St. Giovanni a Torino - Part II

We woke up the next day to a festive mood of Torino. Many farmer's and antique markets were showing their best products in piazzas all around the city. I think Trevor bought all the mazzarella cheese that was available in the City Hall Market because we couldn't find any when we went there. Nevertheless, we purchased 3 different flavors of sausages (wild boar, truffle, and Barolo wine) which will become our lunch next week. Syd and I took a nap to be prepared for the big party at night.

We met up with Trevor's gang (Trevor, his girlfriend, his sister, and his nephew) for dinner. We wanted to have apertivo (buy a drink and get to eat all-you-can-eat snack-size food) but couldn't find one that we liked on Via Po. Since we were close to Torino University, Trevor suggested we explore the restaurants with younger crowds. Sure, why not? We all can pass as in our mid 20s... well, except Aiden since he's only 5. We passed by a crowded restaurant called "Tre Da Tre" and according to our experience, a busy restaurant means yummy food, well, at least fresh food. While we were waiting for a table, we drank cold beer to refresh ourselves. I was very surprised that Beth and Trevor remembered our anniversary! They even had a card for us! How sweet! We celebrated the occasion with 2 bottles of wine with our pizzas, seafood pastas, and salads. We had to watch the time because the finale firework was scheduled to began at 10:30pm on River Po. Just as we were stepping out the restaurant, the firework started, so we all ran as fast as we could towards the river. The firework was fantastic! It was the best firework I've ever seen! San Francisco's NYE and Great America's July 4th firework cannot compete to Torino's St. Giovanni Day. The firework was more in quantity and bigger in sparks with different designs! Most importantly, they were insync with music (classical and modern). The final firework set ended with the popular "Volare, Oh Oh, Cantare, Oh Oh Oh Oh". Everyone was singing together! So cool! So many people showed up for the firework.




Afterwards, Trevor's gang needed to retire but the night was still young for Syd and I. We got together with Alberto and Paolo (Alberto's roommate) to drink some more at a bar (AlCool) near the river. I had a mojito to help me stay awake. :p Now if you have been tracking my alcohol intake, you'd notice that I've had a glass of beer, 1/2 bottle of wine, and a mixed drink. So yes, I was buzzed. Very. So was Syd. What an awesome feeling to celebrate with Torino on St. Giovanni's Day and also have the city celebrate with us on our anniversary. Che sera bellissima!

St. Giovanni a Torino - Part I

Happy Saint Giovanni's Day!

Every city in Italy has a patron saint who protects and defends its people. Italians worship and honor their city guardian on a daily basis, let alone on "his day". In Torino, that Saint is St. John the Baptist and Torinese celebrate his day on June 24th. This is one of the biggest holidays in Torino and so we get to party big. :)

The celebration began the day before with a parade of traditional costumes on Via Roma (the street with most expensive shopping stores) and continued on to the evening at Piazza Castello (come on, you should be familiar with this piazza already). We were lucky to see the parade up front and personal on Via Roma because we heard drums and trumpets from our apartment (only 1 block away). We ran down as quickly as we could with cameras in hand. Here are the results of our effort (please note that Torino's temperature has been 30C+ for the past week or so... yes, very very hot! :()


































Later in the evening (~ 9:30pm), we met up with our Mandarin-speaking Italian Friends, Simone and Giorgia, to go see the bonfire in Piazza Castello. The significance of the bonfire was to see which way the big torch falls. If it falls towards the palace, then it is good luck for the year. But if it falls the other way (towards the train station - Porta Nuova), then... well, you know. Can anyone guess which way the torch fell? The first person who emails me the correct answer will receive an autographed postcard from me and Syd. :p

After watching the bonfire, we went to Piazza Vittorio for the free pop concert. By the way, Syd and I both were speaking Italian with our friends (though I mixed a lot of English words in the conversation.) Many people were already at the piazza (11pm). We could only get to the right side of the stage but we were able to see the performers on a big TV screen. It was quite an experience to listen to different styles of Italian music. A female rock singer opened the concert with high energy. Though I couldn't understand the lyrics, I could feel her POWER! Then Mario Rozini (my favorite performer for the night), sang beautiful and romantic Jazz songs accompanied by his smooth piano playing. The Italian language is already musical... just imagine it with actual music. Jazzy music. I have to purchase Rozini's latest CD soon. Giorgia got very excited when the host announced an older gentleman (Giorgia: mi dispiace non recordo suo nome :(). His music style consists meaningful lyrics and folk-like melodies. I liked the meaning of one of the songs. It was about destiny... how a man was trying to run away from death on his horse yet still ended up meeting it in the next town.

We didn't get home until after midnight and this has became a long blog. I'll have to tell you guys the celebration on the actual holiday in the next blog instead. Stay tuned for part II.

Vespa, Vespa, Vespa!

Torino hosted 2 auto exhibits the past weekend: Vespa and you know, some 4-wheels. I was very excited to see so many Vespas in one place especially they range from the old reliable German style to the new slick Italian fashion.













Look how cool is the dashboard! Voglio una Vespa! :p I know Doug'd be just as enthusiastic as me on Vespas. We'd be jumping up and down checking out, touching, and taking photos with these savvy and free-spirited scooters. 英雄所見略同 (heroes and heroines think alike). :p


Here is my favorite Vespa from the exhibit. It's classic, sporty, and practical (comes with a spare tire).














As for the other auto exhibit? Well, it's really not in my interest but if you insist... okay, I will also post a few pictures. :p













Now I understand why Italy has so many piazzas... to host so many shows! We have been to Piazza Castello (where the Royal Palace is at) for a soccer game, a car show, a parade, a bonfire, and even saw American Indians performing music there.



I like this next photo. The little boy was standing next to a race car and kept saying, "Che bello, che bello (how beautiful, how beautiful)". His grandpa seemed wanting to take him to see other cars but the boy just stood there. Perhaps I've met the next Mario Andretti?! I've also included a photo of Italian police car since it was parked among all these historical 4-wheels.

Fashion, What do I know about it?

People who know me well know that I'm not a woman... in a sense of fashion and shopping. I don't follow fashion trends and I don't really like shopping. Don't get me wrong, of course I enjoy buying clothes but I just don't like spending a lot of time searching and trying them on. And yes, that's why Syd married me (:p).

Anyways, now we are living in a country that literally invented fashion (ex. Armani, Fendi, Ferragamo, Gucci, Prada, United Color of Benetton, Versace... just to name a few famous designers), how can we avoid seeing, hearing, smelling, touching, tasting, or feeling it? Well, the answer is You Can't! Italians in general just dress up much nicer than us Californians (which means no T-shirts and shorts; poor Syd and Trevor). I think they are accustomed to wear good quality clothes in any daily situation. For example, Syd and I saw a man who was painting over graffiti outside of his store wearing a cashmere sweater. The other day we also saw an old lady who was working in a butcher shop wearing pearl earrings and a stylish black dress top. Perhaps this is what Italians mean by 'fare una bella figura' (make a good impression).

One thing I've noticed that is hot for women here is accessories! A lot of them wear a necklace, or earrings, or bracelets, or a belt, or all above to match their outfits. They must have a titanic jewelry box for all the accessories. Also, Audrey Hepburn is phat here.













However, what fascinates me most is Italian men's fashion. My previous trips to Europe have accustomed me to men wearing red pants. But this time I have seen men's pants also in the color of orange, yellow (not khaki, mind you), green, and purple! In general the men look stylish in these bright colors but when I saw a man who wore a neon purple sweater with bright yellow pants, it was simply too much bling to me. Italians seem to like bright colors a lot! Shining silver or gold footwear is also very popular.

By the way, moving to Torino has improved Syd's sense of fashion... he finally knows what/ who 'Dolce & Gabbana' is. :)

Italy is in the Quarter-Final!

Italy beat France 2 to 0 last night! Now Italy is in the quarter-final and it will face Spain on Sunday!

Last night Syd and I went to watch the game on a huge TV screen (~ 150 inches) in Piazza Castello with several hundred Torinese. Piazza Castello is where Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace) is at... Beth, Syd, and I took a picture in front of the palace when Beth first arrived Torino (blog title is 'Beth!'). I wasn't going to go because it was raining but Syd insisted that we check it out. I'm so happy we did because not only the rain stopped, we also get to sharing the passion of soccer with fellow Italians. Trevor joined us later after half time but he only watched the game for 20 min or so. What a soccer pooper! :p

Italians cheered their team at the start of the game.


Palazzo Reale at night.


It was exciting watching the game with Italians. They were cheering, booing, cursing (though the only thing I could understand was the finger gesture), yelling when French players fouled, complaining when their players didn't score, and of course, jumping up and down joyfully when they did! There were these 2 guys who kept walking in circles while their eyes never left the TV screen and their mouths never stopped mumbling. One of them even threw down his umbrella when Luca Toni (Italian Forward) missed his 3rd try to score (so close yet so far). I also saw a young couple who held each other and kept kissing throughout the entire game... not sure if it was the best place for a romantic date. But the most interesting person was a French fan. He was the only person there holding a French flag in the big piazza. He was smart because he stood next to a team of police officers. I bet the police wasn't happy since they didn't want any trouble.

Well, if you think after victory, everyone goes home to sleep, then you are wrong! At least an hour of car honking and people yelling/ singing continued after the game. Syd and I could hear the excitement all the way back and also inside the apartment on the 5th floor. We are going to watch the game against Spain outdoor Sunday night. Spain has a tough soccer team so it'll be a difficult game for Italians. Forza, Italia!

P.S. One thing I'd like to suggest to Torino city government is to set up big garbage cans in the center of the piazza where the TV screen was at. Many people were drinking beer so these empty bottles ended up on the floor.

Ordinary Life

So Syd and I have been living in Torino for 3 weeks now. We have a routine... well, at least for June. We get up at 8am on weekdays and study in a language school from 9:30am - 1:00pm. Most times we go home for lunch: cheese, sausage/ salami/ prosciutto , tomatoes, and bread. We cannot get enough of them because there are so many choices of cheeses and meats! In the afternoons, Syd works while I do house chores, study Italian, surf internet, type up Chinese writings, or/ and take a nap. Once a week, we'd join a walking tour organized by the school to show and teach us the history of Torino. Sometimes when weather permitting, we'd also go out for a yummy gelato. OMG, we have 2 popular gelaterias (Gatsby's and GROM) just around the corner from our apartment! In addition, we have started cooking at home... as a matter of fact, we have prepared dinner Four times last week! Every Saturday morning, we go to Porta Palazzo (the biggest farmer's market in Europe) to get fresh ingredients for the entire week. We also try to run or exercise in Parco di Valentino (huge park) which is about 10 minutes walking from our apartment.

For the past 2 Saturday nights, Trevor, Beth, Syd, and I have been cooking and eating together. We'd get the ingredients at Porta Palazzo in the morning and then prepare dinner at Trevor and Beth's. The Saturday before yesterday, we made a beef stew with carrots, onions, celery, potatoes, mushrooms, and a whole bottle of red wine! And of course, we had to have another bottle of red with the meal! Last night we made pizzas with mozzarella cheese, spicy sausages, an 'unknown' cheese, basil, mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, and guess what? Yes, fresh pizza dough! We had 'technical difficulties' but Trevor, the pizza genie/ oven engineer, was able to save us (details are on Beth's blog). While we were waiting for dinner to be ready, we played 'Caylus' and 'Settlers' (card/ board games). Thus another week has passed in Torino. :)

Viva, Italia!

How many of you know that 2008 European Cup is currently in place? This year Switzerland and Austria are hosting the games together but sadly, the Swiss team was the first for elimination. We all know Europeans love soccer so it is very exciting for me to be able to watch the games and sharing that passion with the people here. You may not believe this but I like watching soccer games. I have gotten up in the middle of the night quite a few times watching the previous 4 World Cups (both men's and women's)!

One of the most interesting games was Italy vs. Netherlands on this past Tuesday night. Trevor and Beth were at our apartment that night and we went out to Gatsby's for gelato. The bartender had the game on TV and his eyes never left it while he was scooping our gelatos. A few minutes after we've returned back to the apartment, the Dutch kicked in its first goal. I was sure that the bartender (and many other Italians) must be upset and therefore I was glad that we got gelatos before the goal. Before I could barely finish the entire gelato, the Dutch made another goal. We could hear someone was yelling downstairs (Gatsby's is right across the street under us) thru the open window. We were certain our Italian friends are going to be in a bad mood the next day since Italy lost 0 - 3. But surprisingly, they seemed to be calm and reasonable to even admit that their players didn't play well. (???) Who've ever heard 'sensible soccer fans' before?

So tonight's game is important for Italy (vs. Romania) because it has to win to be sure to go to the quarter final. You betcha I'm going to watch it and support Italy! I'm even wearing a blue shirt today to show my devotion. Viva, Italia!

You can get details of the European Cup at: http://www.euro2008.uefa.com/

Che Cosa è L'amore?

One of my classmates asked me how Syd and I found an apartment in Torino yesterday. She's currently living with her Italian boyfriend and his parents! Last Sunday she wanted to meet another classmate for dinner but since her boyfriend is a chef who works every night, his parents asked her not to go due to 'possible danger' at night. She seemed a bit frustrated that the parents are overly protective (though she admitted that they are nice) when she and her boyfriend have been living together for 5 years.

Well, what are you willing to sacrifice for love? My classmate moved away from her family and friends in Germany for her boyfriend. She gave up her job... she was a real estate agent so she'd have to speak Italian fluently to continue her career in Italy. To do so, everyday she communes via train and bus from her boyfriend's place to the language school in Torino city. Worst of all, it seems they are not able to spend a lot of time together because he works every night while she goes to school every morning. So I can't help but wonder: why does the guy want to move back to Torino?

Ok, so I know why I'm asking the question... I've asked the same question to an ex-boyfriend many years ago. Our relationship was going well but he wanted to return to New York to his family after he had been working in the bay area for 6 years or so. I believe the real reason for his move was: 1) he doesn't love me that much, or 2) he's not ready (to commit), or 3) both. However, is it possible that my classmate's boyfriend really misses home? I wish the best for them because it's very difficult to relocate to a foreign country, even if one person had lived there... 13 years ago.

XXX
Now on a complete different note... remember Bicerin? It's a Torino speciality of expresso coffee with chocolate, latte, and whipped cream. Well, I went to the place where it was originally created this afternoon. Yummy yum yum! Mi piace il Bicerin!

The First of Many Chin Chin

Trevor, Beth, Syd, and I experienced 'apertivo' with Alberto and Diego (our cute and single Italian friends)! Alberto and Diego showed us around the hip restaurants/ bars where things/ people were happening and we hung together until midnight on a week night! Syd had a small teeny tiny hang-over the next morning. :) Here is proof of how happy Beth and I were!!!


Beth and I have formed a tag team here in Torino. Since we both are bloggers and are exploring Torino (and other parts of Italia) together, we are going to try to complementary each other's blog entries. Beth has already updated all the juicy details of the wild night on her blog (there is a link on the right side of the web page) so you don't need to endure my poor writing this time. While Beth's camera may not be always charged ready, I may not always be sober enough to write anyways. Chin Chin (Cheers), miei amici!

Italian Class

Sooooo, you may be wondering why FOOD is the only item on my blog? Well, several reasons for why we stayed indoor most of the time: 1) fighting off jetlag, 2) getting things in order with Italian bureaucracy, and 3) it has been raining for the past 2 weeks (very unusual this time of the year), thus we can only eat, eat, and eat. But don't worry, we will start reporting the city of Torino to you, when weather permitting and we are well-fed and sober.

My beginner Italian class started this Monday. The language school is 15 minutes by foot from our apartment. There are 3 ladies managing the school: Rosaria (handling administration and teaching Italian), Laura (teaching culture/ history/ architecture), and Caterina (teaching Italian - my teacher!). It's really a family business since Rosaria and Caterina are sisters while Laura is their sister-in-law. Syd and I met them last November when we were checking out Torino and we liked their teaching method and personalities. I had a lot of fun learning Italian with Caterina and my classmates this week. Syd'll joining us next week.

Two significant structures stand out on the way to school: 'Arsenale Militare' and 'Atrium'. The building of Arsenale Militare is obviously very different from other modern architecture. Military officers (in khaki or green uniform) come in and out of the building every time I pass by. You can read more about it by enlarging the photo of the sign. In Torino, every historical architecture (including Trevor and Beth's medieval apartment) has a sign explaining its significance.















The other significant building is the 'Atrium' which consisted the main tourist information center. The Atrium was built specifically for 2006 Winter Olympic but its modern exterior caused controversy. Many Turinese feel it ruins the atmosphere of the old Piazza Solferino (where my school is at) and thus demanded for its removal. The tourist information center is no longer there since last November and I hear the Atrium will be taken down shortly.














Let me end this long blog with a photo of my Italian class. Caterina is the teacher who's next to me. She's originally from Sicily and she lives in Torino with her husband and child. Kim is on my other side who's studying in a renowned automobile design school in Torino. Daniella (next to Caterina) is from Germany. She came to Torino with/ for her boyfriend (Torinese). You know what love does to people! Helen's British and she's taking a week of vacation just to learn Italian here! And yes, we have a sister in the house! Sister Stefana is Korean who's working with the Italian community here. I think she has the most difficult time because she doesn't speak either Italian or English but I'm sure lord will help her in some way. Shawn and Federica are the youngest in class and they are Americans. Shawn is a student in fashion design while Federica's still in high school (Mamma mia! I feel old!)!

First Home Made Dinner

Syd and I cooked together on Tuesday night for the first time in any foreign country! Of course, all the ingredients are... you guessed it - FRESH! Fresh tomatoes, fresh asparagus (I think it's currently in season), fresh garlic, fresh ravioli (with meat filling), and fresh pork sausage! We only needed to add salt and then wa-la, there was our yummy yummy dinner! Upon Donna's request :), this time we included a bottle of white wine to indulge our taste buds even more. Molto molto bene!

Ecco la foto di Signor Tutucci per ti! Our landlord who have treated us to caffè twice! 'Cafe San Tommaso 10' is one of the most popular and fantastic coffee shops in Torino. It's only one block from Beth and Trevor's place. Syd loves its hot chocolate while its 'Bicerin' (a Torino speciality coffee mixed with hot chocolate, milk, and whipped cream) speaks to me sweetly.

By the way, I put up a link to Beth's blog so if you are not tired of reading more about Torino or seeing more of our faces, feel free to click the link.