Photographer's Life_6 - Everything has the end

Today is the day of the official day of the project.

The summary meeting with Pirelli and Celtic was already yesterday.

I want to remember the filling when the clients are happy with the result.

The last photographs of Sarca were taken today early morning.
Prosecco, snacks, chat with Alberto, Silvia and Mario.
Nice time.

I was asked what I will take from Italy.
It is much to write and I think I will give the answer next days.

6 months passed so fast.

What I will meet back home?

I am exited and waiting for new challenges. At the same time sad that something finished.

Toscany - again

Got back to Toscany. It looks like never ending story. And it is all because of Poppi. Small town in Arezzo district always welcomes me with fog and rain and in winter with snow.
But the photo has to be taken. So - It was my third time in Poppi. And ... it was raining. Quick decision - no more trips to Poppi - umbrella out. And photos taken.

Caorle - a small town at the seaside

Sometimes, or let say most of the time when i booked the place had no idea what to expect from the town. There are two main factors which I have to consider:
the budget - the price for the hotel should not more than 90EUR and the distance to the next asset - as close as is possible.
But if I have to drive like about 30 minutes and can spend one evening at the seaside - always choose the walk at the beach.

Caorle - what a nice place. Slowly getting ready for the season.

There was not very regular beach but kind of the path along the sea. The fence between the town and water was built by using massive rocks.

What was my surprise when I got closer. Most of of the blocks which were facing the town were in fact sculptures.

Verbania - I would have never expected ....

I though that I will remember Saturday as a next day of postcards.
But not ... no chance for it.
On the way to Verbania (Lago Maggiore) I saw some stone mills - places I love to explore. The decision was made - to visit one of them on the way back.
And as usually I got lost.
And found myself in a place I would have never imagined to be constructed in Italy.
But why not - look - ROME EUR?
And here I am like in the movie with Charlie Chaplin. Why this connotation - I have no idea.

Camera out on tripod and here we are ....

18th April 2010 Sunday Morning - Varese Lake - Gavirate

It is strange filling. ... Far away from Poland ... not contact ... just radio and internet.
I do not know how does Poland look like now.
What people do and how react.

Is it all true what I see in the net?

Just went for a short walk around Varese Lake - just next to my hotel.

The world outside my country lives is as usual.

Sunday - another day of post cards

Trip to Lago Maggiore - the biggest of the lakes in the Varese region.
Destination - Verbania. As I read they have a lot of beautiful villas with gardens.
It is something very Italian. Villas ... old once or just modern but they are special. Designed with care. The same you can say about the gardens.
Unfortunately, all were closed.
The only one opened was the Villa Taranto - which appeared to be sort of botanical garden.
Nice ... but nothing special for biologist (which I am from my first degree).
Collection of magnolias and Japan roses - this is what I will remember.
Maybe I am spoiled with the Botanical Garden in Wroclaw, which I like very much. But there was one thought coming to me all the time.

People are not clever enough to copy nature.

the Milano Furniture Fairs - new generation comes - Satelite

The most interesting for me was to look at the Satelite part of the show. It is a sector where young designers are presenting their ideas. Most of them are just graduates.
This is the moment in their life were they are meeting face to face visitors and have to introduce to their art.
Yes - art - as the furniture is art.
I was surprised how many Asian students were exhibit their project. But the were also people from Germany, Uruguay.
Some were just working solo others guilt designing groups.
It is place all furniture manufactures should visit. Not to copy the ideas but to find talents.

the Milan Furniture Fairs - Kitchen

I got to kitchen sector with the hope that I will get inspired. My kitchen is still waiting for final decision. It is small but I want to have there everything what it should hold.
So... looked and got a bit upset. Why - all designs, ideas where just for huge spaces. Forgot about my mission of the day and started enjoyed what I saw. How it would be to have a kitchen of the size of your flat...
You can have there totally everything.
Wait ... I liked one staff ... Imagine a table - perfectly flat. And than part of it is rising and there is a shelf coming up with all you need to cook. I want to have it !!!!!!!

the Milan Furniture Fairs - Design part

I took my time there. Took time and my compact camera. looked carefully at what the designers prepared to catch the eye of the visitors.
I was surprised how many of them go back to Bauhaus idea of the furniture.
Some of them got really crazy ideas.
I loved the moving wall. Imagine - conference room. You are in the middle of the important meeting and than .... the wall is moving. Very sensual ...
I could write and write. But it is just a blog about my trip. And it was just one short day I could allow myself to have off. :-(
I wanted to get some catalogues. But they were reserved for press and for potential client. What shall I do to have the press pass next year?

the Milan Furniture Fairs - Entry

It was my very first time I attended such fairs, And .. here we are Milano. I do not know how many thousands of people did arrive. But for sure - the whole word was here. You could see everywhere - in the streets, metro and the most in reception hall.
Organization perfect.
It was not serious statement. Metro - M1 full packed. But the schedule as usual - no more trains to RHO
The ticket system - even Italians were complaining.
In general it took me 1 hour from the metro exit to the halls of the fairs.
One thing was perfectly planned - food. Places at every single corner and the prices just normal. Uffff.....

Sardinia - sand production

I do not know why but I am getting exited with places where is produced sand, stones....
I when I see them I do all I can to enter and take some photos. With this one - I found the hole in the fence and there I was.
The guard found me. But sill allowed to take photos :-)
Nice people.
Place - Sardinia - but exactly - who knows. Close to a mountain.

Hotel I want to forget

Hotels are different.
But this one was the very first in my life I had to clean bathroom by myself.
Yes.
The cleaning lady was using just window spray and sort of liquid which I could not identify.

Incredible. I have experienced hotels where I had to put towel into the shower or just walk in in my flip lops. But this one ...

So - i went to a Supermacato and purchased:
- sponge with soft and hard surface;
- Toilet cleaner - extra strong;
- spray for the ceramic surfaces - extra strong;
- gloves
All costed me 10 EUR. But satisfaction - priceless :-)

30 minutes and bathroom shines.

A... They asked me to pay cash as the terminals are not operating "properly" . I just wander where we are?

I geographical dimensions - on the Italian - Swiss boarder. I am not kidding - really. I can see Swiss boarder from my balcony.

10th APRIL 2010 Poland will be not the same after this day

Saturday morning. Weekend ...

Breakfast, Radio - Chanell 3 PR....

Did not listen to it all the time. Just noticed that something has changed in the voices of the journalist. It was more serious, like starting to cry.

It got my attention - the news - the President, his wife and more other 80 people died today.

Can not still believe.

And only one question comes to my mind. Why did all important people took one plane?

Who did allow to do it?

Hotel Hub - surprised me :-)

The reality of my life here is that I almost every night I sleep in different bed in different hotel.

I leave one hotel end do not know where I am going to overnight. The next one is booked just 30 minutes my arrival. This is the reality of life which I accepted and quite enjoy it.
I do not count how many of them I have seen already.

The one thing I try to avoid is to sleep in business type hotels. They are perfect for the short trips.

I did one exception and got very surprised. I mean in very nice way ...

I am sensitive to space and how it is used ...

When entered the Hub Hotel I just got attracted with the interiors. Combination of cement, wood, coper, glass. But still welcoming.
Additionally, the reception. People nice and helpful.

I know this place will develop its own history. The design will change as the space allows for it.

But I do hope that one thing will not change - hospitality...

Photographer's Life_5 - Properta Privata

What kind of connotations you have with the word "ITALY"

Maybe it is going like that - easy going people, laid back?

There is one thing they do not get relaxed at all.

This is called "PROPERTA PRIVATA". Which means "Private property".
The signs with those two words are visible almost everywhere.
It means - do not entry, do not park, keep yourself far away.
Otherwise - there are eyes watching you. And if you cross the magic line - you will hear "Seniora - properta privata" - usually from an older lady :-).

So where should I park my car if there are only "Properta Privata" around? Sometimes I am lucky and can find something like 200m away. It is not a problem to walk and than I am happy to do so.
But if not ...
How long can you drive looking for free space?

So - I just leave my car at properta privata and often have luck - nobody notices. If not - have discussions and negotiations in my Italianish.

The other thing I have noticed is that people get more tense about this statement as yo go north.

Como Lake on Easter Monday

Como Lake welcomed me with rain and north wind.

Staying in Hotel Bellavista gave me opportunity to watch people enjoying windsurfing. They come to the beach in the front of the hotel every morning. And it is because of this wind.
And it does not matter if it is raining or not.

Everybody was waiting for the sun though.
And it came - today.

I think It makes difference ....