Turin – The Royal Museums

Yesterday, we went to the Royal Museums of Turin. It includes the Royal Palace and its Gardens, the Royal Library and Armory, the Sebaudian Gallery (Dutch & Flemish paintings) the Museum of Antiquities and the Chapel of the Holy Shroud.

Tickets for Three

Cathedral of St. John the Baptist

The Holy Shroud

 

Cathedral of St. John the Baptist

Royal Palace of the Savoys

The Entrance

Photos of the Royal Palace. Some rooms were quite gaudy.

Views from the Royal Palace

 

Chapel of the Holy Shroud

A fire destroyed part of the Chapel in 1997 and is undergoing restoration

Tristan in the Museum of Antiquities

We do enjoy museums! Can you tell?

Turin – The Huntsman

Yesterday we took an Irish respite after a long walk to eat lunch at a pub on Corso Vittorio Emanuele II called The Huntsman. The weather was somewhat on the cool side, but we still availed ourselves the great open air store fronts many restaurants have in Europe, and this pub was no exception.

The Huntsman main bar

As with anything Irish, the inside didn’t look like much and we were not disappointed. The main bar was well worn and the tables and surroundings showed years of vigorous use. Either the Italians themselves allow for a good Irish pub night out regularly, or there are plenty of international travelers of Northern European and U.S. persuasion visiting the area, or a bit of both.

In any case having been to Ireland, our somewhat home away from home country, one of us felt it incumbent to test the veracity of the Guinness. We were actually wondering if the silky chocolate texture and flavor would survive dispensing from an Italian establishment. For such an analytic task, Tristan agreed to take one for the team and give it a try.

Tristan enjoying an authentic Guinness moment

After some delay, Tristan noted the bartender getting our drink order together. He remarked, “Let’s see if they draft the Guinness like they do in Ireland?” He even noted the long pause they allow the brew to settle there when we visited the factory last year. As can be seen by his first gulp of the viscous beverage above, he confirmed and was not disappointed with the results.

I on the other hand went with the Grimberger Blonde. A safe bet, when considering every other time I have had it, it always tasted great. Aside from the fact it does not depend on nitrogen to be dispensed correctly like Guinness, it always comes through with a nice clean taste and finish. Though I will say, when dispensed properly you cannot beat a Guinness!

The rest of experience only consisted of typical Irish pub food. A mixed salad for Patti, a hamburger and fixings for Tristan and I stuck with the panini with a side order of fries. All in all worth the 3.7 the tavern is weighted on google.

Turin – La Dolce Vita

Yesterday we went to this “sweets” event. We had never seen so many different types and “flavors” of chocolate in one place. We bought dark chocolate hazelnut bark and pistachio “chocolate”. It has the smoothness and texture of chocolate, but is made with pistachios…delicious! Turin is known for its chocolate.

Many booths of sweets to choose from

Pistachio cremini artigianali and many other flavors

Sacher Torte

A “rice krispy” type bar

Chocolate-covered dried fruit

Bark chocolate

They give out samples too. I had a rum chocolate ball that had enough rum in it to make me drunk!

Easter chocolates too

Erick hanging out in an alley ?

We finished the day, walking through the city with a gelato in hand!

Turin – Third Time’s a Charm

When Erick and I visited Turin last Fall, we decided to visit the Mole Antonelliana; home of the Cinema Museum with sweeping views of the city. Unfortunately, while the museum was open, the elevator to enjoy the views was closed due to renovations. Instead, we decided we would visit, when we moved here.

Last Tuesday we attempted to return, but again we failed. The museum is closed on Tuesdays.

On Thursday, we were finally able to see the Cinema Museum and although it was a hazy day, the view of the Alps was “postcard-like”. The museum’s construction began in 1863 and was originally meant to be a synagogue. The exhibits are organized on various levels starting with the Archeology of Cinema, to digital technology.

We ended our day with lunch at Pizzeria da Michele.

Our tickets for the museum/lift

The elevator to the top. We were sardines in a can. Views were visible from all 4 sides, so if you don’t like heights, would not recommend.

View at the top

Multi-level Exhibits

Video with “lights”. I will have to post on Facebook for the video to work.

Does anyone know what movie this creature is from?

“Aliens”

Pizza with capers

Hazelnut meringue dessert

Turin – Europe as a Mind-cleanse

Given all that goes on in America, the day to day political bullshit, Libertarianism ad nauseum, paranoia, narcisistic behaviors, etc. I have found our trip to Europe and Italy in particular more than liberating, I find it refreshing. I would like to use the term mind-cleansing, the act of ridding one’s mind of all past day to day perceptions and cares.

Yes, for sure, the European Union have their own minority stupid asses that hold sway over the majority, with Brexit and other less public referendums. But at least the Brexit has the EU fixated for a change. That they even gave the Brits a relaxed scheduled to leave actually astounds me. As any American would say, if you want to go, please go already. My own opinion is mixed on the matter, but the short of it is, the EU ought to let them fall, and fall hard if they want to. Its best for children to learn from a bloody nose and by extension countries as well.

This brings me to interesting sidewalk art I happen to find. In an effort to clear my mind’, I have allowed my once astral senses to turn earthwards, streetwards to be specific, instead of to the sky and the cosmos they so dearly love. Turin at least seems to be filled with an assortment of strange, if not 12 monkeys, related kind of street art.

The above was found low on a building’s foundation of a common thoroughfare. Of course I am not certain of the objective of the depiction, but imagine it has something to do with turning off your TV. The caption or title seems to read “skene”, which I don’t think has anything to do with the female anatomy, but rather the name of a group publishing their rhetoric.

The next image above appears to perhaps have something to do with the zombie apocalypse. Obviously a young woman in thin bandages stopping us from entering or proceding further. To what end? Or perhaps something totally different. Since I am not part of the society here, merely an interloper, I cannot know for sure. But it appears to be a sincere rejection of something.

Lastly, something I can appreciate. It took great pains during my tenure NOT to become an authority. For some, a cop out for sure, for others an understandable, even allergic reaction to becoming that which one detests. Apparently, our Italian brethren have the same mistrust of the Yale graduates and American elite we do. Once I read this my mind no longer felt as clean as I thought it should. Geography in the 21st century is apparently no longer the cognitive antiseptic it once was.

For a proper mind-cleanse, some far off mountain range, or perhaps even Antartica is more appropriate. I at least, have found the streets of Turin invigorating and its street art interesting but not enough of a distraction for a proper mind-cleanse.

Turin – More photos of Palazzo Madama

Palazzo Madama Museum

Madonna and Child – Circa 1330

Glass Chandelier from Venice (Murano)

Each cabinet contains not only wares from different regions of Italy, but also other countries, including Austria and France.

Beautiful ceilings

Ceramic bowl

It was a cloudy day, but the views at the top of the museum were still enjoyable.

Turin – Madama Palace and Museum

Interested by some literature, we happen to read in our apartment, we decided to visit the Madama Palace on via Giuseppi Garibaldi at piazza Castello. The entrance fee was 10€, 8€ for students, which included a map.

Fine wood engraving

Some of the amazing historical items I found in there were the wood carvings. The one example I found the most compelling, was the depiction of Christ’s birth in the manger as shown above. There were other similar carvings and most were done on choir screens or benches. Most of these were reliefs, as well as all of the pictures and stained glass, were, or course, for the benefit of the illiterate part of the congregation.

Erick in front of decorative church panel

The museum is filled with many other artifacts and itself is built on an ancient castle or other ruins from the Roman times, as is evident within one of the stairwells. Ascending to the parapet on the roof provides an excellent view of the city.

The Mole to the north of the museum

Turin – The Egyptian Museum

Saturday, prior to my son Tristan and I knowing that we had contracted the flu, we all walked into the center of town to visit the Egyptian museum. It contains the largest collection of artifacts, outside of Egypt. We had thought that Italy was still allowing free admissions to museums from the 5th – 9th. However, this was not the case. In fact, we could not even get a student discount since those are only offered on Thursdays – oh well. The one thing we did get unexpectedly were headsets, which unfortunately ended up to be useless technological throwbacks to the early 1990’s. Undeterred, we soldiered on determined to make the best of it, even among an afternoon throng.

The amazing pieces were the statues and sarcophagi which were surrounded by glass so you can see all sides.

Below is Patti in front of a 4200 year old Sphinx, like the one near the pyramids of Giza.

And finally the sarcophagi we mentioned before.

Well after an hour, which we really enjoyed (our son, Tristan is an ancient history buff), we took our leave to consume some of Italy’s really fine coffee.

Next time we hope to post about something a little less macabre.

Turin – We Made It, Eating Real Pizza Now

We landed early this morning at Malpensa/Milano airport, then on to Milano via TrenNord and finally Torino via the FrecciaRossa 1000. Due to conditions beyond our control, our Airbnb host was delayed until 1 p.m. That forced us to remain at the Porta Susa train station for an hour and a half. But, as we arrived on foot to Antonio’s front door, he pulled up with his car right on time.

We spent the next hour or so discussing with Antonio what our objectives were in Torino, how we selected the city, and lastly, how to go about renting an apartment. Our host appears to be a kind person and very concerned with helping us navigate the tricky waters of high Italian rental contracts and all of their associated taxes and costs. We have welcomed any assistance he can provide.

The rest of the afternoon we spent resting.

Pizza!!! Yum…

We ventured out later this evening for something to eat, having skipped lunch we were all starving. Supper at “di Michi” Pizzeria was great and inexpensive. We ordered 14 inch pies, one melanzane and two prosciutto, for 6€ each ($7). Some beer and salad and we were satisfied.

It is now around 9 p.m. and time for more sleep, stay tuned…

Cary – Farewell Dinner With The Boys

Last night we enjoyed dinner at Stellino’s to say farewell to Dana, he will be staying behind in Cary, working for Genesys in RTP.

Erick, Patti, Dana and Tristan at Stellino’s

After a great supper, we said our goodbyes and stayed at the TRU Hilton hotel. It is located very near RDU airport, so it was a snap this morning to drop our rental vehicle off and start our real trip. First destination, JFK airport in NY. So we say goodbye to North Carolina for the time being, onto new adventures.

RDU airport and NC from the air

We will keep all posted as we make progress to our final destination, Turin Italy. Ciao for now!