March 28th 2011
She can socialize or prefer to be solitary
She loves shopping
She is passionate about her pooch.
She loves her work.
She has a passion for fashion.
She can multi-task: attends to her shop and cleans it as well.
And she could be a passionate lover.
The title should be “Women of Italy” and these Torinese ladies just represent the whole of the Italian femaledom.
March 28th 2011
I arrived in Torino completely amazed by the sight of the 3-colours of the Italian flag represented in various forms and shapes. They are seen displayed in almost all of the shops, on building facades and as street decorations. I later discovered that this city played a big part in the Italian reunification 150 years ago when it was made the first capital of the Kingdom of Italy and Victor Emmanuel II as the first king proclaimed on 17 March 1861. So for a total of nine months from March to November, 2011, Torino will play host to a non-stop calendar of art, design, fashion, music, gastronomy and various festivals during Esperienza Italia.
The red, white and green colours are practically everywhere and I tried to capture them all but then realized there were just too many!
Eau de toilette: Green from Panama, White from the Indian Ocean and Red from Tibet
Savon de Marseille (soap from Marseilles, France)
(ooopppsss…..but that is light green!)
To pay tribute to Italy’s 150th reunification celebration, Lavazza is coming out with a limited edition collection of cups, chocolates, etc. It is in Torino that this 116-year old coffee legend started its roots.
Even a dressmaker’s shop found a way to create the tri-colour
Those lines are just done in paint!
March 27th 2011
Hey cutie-cutie…
I was invited by a friend I met in Torino to stay in their house and my goodness, I fell in love with their 50 something pack of hamsters! Their story goes that a year ago, they gave a male and female hamsters to their daughter’s 11th birthday and around 12 months later, it produced 4 generations totalling to, I said it right, 50 something! But I don’t blame the daughter why she won’t give away her hams, they are the most adorable things I have ever seen in my life! Even if they kept me up all night with their noise, I organized a photoshoot the next day for gracing the 29th March page of my website!
I asked the daughter if she has names for all the 50. Well, she had names for the first 5 but after that, she gave up as they seem to keep multiplying as fast as she could decide on the names! It is simply overwhelming!
Burrowing inside a Pringles can, they prefer sleeping in the dark. Like humans, eh!
Hamsters can be fertile from one month to three months of age. Females are in heat approximately every four days. And according to Wikipedia, if a captive hamster is left for extended periods (3–4 weeks and more) with her litter, there is a high possibility that she will cannibalize the litter. It is therefore imperative that the litter be split up by the time the young can collect their own food and water.
March 26th 2011
I was on a train to Torino, Italy when I noticed the ancient train stations which have gone into decay. I’m glad that they are still there, standing and not demolished to be turned into carparks or supermarkets although some of them are now being used for other purposes. I thought of them as a great photo opportunity! I must photograph them now before they disappear from the face of Europe as they do give a visual history of how they looked like in the old days….
This one has been made into a shelter for wheat bales
The building is still strong so it could be handy for keeping used construction materials. I wonder if the present occupant is paying a rent, and to whom?
These ancient stations are like museums. For example, those two things by the door are bells.
Why two? because each one is reserved for each direction. As above, when the train to Ventimiglia is approaching, the bell “Ventimiglia” starts ringing. When it’s the Cuneo-bound train, then the “Cuneo” bell rings. The ringing takes several minutes until the train arrives.
An abandoned train station
They used to have a separate building for toilets. This one, obviously not operating anymore, has its doors blocked with concrete to prevent it from being vandalized.
This one, where the sign is still visible (Borgo S. Dalmatio), has been turned into a home.
This is an abandoned train station in the French-Italian border. It used to belong to Italy but has been ceded to France as part of the war reparations between the two countries. Since its transfer, it has stopped serving as a train station.
Interesting to see how it looked in the old days.
A grandiose train station has been closed for a long time in St Dalmas de Tende, in the Vallee de la Roya.
The entrance has been concreted to prevent the entry of vandals as well as thieves.
March 26th 2011
The village of Tende in France
The winter wonderland scenery as soon as you enter Italy
Limone is the first town of the Italian Ligurian Alps. It is famous for its winter skiing resort.
The train station of Limone
A campsite of mobile homes under snow
An Italian village in white
March 25th 2011
the landscape gardener
the gardener
the waiter
the Casino staff
the bricoleur
the office staff
the police and the hotel doorman
the trader
the traffic police
the security staff
the employees
the Royal guards
The Royal Couple (RIP)
Note: imagine the captions
March 24th 2011
“Quand je regarde Villefranche, je vois ma jeunesse, fassent les hommes qu’elle ne change jamais” (Jean Cocteau).
Tromphe l’oeil
Altar of Eglise Saint Michel
Bronze collection: little girl on a chair and shoes
March 23rd 2011
Slum dog millionaire
Savon de Marseille
Perfumed fruit candles
It’s Macaroon Day in Paris last Sunday and they gave away free bites in Pierre Hermé….c’est dommage! But I got this photo op in Menton, great!
I photographed this through a transparent plastic curtain as it is still cold to eat out…so inviting to sit down and order a bottle of wine, isn’t it?
Ooppss..someone’s photographing me…
Absorbed….
Cashmere and silk from goat…ready to wear
Art Deco apartment for sale
Sardine metal box (with chocolate sardines)..10.60euros per box
March 23rd 2011
Menton is the lemon capital of France. Both sides of the main street are lined up with fruit-laden trees. Citrus trees are tropical plants and would not survive in France but in the south particularly in Menton where its microclimate is exceptional, they thrive!
Take your pick!
This is where I gorged myself on citrus of every kind: grapefruit, orange, clementine…really taste like those I had in Greece: sweet and awesome!
They are even used as shop window displays.
Lemon trees for sale
March 23rd 2011
Photodiary - January 2012
Roses for Valentine
A Valentine’s Day Photoshoot in Paris
Love messages for Valentine’s Day - French style
What winter caps to wear…when in Paris
Pre-Valentine Photowalking in Paris
Theme: Snow
To the Museum: Victoria and Albert
Theme: The London Tube
London Walk: From Exhibition Road to Kensington Gardens to KnightbridgeThanks for stopping by and hope you enjoyed browsing my travel blog. I would appreciate your comments for it's only from hearing from you that I get my inspiration going!
About me
Mariadams
"Pinay" is slang for a woman born in the Philippines.
Through my lens, I love to capture the everyday life of Europe and through this blog I hope I could serve as your window to this fascinating continent.
Enjoy reading and please feel free to ask questions about the pictures and my stories. If you see yourself on this site, please contact me so I could send you the raw copy, or if you do not wish to be there, so I could remove your photo.
