Show 70th anniversary of the Battle of Nowo-Postojalowka Nikolajewka

Today, January 20, marks the seventieth anniversary of the Battle of Nowo-Postojalowka Nikolajewka, the lastbattle fought by our military dell'ARMIR during the retreat from Russia. It lasted seven days, during which our Alpinecercarno out of the bag created by the Russians who had broken through the lines on Don North and South do not want to dwell on this because there are hundreds of books available on these facts, what can be definitely say is that the comparison was certainly learn, and means for number of men. Nevertheless the Alpine succeeded with incredible losses, to move towards the way home. Unfortunately for them, this march created, perhaps, more victims of the battle itself because of the shortage of supplies and equipment that are not suitable for climates so rigid.

In addition mockery of life, many arrived near the Italian border were captured by the Germans, who meanwhile had become enemies, and interned in some prison camp.

A Mondovì these days, despite the snow, we commemorate the anniversary with a gathering of Alpini from all over Italy and an interesting exhibition in the chapel of St. Stephen.

Today I've toured armed with my beloved Canon 40D and Tamron 17-50 f 2.8.

About mules will transcribe these lines that might make it more like the idea of the situations where our grandparents lived.

Letter to my dear Urbisaglia of the Alpine driver Peter Bongiovanni from "In Russia with Urbi" - From Peveragno toDon and back "

Dear mule,

if today I write these few lines I owe it to you because with your help are one of the few who have returned from the Russian front.

Urbisaglia was your name, but I had abbreviated "Urbi" were always ready to my call, I said "anduma urbi" and youwere leaving, I will not say you've never done. You have always done more than your duty, to the impossible. First with the cart during marches closer, then in service until January 17 with the slide, on this date began our ordeal.How hungry you eat only to suffer a bit 'of straw and with how much snow you have to quench your thirst, but in spite of everything you've always gone ahead with the slide loads, sometimes frozen, sometimes injured. Had evenlearned to move the slide when the pads ice remained stuck in the snow. Who knows how many will remember and still can say thank you to be back with you.

After many hardships you're still back in Italy, your partner no, "Bimbo" died exhausted while driving making the most of his duty just when he was beginning to feel the scent of Italy.

Maybe someone will laugh, but the truth is that before leaving, I said hello embraced and kissed her with tears.

Thanks dear Muli.

And finally we come to the sore spot, boots. As you can see, the Germans were the most forward technically speaking, Italian boots were not bad for our climate, but the nails were as a thermal bridge and the cold of the Russian winter did not take much time to get your feet frozen. The Russians instead wore simple shod in felt, in fact, at those temperatures the snow does not get wet and you are walking on a soft layer.

Fiery sunset Epiphany

Today in Mondovi was the 25th meeting of the Epiphany hot air balloon, I went there but I have not even pulled out my camera, always the same thing and I had no idea my head. Shoot without clear ideas of what you want to do is useless.

Then on the way home on the hill of San Lorenzo, just above the eyes Monastery Vasco I am this show, what to say? In the face of so much beauty you can just shut up and thank Mother Nature for that.

Just enough time to do some shooting with the Samsung Wonder and after a brief merge in photoshop this is the result.

Happy New Year from Our Lady of Ronvello

And here we are in 2013, I greet him with this panorama, taken from Madonna di Ronvello, a small church onDemonte Stura Valley.

It is said that even to give his name to this jug was an exclamation of the Emperor Constantine in 1305, climbing up to date to be able to see all his army encamped in the plain below exclaimed "Se Roman Velle" which Ronvello.Shortly after the sun went down and the trophy would look prescient of the Cross, formed by light rays and the words "By this sign you win." For this reason, the inhabitants built the chapel.
I have not had any appearance, but the sun setting behind the mountains in front of it is still a good show.
Interesting is the vision of two small hills in the middle of the plain in front of Demonte, just above the site of theold fort of the Consolata.
It was built in 1590 by Charles Emmanuel to defend the valley against attacks Huguenots arrived by 1744 virtuallyuntouched, in that year the Franco-Spanish besieged him during their advance towards the plain, and there was a large exchange of artillery.
Although the walls were bombproof the Piedmontese left him panic due to the fire developed and retreated toCuneo. Was restored in the following years and finally destroyed by order of Napoleon, after the armistice of Cherasco, in 1796. Was not rebuilt because in the meantime Carlo Alberto of Savoy had built this majestic fort ofVinadio.
In the 30s it was added in the Vallo Alpino, on the podium were placed some artillery guns and long range to defendthe valley from a possible French invasion.
The photo is a union of six shots taken with my trusty samsung galaxy wonder. None of that compared to a DSLR,but want to put the convenience of having always behind.

Panorama Stura Valley

With this shot achieved by combining 5 photos captured with my samsung wonder I leave the 2012. Hoping that 2013 is better. The photo is nothing special but I liked the view from that point on, I will a little 'better equipped ...
We are in Val Stura di Demonte, just above the Madonna del Pino, everything to the left is the hill of Festiona, on the right the valley very slowly climbs towards the hill of La Maddalena.

Turning their backs on this sunset the sun shines for a moment a tongue of snow.

Sunset 21/12/2012

And this long-awaited winter solstice is gone, the world has not ended, it was obvious, but many have believed in this Mayan prophecy invented by the media.
On the other hand gave me a beautiful sunset during the making of this work http://storieefoto.blogspot.it/2012/12/solstizio-dinverno-21122012.html
Canon 40d + Sigma 12-24

Finally in this 21/12/2012 the sun comes out Mondovi

Seemed destined to end the world, wake up early to go on the hill near Briaglia that the day before I found them on Bisalta the view is spectacular and is the backdrop to the ancient village of Mondovi Square.
I watched the sun illuminate first Bric Costa Rossa then the tip of the Besimauda and slowly throughout the ridge. The ground was hard, the grass covered with a thin layer of frost. I was taking. The hands almost numb because of the very low temperature.
I thought I had finished my morning shots, I imagined the situation already for shooting at dusk and I was removing my Manfrotto when I noticed the curious play of light.
Mondovi Square is lit while the slopes of the Besimauda, which are the background, they are still in the dark. A click on the fly, this is the result.
Canon 40D + Canon 100-400 IS the freehand.

A few days ago I was casually on the pot overlooking mondovì, a small town in northern Italy.
I was there to photograph the international gathering of hot air balloons that takes place every year.
The situation gave me an opportunity to remember a famous feat of arms, unique in history.
When Napoleon Bonaparte arrived in Italy in 1796 is on its way the "Dragons Her Majesty" under the command of Colonel de Oncieux Chaffardon. Near Mondovi April 21 the French cavalry, led by General Stengel is rejected and defeated by the Dragoons in retreat. Stengel falls mortally wounded. The king pin is on the Banner of the Regiment two Gold Medals, believing that "one is not enough to reward so much value."

This is a comparison between a vintage print of Bagetti and the situation today that I made a few years ago.

This is what the Piedmontese troops saw.  (union of three frames in photoshop Canon 40d + Tamron 17-50 f2.8).

Looking towards Mondovi you can see the ancient walls of the citadel and the Monviso as background.