THE ODDITIES AND MISCELLANY POST

CHIMNEY SWEEPS
There is an annual gathering of chimney sweeps in the local valley and several references to them as we walked around the area -- didn't manage the museum though - things are shutting down now the summer is over.  Nice idea though.

Santa Maria Maggiore, Druogno Malesco Toceno, Craveggia, Villette, and Re: the several chimneys sprouting on the roofs of stone smoke in the winter and tell the stories of a profession now almost disappeared, the one of the sweeps. In Santa Maria Maggiore a museum shows their evidence, and recalls the years when the Vigezzo people were forced to emigrate in search of fortune, as chimney sweeps, both in Italy, since 1300, and in Europe since 1600. The museum in the park of Villa Antonia collects the tools of this job and photographs and testimonials. In the migration were involved especially the children, whose frail figure allowed an agile climbing in the narrow passages to be swept. Many children left home when they were 6, 7 years old. Some bakeries now sweeten these bitter memories churning out the “kisses of chimney sweeps”, typical biscuits of the place.

MUSHROOM GATHERING TIME

Every year in the Dolomites, Pyrennees and now here, we arrive at fungi time - passing loads of people roaming the woods and baskets of the produce outside local shops.  We met this couple one day on the top of a mountain with their afternoon harvest.  Those mushrooms are HUGE.

ALESSI


Passed the Alessi factory with a factory shop - geeeorgeous designer stuff - but still couldn't afford the prices of £30 for a bottle opener.  Even the miniature kettles and lemon squeezers were more than we would pay for a non-designer one!

Nice looking though.






LIVING IN REMOTER VILLAGES THAN BECK HEAD

Getting around the villages looks like a major problem with narrow alleys and windy windy roads up to the village - but where there's a will there is a way.  Helicopters bring in and take out building materials and rubble, little freight cable car trolleys haul goods in and out, if no cars can get up, and these little helpers and miniature tractors and snow ploughs are more innovative ways of living.





THIS YEARS HOME- ALWAYS AN ODDITY TO NON CAMPERS