Dear Dreamers, today I want to talk to you about another place close to my heart, the Libreria Acqua Alta in Venice
Have you never visited it? What a shame! Inside, you will find books from every era and occasion, all displayed in a unique way, with a stack of books here, a bathtub filled with texts there – in short, a source of curiosity at every glance.
You can even look out to the nearby canal and see a gondola pass by simply by climbing a staircase made of books, a unique way of recycling books that have been contaminated by mold or damaged by time.
And where else can you stroke a sleeping cat in a box of postcards in a bookstore? Only here!
If happens to be in Venice, make sure to stop by and visit the Libreria Acqua Alta. I’m sure you’ll thank me later!
Well, yes, we all know by now that there are infinite “healing” philosophies, and mind you, I am not delving into an unofficial universe of sciences, but rather I am delving into the microcosm of “Literary Healing”.
We live in years that are far from carefree, made up of a speed and rhythm that perhaps not even the least astute futurists (members of the eponymous movement) would have been able to imagine.
With just a click, we can order anything, at any time and with delivery times that are incomparable to the past.
And yet, the soul of things, that authentic taste, made of waiting and conquest, no longer has the same intensity.
It’s beautiful then to discover that, among so many videos, so many ideas and tutorials that want to solve everything, but never truly solve anything, someone has thought of creating the “Piccola Farmacia Letteraria” for our soul and emotions.
We must thank Elena Molini and her deep conviction that a good book can heal our soul. She, together with her sister Ester and two other fearless women, is the staff behind the success of: Piccola Farmacia Letteraria.
As they themselves say on their official website, they have been able to identify and catalog many books that today cover about eighty different moods, attitudes, and feelings.
A real panacea against inner maladies and the offspring of these times that are so little projected towards introspection.
In this blog, there has always been room for curiosity, poetry, and the unusual. I myself recently made a gift from their wonderful catalog of “products for every need,” choosing a BOX to better manage my resentment.
But the “symptoms” and “moods” curable with these BOXes are many, here are some: Resentment, Anxiety, Love with Heart Fixers, Luck with Continuous Bad Luck, and then Take it with Philosophy and Smart Working for Young Groundhogs.
The genius lies in simple ideas, and Elena’s idea is truly incredible and is garnering enormous success.
Given the current historical period, I hope to be able to visit their store in Florence as soon as possible, but for those who want and can, here is the address: La Piccola Farmacia Letteraria is located at Via di Ripoli 7/R, Florence.
Instagram: @piccolafarmacialetteraria
And finally, if you too are annoyed by people who bother you with their opinions while you build your life… well… here’s a perfect gift idea “branded” by the Farmacia Letteraria.
“Latin, what does Latin have to do with anything, let’s not joke…” I can already hear the surprise and disappointment for what I’m about to make you read, but the truth, even when it’s “uncomfortable,” still needs to be revealed.
Venice is a labyrinth of infinite connections, between bridges, alleys, small squares, and much more, but do we know the meaning behind each of the typical names of Venetian toponymy?
Here’s a brief guide to help you “orient” yourself among these concepts:
CALLE: Here we are with Latin, this word, also declined as “calle larga,” “colletta,” or “callesella,” derives from Latin “Callis,” which means: path, alley.
SALISADA: Paved street; a term present in the toponymy of Venice to designate the first streets with pavement.
CAMPO: The main characteristic is the wide size, and they were often not paved and, therefore, used to be full of crops.
LISTA: These are the streets that, with special white stones, marked the end of the diplomatic immunity zone of the diplomats who lived in the city. The famous Lista di Spagna, which takes us from the Venice railway station to Campo San Geremia, is an example.
RIO TERÀ: Indicates a pedestrian street built over a buried canal;
PISCINA: Places where high waters formed real pools of water in which, once the tide had receded, fish remained trapped, ready to be caught.
RAMO: These are small branches of alleys, often ending in a dead-end.
In addition, the names of the alleys indicate the professions carried out there, such as “calle del forno” (baker’s alley), “calle del tagiapiera” (stone cutter’s alley), “calle dei fabbri” (blacksmith’s alley), “calle dei botteri” (barrel makers’ alley), “calle del spezier” (spice maker’s alley), “calle delle rasse” (rope maker’s alley). In other cases, the names refer to altars or sacred corners, such as “calle del Cristo” (Christ’s alley), “calle della Madonna” (Madonna’s alley), “Calle del Paradiso” (Paradise’s alley). Alternatively, alleys were named after noble families who frequented or lived there, such as “calle Dolfin,” “calle Benzoni,” “calle Da Ponte,” “calle Vallaresso,” “calle Bressana.” Finally, there are alleys whose names are derived from significant events or specific functions, such as murders, as in the case of “Calle degli assassini” (Assassins’ alley).
The width of the alleys ranges from 53cm to 8m. If you want to experience a thrill, try passing through Calle Varisco, which with its 53cm imposes an alternating one-way traffic.
Near the Arsenale, in the vicinity of Calle Venier, there is one of the narrowest passageways in Venice, and as you can see from the image, I can barely fit through it.
But why is Venice so rich in narrow passageways? It’s simple! Venetians were required to leave a passage in order to obtain building permits, which forced them to be clever in leaving as little space as possible for people to pass through in the spaces granted.
Did you know that?
Thank you for reading the article, and I’ll see you soon on these pages.
Back to the future, one might exclaim, as the signal of a return to a world of photography that includes its analog version, particularly in the form of instant photography, is becoming increasingly clear.
It almost feels like going back to the 70s, but with all the comforts of the present moment. In fact, while in the past we may not have had a choice about printing our shots, today we can sometimes choose.
But first, let’s clarify: “how many and what formats of instant photos are available on the market?” If you’re wondering, here’s the answer with a small supporting graphic that doesn’t claim to explain everything, but most cases and possibilities.
Aesthetic analog film frame vector vintage style photography
We cannot forget the role that Fujifilm has carved out for itself alongside Polaroid with its Instax mini series: Instax mini.
insta mini series
Take a good look at them, they are totally analog, they appeal to young people, but not only them. They have literally taken the market by storm for their practicality, and despite the fact that the photo is technically the smallest among all those offered by various brands, it has fascinated everyone, enthusiasts and non-enthusiasts alike.
As shown in the graphic, Fujifilm also offers panoramic “Wide” and square “Square” formats to provide a range that can satisfy any scene.
Of course, Polaroid did not stand still and renewed itself mainly by following its tradition, namely the photographic format that bears its name, the Polaroid photo! In particular, the Polaroid Now takes center stage with its colorful ranges and traditional formats, winning over all age groups with various types of photographic paper, also including black and white.
Polaroid has also felt the influence of Instax and in addition to its classic format, it offers the Polaroid Go, with a square photo like the Square.
What makes the difference in the choice is the word “size”. Do I choose a model because it is small and portable or do I choose Polaroid because I want an instant photo but as large as possible?
There is therefore no one-size-fits-all answer, look inside yourself, understand what you are interested in doing and how to do it will come naturally.
As a side note, moving on to Zink printers, there are many brands available because the technology at its base is shared, that is, a paper that already contains the pigment and that varies in color depending on the temperature printed on it.
The range includes all the “classic” brands and some outsiders, with mostly similar results.
The advantage here is in choosing the photo on the phone and…printing! Nothing could be simpler, right?
The Zink printers convert digital into analog, they don’t have the mysterious charm of an instant photo where the quality, good or bad, is only revealed after a few minutes, but they play an important role in how we construct our memories.
Finally, are you unsatisfied and craving for “Square” or “Postcard” size photos? Canon’s Selphy series is perfect for you! Check it out here.
These printers are based on thermal sublimation technology, which uses 4 layers (3 base colors: red, blue, yellow plus a protective layer) to produce professional-quality photos at home.
So, I wish you to meet good light for your photos and… hope this post let print more photos!
Tra Realtà e Sogno 