We picked up our host for the day, the club’s former secretary, and Erika, an Italian who has been living in England for eight years and served as a translator and host. The day really started at a factory that makes fringe, trim, and tassels, owned by a Rotarian, Tosco. His niece, Margarita, gave us the full tour. It was fascinating! Wacky-looking machines that combine all sorts of strings, threads, and such into beautiful, intricate cording, trims, curtains, and more. We ducked in and out of hanging strings and around whirling and weaving equipment to see the huge variety of design accents they produce. Makes me want to go start upholstering furniture and putting details on costumes so I could use all their beautiful products!
Tosca with just a few of his company's many beautiful products.
Margharita, Tosca's niece, with some of their larger products.
Cords and strings on their way to beauty!
Spinning a cord from string.
Metalic thread.
Midday, we climbed up many stairs for a great vista over Chieri, then walked around the main shopping street in town, eating à la carte at a cafe/sweets shop. For the restroom there you had to borrow the key and go outside, around back into a little courtyard. An accessory store shared the courtyard, and I spotted the most stunning purse in the window. It became my big purchase for the trip – look for it in future photos! (although it may be a bit bright for some tastes!)
The rooftops of Chieri.
Erika and Ruth with an injured pigeon.
Mid-afternoon was our Martini & Rossi tour. We waited for the tour to begin in a stylish lobby with a flat-screen showing nothing but sexy, celebrity-filled Martini commercials. The tour began in the museum, following the history of wine and alcohol making and serving – amazing artifacts from across the ages! The second part of the museum moves into Martini’s history and then advertising and sponsorships. Everywhere else in the world it is just “Martini,” but in the USA it is “Martini & Rossi” because by the time they expanded here we already had named a type of drink “Martini” and they had to adjust the name so there wouldn’t be confusion. We then got to smell a few of the many ingredients in Martini brand and followed by product sampling at the Martini bar by one of two famous Martini terraces. What an afternoon!
Our Martini guide with ancient Roman wine vats.
The group next to a gigantic grape press.
Smelling the ingredients of Martini.
Our guide shows off the products.
At the Martini terrace bar.
Kelli staffs the bar.
The day was not done yet, though. We returned to central Chieri and toured the local Textile museum, containing ancient, but all functional (if you know how to use them!) looms.
Our translator with the museum guide at the loom.
The guide explains the weaving process to Ruth, Jim, and many Chieri Rotarians.
We were given a two-hour break in center Chieri before the dinner and club meeting. We gave our short presentation at the meeting and then were treated to a moving, heartfelt, wonderful performance of Alpine songs by former Alpine military men.
Ruth and the Chieri club president exchange gifts.
The Alpine singers perform.
Jim chats with the singers.
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