I stayed in the Holiday Inn at the Massaua Metro stop. It was pretty good as business hotels go. But the best part is its convenience to the Metro to get around. I arrived on the June 24 local holiday (St John's day I believe) so I had the afternoon free to do a bit of a Torino tour. I stopped at the book store at Porta Nouva to pick up some books in Italian for Queen Bee. I also grabbed a Piemontese cook book to replace the one that seems to have been lost in the move. From there up Via Roma with the rest of the residents strolling up the main shopping street. From there to Grom for a lemon and strawberry gelato (yum!). Then to the old Roman district for a beer before I returned to my room to get ready for dinner. It was nice to see the city again. It was perfect weather for a holiday stroll and the streets were full of people with the same idea.
The first morning I was back to my "normal" routine. Proceed to work and stopped along the way for a proper breakfast of cappuccino and a brioche.
The week ended with dinner at friends. Two couples I know well from my days in Italy. There was a long opportunity for apperitivo and chat on the balcony facing the Alps. Followed by a wonderful French meal and more good conversation. A perfect ending to a week in Torino.
