The Hand

This door handle in Via Ricasoli is always my favorite for Halloween...

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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)

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Semi-tractors

Semi-tractors parked inside the cargo port area.

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On the Trail of Clet

Prepare yourself for some familiar objects caught out of our usual jurisdiction...

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).

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)

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Sidecar

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)

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A Huge Door

The huge main door of the “Mercato Centrale” (Central Market) facing Via Buontalenti.

See also: Mercato Centrale
Search labels: Mercato Centrale

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Love Will Tear Us Apart

“Love Will Tear Us Apart” or “Love Is Art”?

External links: Love Will Tear Us Apart (Wikipedia)

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Grey Heron

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.

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

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MS Nautica

“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)

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Some More Clet

Let us see some more inventions by Clet Abraham:

A heavy load, Via degli Apostoli

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)

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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.

Via Ginori

Scali degli Olandesi

Piazza della Vittoria

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Moto Guzzi Normale

The Moto Guzzi Normale was the first motorcycle mass produced by the house of Mandello del Lario.

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)

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At Dawn

Another image of the Terrazza Mascagni at Dawn. (Dedicated to a friend who is coming back to Livorno)

See also: Terrazza Mascagni - Terrazza Mascagni at Dawn
Search labels: Terrazza Mascagni

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Clet's Pinocchio

Clet Abraham visited Livorno one more time, leaving us with some new ‘improved’ traffic signs.

Pinocchio, Piazza Cavour

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)

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The Closed Window

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)

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Benetti FB502

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

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Subway in Livorno

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

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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.

[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”.

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).

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)

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Fiat 501 Torpedo

The impressive hood ornament of a 1925 Fiat 501 Torpedo.

On the sphere we can read “Carrozzeria Garavini” (Garavini coachbuilder).

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)

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Parapet

Perspective along the new canal in Viale Caprera.

Search labels: new canal

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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

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

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The Green Bin

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.

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

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M/T Gorgona

The oil products tanker “Gorgona” maneuvering at the entrance of the “Porto Mediceo”.

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)

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Sorry: no tail!

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

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Tuscany and its People

“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.

On Sunday the vehicles were on display in Piazza della Repubblica.

It is quite strange to see cars like these on our streets...

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Travelling

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)

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One More Smart

After two weeks without cars and scooters we suffered a shocking return to the world of motors...

Search labels: car - Smart

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Black Hands

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

Search labels: bicycle art
External links: Bicycle Art

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Hawk at Sea

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)

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Goodbye Rialto!

(Photo by Trillian)

We have been living for two weeks in an apartment not far from here, today we are coming back home.

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Town Hall Doors

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

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