Garbage

Sunday morning: our troubles with garbage collection are worsening...

See also: Garbage Trucks - Dumpsters

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Two Ports

Our view from the Mastio is moving again toward the sea with the blue tower of the Avvisatore Marittimo (Maritime Warnings service) at the entrance of the Porto Mediceo. At the horizon we can see the island of Gorgona, 37 Km off the coast, still part of the Municipality of Livorno.
On the left a view of the the Porto Mediceo, which was the first real port and it is now mostly used as a marina or by ferries and smaller cruise ships. On the right a view of the far larger cargo port.

View from the Mastio - The Three Bastions - View on the Old Harbor

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See also: Island Prison - Gorgona - Easter Eve - The Looming Tower - Over the Porto Mediceo - Cargo Port - Fortezza Vecchia - Mastio di Matilde
Search labels: Fortezza Vecchia

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Blowing Soap Bubbles

We all need some some soap bubbles...

See also: Soap Bubbles

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Tiki

Some posts simply get lost, but I would like to salvage this one, even if it is out of season by now.

Last July I went to the Terrazza Mascagni and I saw several Tiki statues around the Surfer Joe Diner.
It seems that they were props to advertise their new Tiki Room. (Photos taken last July)

External links: Tiki - Tiki bar (Wikipedia) - Surfer Joe Diner (Official website)
See also: Terrazza Mascagni
Search labels: Terrazza Mascagni

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Six Bollards

If you are still wondering why our bollards are scared...

See also: Unwelcome Barriers - Seven Spheres - The Scared Bollard

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Karianna

The 40-meter “Karianna” was built in 2008 by Horizon Yacht in Taiwan.

External links: Horizon Yacht (Official website)
Search labels: yacht

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Lantana camara

It seems that this beautiful plant, which I saw at the Parterre, has several downsides: it is considered an invasive species, it could be toxic to animals, but it is really loved by bees and birds.

External links: Lantana camara - Invasive species (Wikipedia)
See also: Parterre

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View on the Old Harbor

Another view from the Mastio (Keep) of the Fortezza Vecchia, this time toward south. This is the original harbor of Livorno, called Darsena Vecchia (Old Harbor) or Pamiglione.
On the left you can see the fishing boats, on the right the boats of Coast Guard, firefighters and Guardia di Finanza.

View from the Mastio - The Three Bastions

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See also: Pamiglione - Old Harbor - Fortezza Vecchia - Mastio di Matilde
Search labels: Fortezza Vecchia

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The Blue Hut

You can see this stall on the water side of our Mercato del Pesce (Fish Market), on Scali delle Ancore.
It stands between the slightly faded Blue Whale and a nearby restaurant, which specializes in seafood.

See also: Mercato del Pesce - Scali delle Ancore - The Blue Whale - The Big Anchovy

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Via Bernardina

A corner building between Via Bernardina and Via Maggi.

See also: Via Maggi
Search labels: corner

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Garbage Trucks

Our city-owned garbage collection company is in trouble: it has a big hole in its balance sheet.
Yesterday some of its drivers staged a demonstration driving their trucks in Piazza del Municipio, just in front of Town Hall.

See also: Piazza del Municipio - Town Hall - A New Piazza del Municipio

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Via Santa Giulia

Until recently it was covered in scaffolding, but now we can see the newly refurbished apartment building on the back of the former La Gran Guardia movie theater, which now hosts an H&M store and a new smaller cinema.

See also: La Gran Guardia - The New Gran Guardia

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Walking on the Pier

A lone walker and a really big ship (the 294-meter “Island Princess”) in background...

See also: Island Princess
Search labels: cruise ship

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November Cat

Nothing better than a nap at the front door, in Via del Fagiano.

Search labels: cat

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The Three Bastions

We are going on with the view from the Mastio of the Fortezza Vecchia: here is the first of its the three bastions, the Capitana, badly damaged by a huge explosion during the war. On the left we can see the church of San Ferdinando, in the middle there is what I have called the Isthmus of Crocetta, and on the right the church of Santa Caterina.
Still on the land side of the fortress we have the Ampolletta bastion. On the right, with a view on the Porto Mediceo, the Canaviglia bastion, with on top the Palazzo di Francesco.

View from the Mastio

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See also: Fortezza Vecchia - Piazza dei Grani - Scalo Regio - Porta del Duca - Cortile d'Arme - Capitana - Ampolletta - Molo del Soccorso - Canaviglia - Palazzo di Francesco - Mastio di Matilde - From the Top
Search labels: Fortezza Vecchia

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Trimming Palms

I do not like palms: the only kind of tree that I like even less is a trimmed palm tree.
My grandfather considered pruning trees an art of sorts, which he practiced skilfully, but I am not sure if he knew about palms...

Work in Progress - The Other Half - Four Palms - A New Piazza del Municipio - The New Square

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See also: Town Hall - Palazzo Granducale - Piazza del Municipio - Municipal Building - Town Hall Facade

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Almost Deserted

An almost deserted Terrazza Mascagni at the end of October. By the way, I have just posted a virtual exhibition of sorts about people taking pictures in Paris. Try it if you wish: Photographers in Paris (When people taking pictures are protagonists or simply get in the way).

See also: Terrazza Mascagni
Search labels: Terrazza Mascagni

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View from the Mastio

With the new bridge the access to the Fortezza Vecchia is surprisingly easier and we already found it open twice, probably because it was Sunday. After more than five years we were also able to climb to the top of the Mastio di Matilde (Matilda's Keep), which has an amazing view on the port, the city, and the fortress itself.
The “mastio” seen from the inner courtyard and a view from above of the oldest part of the fortress, the 14th century “Quadratura dei Pisani” (Square Fort of the Pisans).

The Bridge is Working! - The Three Bastions

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See also: Fortezza Vecchia - Piazza dei Grani - Scalo Regio - Porta del Duca - Cortile d'Arme - Capitana - Ampolletta - Molo del Soccorso - Canaviglia - Palazzo di Francesco - Mastio di Matilde - From the Top
Search labels: Fortezza Vecchia

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Crema e Cioccolato

Last Sunday we happened on this new “gelateria” for an espresso, but quickly changed our wishes to a couple of ice creams. My favorite flavor was dark chocolate with orange. “Crema e Cioccolato” is in Via Maggi 12.

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Carlo Bergamini (F 590)

The “Carlo Bergamini” (F 590) is an European multi-purpose frigate, the first unit of the class bearing her name. The FREMM (from Frégate européenne multi-mission and Fregata europea multi-missione) is a class of ships designed by DCNS/Armaris and Fincantieri for the navies of France and Italy.
The presence of this ship in our port is linked to the opening ceremony of a new plant at the Sgarallino pier, which can supply electrical power to berthed ships, allowing them to shut down even the auxiliary engines and generators.

External links: FREMM multipurpose frigate - DCNS - Fincantieri - Cold ironing (Wikipedia)

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The Turtle

A turtle in the basin of the fountain in Piazza Dante, just opposite the railway station. (Photo taken last September)

Slow Motion - Turtles - One More Turtle

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Vedi anche: Livorno Centrale - Livorno Train Station
Search labels: turtle

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Maratona Città di Livorno

The City of Livorno Marathon took place yesterday and we had runners in the streets for a few hours.
Sadly, we also witnessed several arguments with angry motorists who resented the closed streets.

See also: Vivicittà 2015

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The Corallo Overpass

A view from the outrageous overpass that was built years ago in front of the “Terme del Corallo”.
After some partial restoration, the magnificent complex is still abandoned and in almost total decay.

(Photos taken last September)

Search labels: spa
See also: The Waters of Health - The Beauty of Decay - Parco delle Terme - The Waters of Health: Hallway - Spa Terrace - Hall of the Five Waters - Acquarium - Salubritatem aegris corporibus - Curator acquarum - Terme del Corallo

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The New Square

Another view of the new Piazza del Municipio: Town Hall on the left and the Palazzo Granducale on the right.

Work in Progress - The Other Half - Four Palms - A New Piazza del Municipio

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See also: Town Hall - Palazzo Granducale - Piazza del Municipio - Municipal Building - Town Hall Facade

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Himalayan Salt

We have already seen these Himalayan Salt Lamps at the last edition of “Naturalia”, but I keep liking them.
A candle-holder and other lamps made of Himalayan salt. Some other stuff, probably frankincense-related.

Naturalia 2015

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External links: Himalayan salt (Wikipedia)
See also: Naturalia - Himalayan Salt Lamps - Teas and Infusions - Made of Cork

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Caption Wanted

Please write in a creative way your own caption for this photo, taken in Via Magenta last July.

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