Turin in snow.


Thu 22 Jan 2009
To make my way closer to the other European countries, I met up with another couch surfer who was travelling from Rome to her home city of Turin by train. Sounded like a fair plan, train to the icy city of Turin, take a look around. There was still hope of getting to friends in Switzerland and Germany even though my travel plans were now 3 days behind.

Turin was interesting. Couchsurfing in Turin even more so. Rita was a typical host. Big smiles, can't do enough, extremely good guide information and most of all accepting, in terms of letting people into her home.

During my stay, I got to look around variously at the city, do a spot of shopping, join in a family dinner  that included two small lads enjoying the love of their Italian mother through copious amounts of food… She thought it hilarious when I pointed it out…. Italian mothers being so reported for this behaviour. O yeah, the other thing, I had the opportunity to attend a book launch. Literally translated, the book was called "Concrete Party" and a co-author, a friend of Rita's from Genoa. In a suitably grand building in the heart of Turin (aren't they all), the authors and researcher set about a discussion about the book an the spoiling of the Genoa(ish) water front by millions of cubic metres of concrete being moulded into the shape of luxury high rise units. Amongst the open forum that the launch had become as one crowd member grabbed the mic after another, two things dawned. One, Italians apparently no language equivalent, or no concept of the word "concise". Two, my home town Airlie Beach and the beautiful Whitsundays and other renowned destinations throughout the world were being challenged by the investment dollar and the development they bring… by the sounds, Genoa was doing worse than most.

John Nayler

Digital Marketer. Sailor. Speaker





John Nayler

Brisbane, QLD

0407 15 13 11

John Nayler

In a world where it is critical to cut through the noise and stand out, John Nayler quietly delivers significant competitive advantage through an in-depth knowledge and intense fascination with content, information and the digital world. Describing his first contact with the internet in 1998 as ‘Love At First Sight’, John successfully created the laptop lifestyle before it was a buzzword, growing a highly regarded digital and media agency, inventing and commercialising products, and launching niche magazines, from aboard his boat in the Whitsunday Islands – one of the most sought after island locations in the world. Competitive advantage is a hard-contact, tactical game which can be won or lost in the digital space. John’s education and commitment to his field, and experience at the forefront of marketing and management in the IT space, delivers an innate understanding of how to position, communicate and leverage to deliver improved visibility, lead flow, and ultimately drive sales and profitability...