Scala Dublino (part 2)

Another section of scala Dublino, which we already saw in December.

Oddshot on Monday

The bus driver and an old lady in Via Marchesetti.

Click on over to Katney's Kaboodle
to the rest of the Oddshots from around the planet.

Castles

In the background on the right you can make out Duino Castle, and on the left is the shipyard in Monfalcone. In the foreground is Miramare Castle.

(for more photos see labels)

Sax

A lonely, wet saxophonist

Flatiron

From this viewpoint, the building on the corner reminds me of the famous flatiron building.
Or perhaps my imagination is running away with me.

My favourite place

An archive view of Trieste. In the distance you can see the Audace pier displaying an installation by Elisa Vladilo called "My favourite place".

Castle and Tree

Miramare Castle

The main entrance

Oddshot on Monday

More water in than out.

Click on over to Katney's Kaboodle
to the rest of the Oddshots from around the planet.

Blossomed Alabarda

Blossomed alabarda, a detail of the impressive wrought iron gate to the "Muzio de Tommasini" public garden.

Contovello (part 2)

Here we are back in Contovello (go to Thursday for the first part).

At the bottom of this quiet lane is the old church (1634), whose bell tower was intentionally built low to withstand the strong Bora gusts.

Skywatch Friday post

Sunset on a perfect flat sea.

See more Skywatch here.

Contovello

The gate into the medieval hamlet of Contovello, which lies a few kilometres outside Trieste.

This is all that remains of the hamlet, and it is surrounded by houses built much more recently. The village, perched on the karst ridge with a stunning view over the gulf, has nevertheless kept its timeless charm.

(to be continued on saturday)

The dinosaur

The Ursus, the aquatic dinosaur you can clearly see in the centre of the photo, was built in 1914, it weighs 2200 tons and is 75 metres high. The floating platform on which the crane rests, is 54 metres long and 24 metres wide.

The rotating crane used to lift a load of 150 tons as high as 70 metres on only one hook.
It could move independently thanks to two engines and two rudders. It had 18 crew members to guarantee the functioning of this huge machine. At full power and with a calm sea it could reach 4 miles per hour.

It was the pride of our dockyards and of the busy commercial city of Trieste. It was built to lift huge engines and move them into the bellies of transatlantic liners, and to carry cannons on the Austrian navy warships.
It lifted locomotives and railroad wagons and during the postwar period it rescued shipwrecks sunk in the gulfs of Trieste and Muggia.

Today, after years of inactivity and a recent brief renovation, it wanders about the Gulf, moving from place to place, waiting to know its future destiny. There are no resources available at the moment to fund its conversion, but the idea is to turn it into a museum eventually.

Ursus

The pontoon-crane "Ursus" moored to a wharf in the gulf of Trieste.

Tomorrow I'll tell you some history and you can see exactly how large this aquatic monster actually is.

Oddshot on Monday

2 Piazza Edmondo Puecher.

Just as I was taking a photo of the graffiti on the door and the rubbish skip, this man strolled past up the hill. Then, lo and behold, he turned round and strolled past for my second attempt! So, as it is street number 2, I thought I'd put the 2 of him onto the same photo, for an odd shot.

Click on over to Katney's Kaboodle
to the rest of the Oddshots from around the planet.

Phantom of the opera

(Via S.Nicolò)

Locked out

Skywatch Friday post

Two little clouds out on a day trip.

See more Skywatch here.

Boats on stilts

The crowded moorings of the Sacchetta Marina.