which is very close to where I live.

So, we went down to the street and piazza to snap some photo of the runners.

Event : Torino City Maratona

Raining Business

Whenever it is about to rain, the umbrellas sellers, mostly are the pakistanis, are already out on the streets with umbrellas in their hands, ready to do business.

Eeven when it is already raining heavily, they will still walking streets to streets, trying to sell the umbrellas.

Location : Via XX Settembre

Waiting Under Shelter

Rains, added difficulty for the food riders who have to rush to delivery the food.

The other day, while waiting under the arcade for the rains to stop, a rider stood under the arcade, looking anxiously and helplessly at heavy rain. Perhaps he was worrying if he could delivery the food in time.


Location : Via XX Settembre

Rainstorm

When the city just goes into the phase 2, more people are getting out to go around, the rainstorm begins.

Almost everyday, the first half of the day is clear and sunny, then out of a sudden, the dark clouds arrive and follow by rains and even hailstorm.

People then start to run for shelter, some bravehearts run across the street despite the heavy pour.

Location : Via XX Settembre/Via Pietro Micca

CDP May Theme : Shopping

The May Theme is Shopping. the only shopping we do in these days is getting groceries or medicines.

 

Only supemarket like Pam, Carrefour etc are opened and small stores own by the indians or pakistanis which back home in Singapore we called them Mama shop, these stores have been opening up all over the place in recent years, even in the center where the rent is not cheap, just wonder where did they get the funding from?

Big shopping complex like the Rinascente in Via Lagrange is closed, so no shopping, we are in a lockdown

 Please click here to view the other entries....

Lockdown The Fifty-First Day

51st day. Wednesday, a sunny day with lot of light.
Sunshine after the rain, feel good, maybe that was why more people were out on the street.
Maybe after two days of rain, the sun was back and gave a sense that everything will be fine finally....

On the way to the pharmacy, encountered quite a number of people walking around, many of them were without mask.

More people were at the bus stop and more people were walking their dogs.

At piazza IV Maggio, dogs owners were chatting with each other and while I was there a friendly dog came to greet, so what could I do, I patted her and she went back to her owner happily.
After 50 days of restriction and confinement, even dogs miss the human contact.

A guy without mask was struggling with the 5 dogs he brought out for a walk, is he a dog sitter?

It seems that more people are trying to go back to their normal lives regardless that the pandemia is not over yet.

Location : Via XX Settembre/Piazza IV Maggio/Via Garibaldi

Lock Down The Twenty Eighth Day

The 28th Day.
Spring is here, with the pleasant temperature of 21°C, many people are tempted to get out of the house to have a nice walk, but please refrain yourself, we are in a lockdown.

The other day on the way back (The same day I went to the paharmacy), passed by a small street leading to the piazza Castello, the symbol of Turin, La Mole could be seen afar behind the Royal Theatre. Is almost a month that I have not seen her. Is just like seeing an old friend, I stopped for a minute and greeted her by looking at her.
At the piazza, the tents setup by the TV station can be seen, they are there to report about the current situation in the local news everyday.

The road that I have teken was via XX Settembre, it is a long road, leading all the way towards the main station. The shops were almost all closed. Occasionally, a few people walked passed, and very few would stopped and took a look at the dark windows of the shops.

The once busy and heavy traffic road has now becomes a long and lonely road....

Location : via XX Settembre/Via Palazzo di Città/Piazza Castello

Lock Down The Twenty-Sixth Day

26th day, Saturday. The morning spring sun is warm and very pleasant. Is already April, looking at the almost empty and deserted street, yet can't really feel the joy of Spring.
Time to head to the pharmacy again.

There are two ways to go to the pharmacy from home, both ways are more or less the same distance.

Turn right will head towards the traffic road, which is wider and more straight forward, with bigger shops and has a more urban feel.
Turn left will leads through the narrow and small alleys, the buildings are quaint, shops and restaurants are more characteristic and unique.
Chose to go left.

Restaurants that were usually packed are now closed. Occasionally, one or two person passed by with their dog or with their grocery bags, the only shop which still opened is the bakery.

Out of the alleys, one reaches the Townhall, further down is the IV Marzo square which is surrounded by resturants and bars that are of course now closed. It does seem much larger without the tables and chairs placed outside by the resturants.

The liveliness and noises of the place have been replaced by moodiness and silent.
The heavy door of the cathedral beside the pharmacy is tightly closed.

 Location : via Mercanti/Piazza IV Marzo/Duomo/via XX Settembre

Lock Down Second Day

Lock down 2nd day

Yesterday had to go to the pharmacy to collect the medicines, so I went.

Along via XX Settembre, the usual row of shops were mostly closed, not many people on the street.
There are only two Africans waiting at the usually crowded bus stop, behind them the 'All You Can Eat' Chinese-Japanese restaurant was closed. Further down the tobacconist's shop was closed with a notice stating that due to both the owners are in isolation.
The Indian provision shops were opened.

Entered the pharmacy, was told to stay further away from the customer at the counter or just wait outside the door. 

On the way back home, walked through piazza Castello, a father was playing football with his little son in the piazza, a mother was walking a toodler , a lone photograher was taking photo of the closed door of the Royal Palace. Some people rode across the piazza on their bicycles and some just walked across. Speaking the truth, the piazza at this hour, is pretty normal to have fewer people around.
There were some policemen on duly in the piazza and they were the only one gathered in more than 3 persons in a group.

The tourist Information Center was closed. Most bars were still opened but tomorrow they will be closed.

Location : Via XX Settembre/ Piazza Castello

Via IV Marzo

Via lV Marzo is the street directly in front of the Duomo, it is quite a busy street where traffic leads to the two parallel roads : via XX Settembre and via Milano which have their own heavy traffic.

The buildings along this not so big street are pretty interesting in theirs own way.