Ever wondered? I mean, most of these buildings don't have elevators. My building is actually relatively "recent," from the 1700s, but it is right in between two buildings from the Middle Ages. I live on the 3rd floor (4th floor US) without an elevator and let me tell you, it's better than a Stairmaster. Most "Trasteverini" (Trastevere neighborhood natives) do the same thing.The other day I was in my kitchen looking out the window and I saw a hulking piece of furniture being brought up a sort of moving ladder, where it finally perched perilously on a tiny platform above the street, about 4 stories up. Hey, don't take my word for it. You can see for yourself:
I wish I had thought enough in advance to film that baby going up, because I was just cringing, almost sure there was going to be a nasty spill. It wobbled the whole way. But, these guys must really know their stuff because although it kept wobbling, it never fell off. Lucky for them. And luckier of course for any innocent bystanders. Almost as dangerous as the arrotino's basket of knives desecending from the window, no? What's in there, anyways? A piano?Round two. I'm now poised and ready with my camera to give you the enthralling, action-packed full-motion view. The only thing is that, because I made a mistake and filmed it with the camera tilted, and can't seem to find any way on Earth to make the video player flip it, you're going to have to take your monitor and turn it on its side. Don't worry, I'll wait....
All set?
Ok, here we go!
Right, maybe I am just easily amused, but I found this interesting. I'm keeping these guys in mind the next time I have a baby grand delivered.
7 comments:
You are a posting machine, woman! :)
Shelley,
I just thought of something. Maybe, you can hoist our luggage up that way when we stay in your apartments?
You sure keep things interesting. You and Ale have a great future ahead of you. Tanti auguri!
I would like to listen to the interview if it's possible and also I will buy Ale's book when I visit in May.
Whoa. I know the saying, but I dont think I've ever seen anyone do THAT the way Romans do. I mean, yikes. I've seen some precarious situations in San Francisco, but it usually involved a crane and a lot of strap-downs. Ever find out what it was?
Oh man! Who is going to pull it into the window? I'd have a heart attack if that was my baby grand. I'd probably go out and hire 10 professional weight lifters and stand behind them the whole time barking orders.
But what it really reminds me of is when people use the expression that someone is so fat they have to be lifted out of their house by a crane.
I thought getting our king size bed up to our third floor bedroom was a feat. We got nothing on this!
I know, isn't it crazy? I never did figure out what it was. The way they got it in the window is that there was a guy waiting in the window, but it looked like a pretty tricky operation to me. I like the idea of guest luggage though, that's awesome! And, lifting people out with a crane? That is such a good comparison. Can you imagine a person being lifted up and down with that ladder? Fun fun fun! ;-)
My brother-in-law had to use one of those contraptions to move his furniture into his house upstairs from us. Anyway, the people he hired to do the moving were molto incompetenti and didn't realise they had to secure the top of the ladder until after BIL's oven landed on the a neighbor's doormat.
Karen
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