If you live on Rue Longue, you'll be used to steep stairs. These are actually quite smart compared to many that have no tiles. The smaller photograph shows the entry with old tiles so typical of this area.There are five apartments in this building as you can see by the number of mailboxes.
Water, wine, milk, all your food, your household cleaners - everything - has to be carried up several flights of stairs and that's after you've already carried your shopping from the market to here. You'll find no cars in the tiny streets of the Old Town. (see next day's post - I was wrong!)
"Away from the world and its toils and its cares,
I've a snug little kingdom up four pairs of stairs."
- William Makepeace Thackeray (1811 - 1863)
I've a snug little kingdom up four pairs of stairs."
- William Makepeace Thackeray (1811 - 1863)
Lovely, and I would happily climb these. I am used to climbing stairs, since some of my friends live in buildings with no elevator.
ReplyDeleteA nice stairway, somehow inviting. One wants to go up and see what's at the end of stairs.
ReplyDeleteThat would be a nice climb for shaky knees.
ReplyDeleteThose risers are spotted like giraffes. I, too, climb a lot of stairs each day. I would love to see what waits at the top of these.
ReplyDeleteI think I would a lot better fit if had to climb these stairs several times a day.
ReplyDeleteThat's why the French women look so great. Maybe I'll get that way when I visit? HA
ReplyDeleteV
do old people stay inside once their joints give up?
ReplyDeleteBasic existence is pretty strenuous living in a place like that. I experienced a bit of this while in the Cinque Terra a couple of years ago.
ReplyDeleteThis brings back memories. Our apartment was on the 3rd floor, that's the 4th floor for Americans, and we did learn to do our shopping in smaller parts, but that is what it is all about: buying fresh food at the marche everyday. We did not have pretty tile stairs, nor a front door on our building. The dark stairs were our security system, and they worked wonderfully, just as your quote suggests.
ReplyDeleteThe tiles are beautiful. If I lived there, I'd hope that the night light switch was a little longer than a minute. It would take me more than a minute to get up that flight with groceries. But I bet there is a wonderful refuge at the top.
ReplyDeleteIt might be very nice but I would not be able to make such a climb. These days breath and getting enough of it is a chore since my lung collapsed episode. But the photo is nice and I would wonder what was at the top of the stairs.
ReplyDeleteGreat minds think alike! Very nice stairs, I like the tiles.
ReplyDeleteTo live in the Old town, you must deserve it ! Rue Longue, narrow and difficult stairs to go with. But as your well-chosen quotation said Jilly, the reward is on the top of the stairs."A snug little kingdom" like a dolls house.
ReplyDeleteThis is not an uncommon view in the old part of Livorno, but rarely stairs have so pretty tiles!
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