Wed was a long day of sightseeing, shopping, eating, shopping, sightseeing, windowshopping, sightseeing, and a late to very early tame pubcrawl, trying a few Irish beers, such as Murphy Red, Murphy Black, a sip of a Fosters--all on tap, and chatting with friends.
Gorgeous Day, hot, sunny, blue skies, walking round in a thin cotton shift dress with thin summer leggings and sandals. So sunny by the time we got to the Cascine Park, about 8.30 am, I just sat out in the sun to enjoy it, whilst vendors sat up their market stalls from their vans and vehicles.
Will add photos when time.
It was a l o n g line of open air vendors, and in a few hours, we still had only had time to see a fourth or less of all the stalls, two rows, one on either side. Everything from perfume, extremely fine Italian and French linen cloths for small tables and windows, nail glitter and polish and brushes, kids glitter temporary tattoo kits, bicycles, kitchen pasta makers and gadgets, window and chair coverings, sweaters, underwear, pants, leggings, hoisery in decorative designs and textures, crayons, paints in sizes of tiny tubes and huge cans, house ceramic roof tiles, clay tiles, to most anything else you could think of or want or need or not want or not need! Glorious day out, sunny shopping open air market.
Got numerous gifts, including Old spiderman comic book coloring books for N, glitter nail kits for the girls, boxerbriefs with Italian colors and design for T, a sweater and a "Louis Vuiton" for me. Mind you, I did NOT buy the -- bag, it was a complimentary gift when I paid 20Euros for a really amazing tshirt. Don´t forget it is illegal to buy fake leather goods in Italy. It is not illegal to sell, but it is illegal to buy. Though, if you do plan on buying a Tshirt, it is expected for you to haggle over the price. I got my tshirt with complimentary bag, for an art installation on Italian fashion industry. -- specifically as I find the history of that company interesting, though I specifically only like the vintage designs and concept. --- is a great company of innovations, clever marketing, even more clever vintage designs...and it´s interesting how often and how long others have copied -- designs, concepts and products. I suspect it is the most copied product, maybe besided Hello Kitty, in the world,). There are several really good books, very thick, featuring their designs and history. I find inspiration for some of my ideas from some of the vast and endless copies and original designs of --.
-- complimentary bag when I bought the tshirt:).
And the FOOD market stalls! WOW. everything from the most delicious cheeses and cured and fresh and dried meat and fish, to fresh seasonal fruits and veggies, to fresh made bread, fresh fried bread and other foods, drinks, water, I think wine but can´t remember if it was wine or something similar. Jars and jars and bottles of pickled veggies, and olive oils, vinegars, etc. All Italian foods.
To my recollection, I did not find any nearby bancomats (ATMS) which were working, so bring your cash. None of the stalls take anything but cash, and certainly you will not get a tshirt with a complimentary bag, unless you have Euro cash.
Took the 17A bus from SMN to the Cascine Park, and got on a Tramvia on the way back to another part of the city, as it was quicker by that time of day to where we were going.
.....
