Torino

"What's there to see in Turin?", that's what everyone asked when we said we were going there. The only sight of significance that I know of when I put this on our road map was the shroud of Turin. But that's not the reason we chose to stop here, we just thought we'd go to a different part of Italy since we'd already been to Cinque Terra the last time we were here. Once again the location of our airbnb was perfect, right in front of a little park cum square surrounded by restaurants and walking distance to all the main sights. We found a parking spot right by the apartment and didn't move the car for the entire time we were here.

The mini piazza in front of our apartment. Our entrance is the brown arched door first from the left. 

Pre-dinner drinks right downstairs, served with a very generous complimentary platter of nibbles.

Mama translating the menu to a little monkey, Italian to English then to Mia-speak!

I finally decided on this. A regional specialty, crumbed veal, poached egg, vegetables all marinated in vinegar served cold. Well, tasted interesting and the meat was good but the zucchini was a little hard to finish, way too sour! 

Turin at night, beautifully lit up 

Who would have thought that we would come all the way to Turin to see Egyptian mummies? Turns out that Turin has the world's second largest collection of Egyptian artefacts.

Ice cold granitas to kick start the day

At the Museo Egizio

Back home, on our second night we hung out at our little square people watching as waited for our table at one of the neighbourhood restaurants. We ate at a restaurant across  this place last night and we noticed people milling around waiting for a table here from the time we sat down till we left. After googling them, found out that they were recently voted one of Turin's top 50 restaurants (seems there are a lot of very good restaurants in this city), and they specialise in slow cooking. 

Our little camera-lady capturing the night on film.

Abstract art - taken by Missy Mia 

Simple food but the flavours were spot on. Two different kinds of salad, slow cooked lamb, duck with fresh spaghetti and a very fine tiramisu. 

Turin's central market, Mercato di Porta Palazzo was just a few minutes walk from our apartment. I headed out there one morning while the monkeys were still asleep for a little look see which turned into a two hour outing. That's what happens when there are no little voices whinging, or rushing me to leave! They had absolutely everything there, vegetables, fruit, meat, fish, cheese, hams, clothes, shoes, you name it, they had it. There were even two stalls selling choy sum and other Chinese vegetables! Took my time nosing around all the stalls.

Super fresh veg in all shapes and sizes

Sweet and savoury delights. Stopped for a quick coffe fix at a little cafe. Standing room only, the cappuccino was so good, served with a little glass of water on the side.

How could we leave the home of chocolate before treating ourselves to some chocolaty goodness?  Mia had her fill of chocolate gelatos, while Ryan was happy with his chocolate drinks.

Nutella milkshake 

Hot chocolate