Torino

I am currently in Torino (Turin for you non-Italiners) having a beer next to the Po river. The plan was to not spend any unnecessary money today since my host family packed me sandwiches and water but...I'm on vacation now! And to not slow down and enjoy the sights would be a shame right? Right! Especially since I already saw some sights.

Earlier today I went to the Duomo di San Giovanni or the Turin Cathedral that houses The Shroud of Turin. Ok so who knows what that actually is? I mean I heard it growing up but never knew...until today. The Shroud of Turin is a piece of fabric, linen to be exact that is said to have been the burial cloth in which Jesus was wrapped in after he was taken down from the cross. Apparently in the Shroud there is a face of a man that they believe is Jesus. Ok maybe you knew that...but I did not at all. Anyway, did you know that you cannot see the Shroud? The last time it was out for display was in 2008 (little late for that) and the next scheduled time will be 2025. 2025! Are you joking? How will I even remember that?...Worry about that one later. Anyway, the Shroud is in a box, and the box is covered with a religious ornamental fabric and that box, covered with the fabric is for display. Basically, you are looking at a storage facility for a piece of fabric. The rest of the Cathedral is beautiful but...kind of not what I wanted to see you know? Also, I don't know if I mentioned this before but in a lot of the big churches or cathedrals, women cannot show their bare shoulders. Many couches will have a shawl you can get at the front door. I mention it because if people read this and plan to go, they are well informed because I did not know that until I got here. I also saw the House of the Royals and...I was not that impressed. It was kind of ugly. I didn't pay to go inside so maybe the inside makes up for it but...not that cute. However, next to the House of the Royals there was a monument for the soldiers of Italy which was kind of cool. They are these giant statues of men, carved so realistically as if they just came back from war, just a beautiful monument.

Ok and something else that they don't tell you about Torino is the bus system. You cannot buy your bus ticket on the bus. You have to buy it at the Tobacco store, pharmacy, or somewhere else that you randomly see. Then you stamp it on the bus meaning its good for the next 90 minutes. So because I did not know this I got on the bus and the bus driver was like I don't sell tickets. Uh....ok...guess I'll just risk it. This woman heard us and gave me her ticket when she left. Thank goodness she did because about 20 minutes later the police came on board to check your tickets and the stamps. Thank you lady, thank you! Also, I forgot to mention that before I got on the bus I felt like I was in the scene of a movie where police cars pulled up to the station from all angles, hopped out and arrested some guy. Totally out of a movie.