Notices by Bernie (codewiz@mstdn.io), page 7

@tagomago Shrove Tuesday, what's that?? Ah, Martedì Grasso! (literally "Fat Tuesday")

@hypolite @bekopharm I no longer live in Italy and I have no evidence of corruption other than the suspicious autovelox placement, but Italians seem overwhelmingly supportive of Fleximan. I learned about it today from national TV news: they made an attempt to report from a neutral standpoint, but the journalist couldn't hide a smile 🤭

@tagomago Yeah, nice!

I'm not sure why Carnevale happens on a different day every year, but some local sources claim it was this weekend:
https://www.piananotizie.it/carnevale-2024-a-firenze-il-27-e-28-gennaio-gran-ballo-e-sfilata-in-maschera/

There were relatively few people dressed up in the streets, probably because the tradition is starting to fade. Kids today are more globalized: they celebrate Halloween and dress up as Harry Potter 😂

We head over to Palazzo Vecchio and... wtf 😒

Ah, is it already Carnevale in Florence? 🎭

This is a high-volume espresso outlet, with 4 baristas keeping the machine constantly pouring coffee. If you manage to elbow your way to the bar front, they'll serve you within a few seconds. ☕

Paszkowski is a busy "caffè pasticceria". A delicious espresso costs only €1.30 at the bar... or €4.50 at a table on the front patio.

We arrive in Piazza della Repubblica, with its fake historic carousel, which was added no more than 20 years ago.

On this particularly nice Sunday evening, Via Calzaiuoli (shoemaker's street) is super crowded. These people are not necessarily shopping or going anywhere: they're simply walking around the streets, just like us.

The Duomo is literally the highlight of our evening walk through Florence 🤩

Nearby, the windows of Trattoria da Nuti display their famous fresh pasta and ravioli 😋

A street artist sings a slow cover of A-ha's Take On Me.

Taking my mum for a walk through the historic center of Florence. #italy #firenze

@bekopharm @xelot I don't own a car, but I've seen Italian speed traps positioned right after an unnecessary 30 km/h sign on a straight road where the speed limit is normally 50 or 80 km/h.

I can see how these would anger most Italian drivers.

@bekopharm I wonder how much would be the fine for being caught destroying speed traps... and whether Fleximan's supporters would get together to crowd-source it 🍿

@slyborg I'd buy them just to reward my mum for not being wasteful, but at the same time I think it's kinda extreme 😅

Of course #Fleximan has a catchy song! 😂

Lyrics:

Non puoi multare... è inarrestabile
Non puoi multare... lui è introvabile
Non puoi multare... col suo flessibile
Non puoi multare... con Fleximan

You can't fine... he's unstoppable
You can't fine... he's uncatchable
You can't fine... with his grinder
You can't fine... with Fleximan!

https://on.soundcloud.com/dhtJc
#italy #italia

In Italy, a mysterious individual is cutting down several "autovelox" speed traps with a "flessibile" (angle grinder).

Italian social media is highly supportive of the initiative and created the superhero myth of Fleximan 😂

#italy #fleximan

I have never seen anyone use a Bic pen all the way to the end. My mum wants to keep it... but do they even sell refills for these? 😂

It's a sunny winter day in the Tuscan country 🤩