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In Italian this expression means “slowly, slowly, one step at a time.”
Having a piano delivered to a third floor apartment is challenging no matter where you live, but in a medieval city like Perugia, it can be nearly impossible. Until you watch four men carry a shiny black baby grand piano down the stone steps of its narrow streets using an ingenious (Italian!) mini tank-like contraption called a pianoplan to navigate the way. “Piano, piano” was indeed how it went!
The piano was on end with its keys and underside exposed as these guys in matching work coats, talking all the while on their cell phones, maneuvered the piano that had arrived by van in the piazza above moments before. The placement of a parked Ducati motorcycle didn’t help either! We watched in awe as they transported it to our neighbor’s house and then carried it on their backs up to the apartment on the 3rd floor as its proud owner hung out the window, smiling and waving!
It just proves how resourceful Italians are and highlights the surmountable challenges of life! Piano, piano!
– Contributed by Rosemary and Bob Connelly (see bio), artists who fulfilled their dream to “Live Cheap and Make Art” in Italy. Their website www.livecheapmakeart.com showcases their watercolors and photographs.
Thank you, GB, for posting the Connellys’ note. Their tasteful art does justice to Italy’s beauty. Auguri a tutti.
Loretta and Bob
Super story Rosemary & Bob! When friends visit us on the 3rd floor of a Neapolitan palazzo they worry about too many people getting into the tiny cage lift. But we always reassure them – “this is the way the piano arrived” and they feel somewhat better… creak!
How ingenious. I wonder how they move pianos in Venice!
I found both the tale and the photos most amusing. I know Perugia’s streets and even walking them can be difficult but moving a piano, what a nightmare.
Thanks for sharing this story with us.
Thanks everyone. It was really entertaining to watch!
Lovely. Thanks for this one.
To see how they move pianos in Venice, see my blog post for March 3, 2010, “Tour Italia,” Click on the second picture.
I’m sorry, make that my posting for March 4, 2010.