Thursday, October 31, 2013

The Hand

Front door handle, via Ricasoli, Livorno
This door handle in Via Ricasoli is always my favorite for Halloween...

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Via dell'Olmo

Still on the trail of Clet Abraham in the San Niccolò neighborhood, part of the Oltrarno area of Florence.
This fishbone arrow shows us that we are closing in on our objective...
In fact, there he is, just under the sign, standing on the doorstep of his studio.

See also: Clet Abraham - On the Trail of Clet
Search labels: Clet Abraham
External links: Clet Abraham (Wikipedia, in French) - The language of the street signs by Clet Abraham (Abitare)

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Monday, October 28, 2013

On the Trail of Clet

Prepare yourself for some familiar objects caught out of our usual jurisdiction...
Clet Abrahams, a punch-throwing no-entry sign, via dell'Erta Canina, Florence
We were coming down from the basilica of San Miniato al Monte (St. Minias on the Mountain), when we saw this on the corner of a street with the improbable name of Via dell'Erta Canina (Street of the Canine Slope).
Clet Abrahams, pedestrian crossing with an Egyptian, via del Monte alle Croci, Florence
Just before the city walls, still along Via del Monte alle Croci, we saw this “Cross Like an Egyptian” and we knew we were approaching Clet Abraham's territory: he lives and works here, in Florence, after all.

See also: Clet Abraham
Search labels: Clet Abraham
External links: Clet Abraham (Wikipedia, in French) - The language of the street signs by Clet Abraham (Abitare)

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Sidecar

La Toscana e le su' genti, Tuscany and its People, vintage cars rally, Livorno
When it was the last time you saw a sidecar on the road?

See also: Tuscany and its People - Fiat 501 Torpedo - Moto Guzzi Normale
External links: Sidecar (Wikipedia)

Saturday, October 26, 2013

A Huge Door

Grand door of the Mercato Centrale, via Buontalenti side, Livorno
The huge main door of the “Mercato Centrale” (Central Market) facing Via Buontalenti.

See also: Mercato Centrale
Search labels: Mercato Centrale

Friday, October 25, 2013

Love Will Tear Us Apart

Love will tear us apart or Love is art, graffiti, via Bottini dell'Olio, Livorno
“Love Will Tear Us Apart” or “Love Is Art”?

External links: Love Will Tear Us Apart (Wikipedia)

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Grey Heron

Grey heron, Fortezza Nuova, Livorno
Around here it is unusual to see birds other than gulls, pigeons or sparrows. I was quite surprised to catch this heron, standing in the grass outside the Fortezza Nuova.
Grey heron, Fortezza Nuova, Livorno
It was a rainy afternoon and almost dark and I saw it only because a friend called my attention to it.

External links: Grey Heron (Wikipedia)
See also: Fortezza Nuova

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

MS Nautica

MS Nautica cruise ship, IMO 9200938, Livorno
“Nautica” was built in 2000 at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in St. Nazaire, France. She was the fifth ship in a series of eight identical cruise ships built for Renaissance Cruises and, in an amazing flight of fantasy, she was named “R Five”. In 2005 she was chartered to Oceania Cruises and renamed “Nautica”.

On 30 November 2008 the Nautica was sailing from Safaga, Egypt to Salah, Oman on the Maritime Safety Protection Area established in the Gulf of Aden due to persistent pirate attacks on the area, when at approximately 9:28 AM UTC+3 the ship encountered two Somalian pirate skiffs. Captain Jurica Brajcic ordered the ship to take evasive manoeuvres and to sail away at flank speed. The Nautica was able to outrun her attackers, although the ship was fired at eight times. None of the 684 passengers or 401 crew onboard were injured in the attack. Following the attack the Nautica proceeded normally to her next scheduled port of call. (MS Nautica, Wikipedia)

Search labels: cruise ship - tug
External links: MS Nautica (Wikipedia)

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Some More Clet

Let us see some more inventions by Clet Abraham:
Clet Abrahams, heavy load on a no-entry sign, via degli Apostoli, Livorno
A heavy load, Via degli Apostoli

Clet Abrahams, pillory on a no-entry sign, scali Manzoni, Livorno
A pillory, Scali Manzoni

See also: Clet Abraham
Search labels: Clet Abraham
External links: Clet Abraham (Wikipedia, in French) - The language of the street signs by Clet Abraham (Abitare)

Monday, October 21, 2013

Not Much Beauty

I didn't see much beauty around me this Sunday morning: the first two streets are within few meters from the central Piazza Cavour and the crudely defaced white surface of the third photo is part of the monument to the soldiers fallen in the First World War, in Piazza della Vittoria.
Graffiti, via Ginori, Livorno
Via Ginori

Abandoned empty beer bottles, scali degli Olandesi, Livorno
Scali degli Olandesi

Graffiti and trash, piazza della Vittoria, Livorno
Piazza della Vittoria

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Moto Guzzi Normale

La Toscana e le su' genti, Tuscany and its people, vintage cars and motorcycles rally, Moto Guzzi Normale, piazza della Repubblica, Livorno
The Moto Guzzi Normale was the first motorcycle mass produced by the house of Mandello del Lario.
La Toscana e le su' genti, Tuscany and its people, vintage cars and motorcycles rally, Moto Guzzi Normale, piazza della Repubblica, Livorno
The Normale was also the first motorcycle in history to be equipped with a center stand.

See also: Tuscany and its People - Fiat 501 Torpedo
External links: Moto Guzzi (Wikipedia)

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Friday, October 18, 2013

Clet's Pinocchio

Clet Abraham visited Livorno one more time, leaving us with some new ‘improved’ traffic signs.
Clet Abrahams, Pinocchio on a turn right sign, piazza Cavour, Livorno
Pinocchio, Piazza Cavour

Clet Abrahams, taped mouth with eyes on a no-entry sign, piazza Manin, Livorno
A taped mouth with eyes, Piazza Manin

See also: Clet Abraham
Search labels: Clet Abraham
External links: Clet Abraham (Wikipedia, in French) - The language of the street signs by Clet Abraham (Abitare)

Thursday, October 17, 2013

The Closed Window

Maritime Health Office, via Strozzi, Livorno
In this building in Via Strozzi we can find the Maritime Health Office, a local office of the Ministry of Health.

External links: Ministry of Health (Wikipedia)

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Benetti FB502

Benetti FB502, port of Livorno
This 47-meter yacht hasn't yet a name and she is known only by her project number, which is hull FB502. This boat is second in the line of the new all-aluminium yachts by Benetti, the first one was “Imagination”.

See also: Imagination & Illusion
External links: Rhoades Young working on interior of new 47 m Benetti motor yacht FB502 (Charterworld)
Search labels: yacht

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Subway in Livorno

Subway shop, via Cairoli, Livorno
The first Subway shop in Livorno opened last January in Via Cairoli.

Monday, October 14, 2013

The Bakar Mockery

In the darkest hour of the World War I, after the defeat at Caporetto, Italy badly needed some good news to boost the morale of the troops and of the whole country. An attack on the Austrian ships in the harbour of Buccari (now Bakar, in Croatia) was considered almost impossible, because the port itself was deep inside an area controlled by enemy forces.
MAS 96, Vittoriale, Gardone Riviera, Brescia
[The MAS 96 commanded by Luigi Rizzo, photo from Wikipedia]
A raid was devised with the use of three MAS, light and fast motor boats armed with torpedoes, and the mission commander was the Livornese Frigate captain Costanzo Ciano. The leading boat was commanded by Lieutenant Luigi Rizzo, who had already sunk the Austrian battleship “Wien” in Trieste and who later managed to sink the “Szent István” off Premuda. The poet Gabriele D'Annunzio was part of the same crew as a simple “seaman”.
Bakar Mockery stele, Giudecca island, Venice
The MAS boats were towed to the entrance of the bay by torpedo boats to save precious fuel and were able to evade all the defensive measures of the Austrian Navy. They managed to fire all their torpedoes but five were caught unexploded in the protective nets around the battleships and the last went off without much damage. During the successful escape D'Annunzio left in a buoy some wine and a derisive message for the enemy. As a poet and journalist he was then instrumental in inflating the importance of this daring but harmless raid, which became known as the “Beffa di Buccari” (Bakar mockery).
Church of the Most Holy Redemeer, Giudecca island, Venice
The above memorial stone was placed in front of the church of the “Santissimo Redentore” (Most Holy Redeemer) in the Giudecca island, in Venice, from where the boats sailed for their mission. The Livornese share of the raid was increased by the Frigate captain Arturo Ciano, who commanded one of the support groups, and by the fact that the three MAS boats involved were all built at the Orlando shipyard in Livorno.

External links: Bakar mockery - Luigi Rizzo - Costanzo Ciano - Gabriele D'Annunzio (Wikipedia)

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Fiat 501 Torpedo

Hood ornament, Fiat 501 Torpedo 1925, piazza della Repubblica, Livorno
The impressive hood ornament of a 1925 Fiat 501 Torpedo.
Hood ornament, Fiat 501 Torpedo 1925, piazza della Repubblica, Livorno
On the sphere we can read “Carrozzeria Garavini” (Garavini coachbuilder).
Fiat 501 Torpedo 1925, piazza della Repubblica, Livorno
This vintage car, with many other of the kind, was on display in Piazza della Repubblica last Sunday.

See also: Tuscany and its People
External links: Hood ornament - Fiat 501 - Torpedo (Wikipedia)

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Parapet

Parapet of the new canal, viale Caprera, Livorno
Perspective along the new canal in Viale Caprera.

Search labels: new canal

Friday, October 11, 2013

No Translation

Sorry, but I can't really translate these signs. I saw them in Venice, but they would mean something really unintended for a Livornese and probably for some other Tuscans.
Pasticceria Bar Puppa, calle del Spezier, Cannaregio, Venice
“Pasticceria Bar Puppa”, Calle del Spezier, Cannaregio, Venice

Ristorante da Mario alla Fava, calle dei Stagneri, San Marco, Venice
“Ristorante da Mario alla Fava”, Calle dei Stagneri, San Marco, Venice

Thursday, October 10, 2013

The Green Bin

New green garbage bin, Livorno
A new type of nicely painted public garbage bin. While we were away, Livorno underwent a well publicized and extraordinary cleaning and sprucing up of its center. The effects of this effort are not impressive.
Neglected planter, via Grande, Livorno
I was quite worried about my favorite planter, but I am glad to say that it was left as it was on August 25.

See also: Porticoes and Planters

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

M/T Gorgona

Tanker Gorgona, IMO 9304485, port of Livorno
The oil products tanker “Gorgona” maneuvering at the entrance of the “Porto Mediceo”.
Tanker Gorgona, IMO 9304485, port of Livorno
The 74-meter tanker is part of the D'Alesio fleet, whose ships are usually named after the islands of the Tuscan archipelago.

External links: D'Alesio Group (Offcial site) - Tuscan Archipelago (Wikipedia)

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Sorry: no tail!

Sparrow, Elba pier, port of Livorno
OK, I cut his tail off, but have you ever tried to follow a hopping sparrow on a windy pier with the bridge camera equivalent of a 1200mm lens?

Search labels: sparrow

Monday, October 7, 2013

Tuscany and its People

La Toscana e le su' genti, Tuscany and its People, vintage cars rally, Livorno
“La Toscana e la su' gente” (Tuscany and its People) is a rally of vintage cars and motorcycles that took place this weekend in Livorno.
La Toscana e le su' genti, Tuscany and its People, vintage cars rally, Livorno
On Sunday the vehicles were on display in Piazza della Repubblica.
La Toscana e le su' genti, Tuscany and its People, vintage cars rally, Livorno
It is quite strange to see cars like these on our streets...

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Travelling

Viagiar descanta, ma se ti parti mona, ti torni mona, sign, island of Burano
A pearl of wisdom for all of us, caught on the island of Burano:

“Viagiar descanta
ma se ti parti mona
ti torni mona”
(Travelling wakes you up
but if you depart a fool
you come back a fool)

External links: Travelling (Daily Photo Stream)

Saturday, October 5, 2013

One More Smart

Smart car, via Paolo Emilio Demi, Livorno
After two weeks without cars and scooters we suffered a shocking return to the world of motors...

Search labels: car - Smart

Friday, October 4, 2013

Black Hands

Black hands on a rolling shutter, via della Posta, Livorno
Black hands on a rolling shutter in Via della Posta, with a glimpse of tricolor.

Search labels: bicycle art
External links: Bicycle Art

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Hawk at Sea

V 609 Falco fast motor boat, Guardia di Finanza, Livorno
The fast motor boat V 609 Falco at the entrance of the port. (Picture taken last July)

See also: V 609 Falco - Summer Hawk
External links: Guardia di Finanza (Wikipedia)

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Goodbye Rialto!

The Grand Canal seen from the Rialto bridge, Venice
(Photo by Trillian)
We have been living for two weeks in an apartment not far from here, today we are coming back home.

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Town Hall Doors

Town Hall three doors, piazza del Municipio, Livorno
On its right side, Town Hall has three doors, but only one is usually open for the public.