Dec 21, 2005
Art and his girls, Sara and Christina, are busy at the fortezza, installing the substructure. It's shiny and beautiful. This particular system is apparently the first of its kind, specially designed by Art, a modular series of metal refrigeration plates. Large enough to make a small skating rink and it’s going in the floor of the chiesa.



Art seems to be constructing what should have been assembled in Victoria prior to shipping. Delayed in Korea on another gig, now he’s doing it bolt by bolt here in Fenestrelle. First the styrofoam, then the metal plates; Jaz and the girls put down the styrofoam, screwed the bolts & fittings, and today Art was cutting a hole in 30 metal pipes, and soldering them. He is completely unfazed by the challenges he’s faced with. Looking for acetylene or a particular fitting, unique in the world. He speaks probably two words of Italian, but he’s optimistic and determined and he’s been getting it done. Oh, he has stories!.



We’ve found an internet site in Sestriere, 20 kms from Fenestrelle. What is the urban myth here? Supposedly, “for security reasons” no one, foreigners especially, can to use their own computer anywhere in Sestriere. Everyday the police visit a place called “Flower Power” and copy the passport numbers of those who have used the filthy standard computer at the site. I saw them gathering around its door, even as I had discovered another access point, in the Grand Hotel Sestriere! Where no one asked for my passport! and where, for 8 euros an hour, I can sit with my own laptop and go anywhere the internet will take me.