The Alpines

Today Piacenza is getting invaded of 400 000 Alpines. Every second year? they arrange a big party in one city in Italy and this year it's going to be held in Piacenza, a city of 100 000 citizens (how did they think?). For four days they have blocked the whole center and you can not leave or enter after today afternoon. For them there will be 8000 busses to take them in and out from the city center but for people in Piacenza there is nothing organized... Almost all shops are closing down and even the hospital is closed!!! Instead they've arranged with hospital camps like in wartimes... It will be a great mess this weekend and since Stefano has to use his car for work we will escape to Finale Ligure where Stefano can work in peace (and I can enjoy the beach :). Stefano allready left and I'll leave today afternoon. Unfortunately we have to close Ivory for two days, but probably we would not sell anything during these days anyway, the alpinists are not here for doing vintage shopping :) They are here for drinking beer, eating and watching all the parades and events they've organized.


The Alpini (English: "Alpines") are the elite mountain warfare soldiers of the Italian Army. They are currently organized in two operational brigades, which are subordinated to the Alpini Corps Command. The singular is Alpino ("Alpine").
Formed in 1872, they are the oldest active mountain infantry in the world. Their original mission was to protect Italy's northern mountain border with France and Austria. In 1888 the Alpini were sent to their first mission abroad.

The Alpines are very proud peolple and in Italy it is a lifestyle to be an alpinist.

 This is how crowded it will be during this weekend!

The old times

The famous hat