A Tabby Yellow on a new mission...

I know at least one and that one is to fly...

... here.


[No more info available for now, but stay tuned].
___

Now, you just follow G@tto on La Pigna Hill...

in Sanremo, Italy.

When in Sanremo, if you ever go there, you'll see this map near the gates leading up
the hill.
Here are two recommended routes :
- the red one :
1 Palazzo Borea d'Olmo, 2 Chiesa Santo Stefano, 3 Piazza Nota & Palazzo del Commissario,
4 Porta Santo Stefano & i Vailai, 5 Porta Bugiarda & Porta del Roglio, 6 Via Rivolte, 7 Oratorio
San Costanzo, 8 Giardini Regina Elena, 9 Santuario Madonna della Costa.
- and the blue one :
1 Chiesa Concattedrale Collegiata San Siro, 2 Piazza San Siro, 3 Le Canoniche, 4 Torre Ciapèla,
5 Porta Montù, 6 Palazzo Manara, 7 Porta Palma, 8 Chiesa San Giuseppe, 9 Porta San Giuseppe
& Via dei Mille, 10 Piazza della Cisterna, 11 Porte Santa Maria, 12 Piazza del Capitolo, 13 Chiesa
Santa Brigida, 14 Piazza dei Dolori, 15 Oratorio San Sebastiano.




This is a tough slideshow, so put on your most comfortable virtual shoes and
watch your steps because this is a long way up and down a steep hill.
___

Strangely, YouTube offers very little on La Pigna medieval area...


[repez]
This video was made by a class of the local Cassini high school.
___

Back on La Pigna hill in Sanremo...

I've already reported a first visit up to the Sanremo ancient area in
a previous post. I was recently back there and up the hill to enjoy
its particular atmosphere and take a closer look to the huge fig trees
that thrust their roots into the crevices of that rocky ground.


The Ficus macrophilla, commonly known as the Moreton Bay fig is a
large evergreen banyan tree of the Moraceae family, subsection of the
Malvantherae.


Its specific epithet macrophylla is derived from the ancient Greek makro
(large) and phyllon (leaf) and refers to the size of the leaves.






The characteristic "melting" appearance of the Ficus macrophylla is due
to its habit of dropping aerial roots from its branches which on reaching
the ground thicken into supplementary trunks which help to support the
great weight of its crown.


The trunk can be massive, with thick, prominent structure and a rough
grey-brown bark. Some trees can reach heights of 60 m.


Currently the tallest Moreton Bay Fig (49 m) is found near Egg Rock, in
Queensland, Australia, but even Europe exhibits some sizeable
naturalized specimen.
___
(More on > Wikipedia).

... and G@tto went south !

See what I mean ?




The Promenade, then the Cour Saleya and then... yum yum !
____

Well, if you ever plan to motor south...

... get your kicks on La Pigna Hill !

This is the old Sanremo (Liguria, Italy), built in 'anno Domini 1000' up on a hill,
so the inhabitants could watch the sea and prevent pirates' attacks.


Knowing that Pigna means pine cone, you can easily find its shape on the map,
with its concentric narrow streets and majestic ficus macrophylla trees on top.


(click on map)








Two of the huge Ficus macrophylla, fiercely exhibiting their aerial and ground roots.








Unfortunately, I was on a flash trip and I discovered the place too late,
but I'll be back, soon - my oldest friend lives in Sanremo now.
____________

A dive in Nice "Vièia Vila" Atmosphere...

The "Old Nice" district lays between the Place Garibaldi (north), the Castle
Hill (east), the Espace Masséna (west) and the coastline (south).

Snake with G@tto along the ruelles du vieux quartier...

















The French Riviera Traveller says : "With its narrow, shadowy streets, cozy
squares, colourful markets, baroque churches and jumble of pastel houses,
Vieux Nice looks and feels much as it must have about two centuries ago.
The sounds are different though, at least at night when music from the bars
and nightclubs fills the air with rhythm.
The bustle of tourists and shoppers is replaced by teams of young clubbers
prowling the streets for the latest hangout. Especially on summer evenings,
the Old Town resembles a vast open-air party".


One more time, the open air market on the Cours Saleya is gone...


... and the hose-man is cleaning the place.









Farewell Nice, farewell the French Riviera...
G@tto's planning to move somewhere,
on the coast, in a few years !

___________________