Turin / Torino, Italy
I had never intended on visiting Turin. But after 47 hours on the Eurail I arrived thinking it was Milan and planned only to spend the night.
At 8am the next morning I was ready to trudge on but my ticket agent explained with my Eurail pass it was faster to wait until the afternoon and take the express train first class.
With a free day ahead of me I decided this would be my only chance to discover Turin. And then I felt something I hadn’t felt in a long time.
Excitement.
I used to love walking around cities just taking photos but had lost the feeling along the way. Deciding to end my nomadic lifestyle a few days ago reinvigorated me and I was looking forward to wandering the city for the day.
Turin isn’t the most beautiful city in the world or the most interesting but I will always remember it for reminding me why I love travel.
Seeing old men walking down the street in berets.
Flower stalls – I always think when I go home I’ll buy fresh flowers too. I never do.
Food markets seem so much more interesting when the signs are in a foreign language.
Statues of brave men on horses that I know nothing about.
Architecture and transportation seem so much more interesting.
Graffiti that needs no translation, it’s just funny.
I had a great day doing absolutely nothing, it feels really good to get back to that mindspace again.
It’s good to see that even Torino has Balls on Walls.
That’s comforting.
I know what you mean – we’re about to become expats again instead of all the constant travel and I think I’m going to enjoy the shorter trips we do take just that little bit more. More time to plan each trip and relax, more time for proper reflection afterwards and more appreciation of the travel in general.
Planning a trip, wow what a luxury!
I knew you still had it in you, even if it’s not what you want your life to be everyday.
Sometimes things just work out right! That would make it more interesting to see food labeled in a foreign language. Take a guess, buy it and eat it, right!?
You know even when you understand the words, sometimes things in another country are completely different. Especially if it’s something in a can!
Gorgeous pics!!! Glad that Turin put a smile on your pretty face!
Aww thanks Andi!
Perhaps the pressure of not having a lot of time is what forces one to enjoy a trip to the fullest?
Isn’t Turin the place with the shroud with Jesus (supposed) face on it? Or is that another Turin.
It is nice that you are working out all of the kinks so that when you take me it will be smooth riding the rails as I am not as mellow as you are with travel stress!
No this is definitely not a trip for you!
Just gotta say that shot of the food market is amazing…so bright and beautiful!
Food markets are my favourite to shoot. I have so many photos of tomatoes around the world it is ridiculous.
Great post. Loved the graffiti!
I know so funny, although I kind of wish I knew who it was. Perhaps the president?
I visited Turin last month and whilst it wasn’t the most spectacular Italian city it is much more laid back than Milan. The Holy Shroud of Turin is kept in the Duomo which is fascinating and controversial at the same time.
You know when I decided to walk around I thought about going to the tourist office first to see what sights there were to see but then decided to just discover the city. What is a shroud anyway?
Great collage of the fruit and vege market. So colorful.
Love those days of doing nothing but wandering around with a camera! Beautiful shots 🙂
Great collection of photos. I loved them all. And I agree that walking around a place is often the best thing to do. I once spent 3 weeks in Florence without going to any museums!
Statues of brave men of horses don’t really need any history lesson, right?
I’m so glad you found “it” in Turin! 🙂
They rode. They died. They got a statue.
That about sums it up 🙂
The other day I was looking at the statue of a man on a horse in Plaza Italia in Buenos Aires and I was also thinking “I like statues even though I never know who the hell they are” For the longest time I thought that guy was San Martin, but I later found out it was some Italian guy I knew even less about. I like it all the same.
Apparently there is some meaning behind the statues, if one leg of the horse is raised or both I think it means they were either harmed in battle or died. I heard it once and thought it was interesting, although not interesting enough to remember the details
It’s always the small joys that make travel so wonderful
If you liked Torino, you’ll probably also like Genova (more or less at the same distance from Milan)… Mantova and Sabbioneta are also jewels not to miss if one is around Milan…
Thanks for the tip, they will be next on my list!
I loved Torino! I hope you made it to Eataly on the outskirts! It’s open in NYC now, but this is the original! I had more fun there than sightseeing around some museum. Food!
Hahahaha, love that graffiti! 😀 Great pictures and some beautiful shots of the marktets. Always fab to wander around a new town/city for the day.
I’m glad you were able to enjoy a day wandering. Beautiful photo of the vegetable stall.
Thanks Mary!
Ayngelina, I’ve only made brief stops in Torino, but these captures of everyday life – especially your beautiful and vibrant market images – make me want to return. Did you end up making it to Milan? That’s been an elusive destination for us thus far. 🙂