Ciao!
So I am sitting in my apartment, which is completely packed into four very heavy suitcases, and thinking about the last 9 months of my life here in Florence. I absolutely can not comprehend the amount I have learned about myself, about art, about new cultures, and everything else I have tried, tasted or attempted in the last year.
I am unsure what I take away from this year, but I know I return home a re-modeled version of my old self, though where the renovations took place I am not sure. I hope that I am able to hold on to the feeling I have right now of being so unbelievably lucky this great city allowed me to spend time here. I worry that with the ease of life at home I will forget the skills and confidence I found here.
While I miss my family, my friends, my language, my car, foods from all over the world, and especially my school, I can not help but feel like I am on a one-way street wanting to go in the opposite direction....
That's all for now, my conclusions about the trip must come later as I am very unsure about what they are at the moment. I do know it has been one thing... a definite TRIP.
All the love, and here I come USA.
That Girl Who Is No Longer Living In Europe But In Transit Back to the States
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
My Last Weekend Excursion!
Hey Everyone!!
So it is Wednesday of my last week (I leave Sunday!), and I am actually starting to pack everything up, which is VERY STRANGE! I just can not believe it is coming to an end. However, I plan to go out with a bang, and have planned accordingly. This past weekend I made my final excursion around Italy to Mantua and Verona, two beautiful northern cities I had never been to.
We left Saturday, and pulled into Verona just as the sun broke out, and it was perhaps one of the most glorious days I have seen in a while. Roughly 75 degrees with a light breeze! We walked around Verona for hours, the lack of actual sites makes it an ideal town to simply wander. We ate well (SO WELL, we couldn't eat the next day!), and saw the House of Juilet! The balcony was very nice :) After wandering for a while and enjoying the lovely views of the River, we hopped back on the train and headed back South a bit to Mantua.
Mantua, unlike Verona, is heavy on sites, especially Palazzos!! We spent the night in Mantua on Saturday night, and woke to RAIN RAIN AND MORE RAIN. It was pretty bad, but we got out the umbrellas and headed out to the Palazzo Ducale and the Palazzo Te. Both were decorated extravagantly, and the Te is something to behold with its Room of the Giants, and its Room of the Horses. After we perused the palaces we sought out shelter in the Church of Saint Andrea, a church built by the fabulous Alberti. This church is inexplicably moving in its classical porportions and overall harmony, the man certainly knew how to build a nice church :)
After another lovely meal, we headed back to Florence and I realized that I was walking from the train station home for the last time after one of my amazing experiences around the continent. It was a truly heart-breaking moment, and I still haven't quite recovered from the realization that it is indeed almost over!
Anyway, no time for unhappiness, I have three more days here! I have attached pictures below, I hope you will enjoy them, some were gotten against the express wishes of numerous museum guards!! However, I prevailed, and I hope you enjoy them!
All the love!
That Girl Still Kind of in Europe
VERONA:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2551139&id=8642257&l=d05f16d67e
MANTUA:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2551651&id=8642257&l=618af54a60
So it is Wednesday of my last week (I leave Sunday!), and I am actually starting to pack everything up, which is VERY STRANGE! I just can not believe it is coming to an end. However, I plan to go out with a bang, and have planned accordingly. This past weekend I made my final excursion around Italy to Mantua and Verona, two beautiful northern cities I had never been to.
We left Saturday, and pulled into Verona just as the sun broke out, and it was perhaps one of the most glorious days I have seen in a while. Roughly 75 degrees with a light breeze! We walked around Verona for hours, the lack of actual sites makes it an ideal town to simply wander. We ate well (SO WELL, we couldn't eat the next day!), and saw the House of Juilet! The balcony was very nice :) After wandering for a while and enjoying the lovely views of the River, we hopped back on the train and headed back South a bit to Mantua.
Mantua, unlike Verona, is heavy on sites, especially Palazzos!! We spent the night in Mantua on Saturday night, and woke to RAIN RAIN AND MORE RAIN. It was pretty bad, but we got out the umbrellas and headed out to the Palazzo Ducale and the Palazzo Te. Both were decorated extravagantly, and the Te is something to behold with its Room of the Giants, and its Room of the Horses. After we perused the palaces we sought out shelter in the Church of Saint Andrea, a church built by the fabulous Alberti. This church is inexplicably moving in its classical porportions and overall harmony, the man certainly knew how to build a nice church :)
After another lovely meal, we headed back to Florence and I realized that I was walking from the train station home for the last time after one of my amazing experiences around the continent. It was a truly heart-breaking moment, and I still haven't quite recovered from the realization that it is indeed almost over!
Anyway, no time for unhappiness, I have three more days here! I have attached pictures below, I hope you will enjoy them, some were gotten against the express wishes of numerous museum guards!! However, I prevailed, and I hope you enjoy them!
All the love!
That Girl Still Kind of in Europe
VERONA:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2551139&id=8642257&l=d05f16d67e
MANTUA:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2551651&id=8642257&l=618af54a60
Friday, April 24, 2009
Just Some Fun Pictures
Ciao!
I just wanted to put up a link to some recent pictures of my life in Florence. The first set of them is Easter Sunday in the Piazza al Duomo and the next set are pictures of my apartment!! The final part are some pix snapped at my school with some of the kids relaxing in our Giardino (garden).
Hope you enjoy!
Lydia
"Tu Vuo Fa L'americano?":
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2549218&id=8642257&l=972d015363
I just wanted to put up a link to some recent pictures of my life in Florence. The first set of them is Easter Sunday in the Piazza al Duomo and the next set are pictures of my apartment!! The final part are some pix snapped at my school with some of the kids relaxing in our Giardino (garden).
Hope you enjoy!
Lydia
"Tu Vuo Fa L'americano?":
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2549218&id=8642257&l=972d015363
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Padova Starring the ARENA CHAPEL!
Ciao tutte!
I am just returned from the North, and the beautiful town of Padua (or Padova). It was picturesque and beautiful but it was soooo RAINY. Put a bit of a damper on the day (hehe, pun totally intended) but did not spoil the fun. I went with my friend Kellin BW, and we hit up the Church of Saint Anthony of Padua, and his healing tomb, before we headed to the Arena Chapel. The Church of San Anthony was soooo strange, but very cool. There are parts that have 13th century art in the style of Giotto, other parts that are totally Baroque-ified with crazy gilding and soaring details, but there is also a large part that was either restored or maybe just redecorated in the 19th century with art noveau figures! Seriously there are saints that look like they came straight out of a Mucha calendar! One female saint has long blonde pigtails that go all the way down to her knees! Definitely do not see that often in Renaissance church decoration.
After the Church, we ate lunch at a hideously decorated restaurant. The food was good, but the place itself was rather ... unappealing in decor. We then headed back over toward the Arena, and the Chapel!!!! I was sooo excited. Some of you who read this may know that I have actually visited the Scrovegni Chapel before... when I was 9. Mom took us, Nick, me and Guy, on our first trip to Europe, and I guess after the Louvre, and Versallies, and the wonders of Venice, I was a bit tired, and especially tired of art. The story of our visit goes that while Mom, and I'm sure Guy, were esctatic to be there, I was decidely not. I believe that I began to cry, lied down on one of the side benches, closed my eyes, and refused, quite loudly, to look at any more art. For any of you who have seen the interior of the Chapel, you will know that it is almost impossible to NOT look at something when you are there, and my decision to close my eyes was one of absolute desperation. HOWEVER, this time was definitely different.
We only got to be inside the Chapel for 15 minutes, and we looked over every single scene! It was breathtaking and I am so happy I had the opportunity to return when I was a bit more knowledgeable and a lot less tired. Pictures follow below of the town of Padova, and the outside of the Chapel, however cameras were not allowed inside, so Sorry!
Missing everyone, but relishing my last days here!
That Girl in Europe (for exactly two more weeks!)
Padova:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2547150&id=8642257&l=a3192dc727
I am just returned from the North, and the beautiful town of Padua (or Padova). It was picturesque and beautiful but it was soooo RAINY. Put a bit of a damper on the day (hehe, pun totally intended) but did not spoil the fun. I went with my friend Kellin BW, and we hit up the Church of Saint Anthony of Padua, and his healing tomb, before we headed to the Arena Chapel. The Church of San Anthony was soooo strange, but very cool. There are parts that have 13th century art in the style of Giotto, other parts that are totally Baroque-ified with crazy gilding and soaring details, but there is also a large part that was either restored or maybe just redecorated in the 19th century with art noveau figures! Seriously there are saints that look like they came straight out of a Mucha calendar! One female saint has long blonde pigtails that go all the way down to her knees! Definitely do not see that often in Renaissance church decoration.
After the Church, we ate lunch at a hideously decorated restaurant. The food was good, but the place itself was rather ... unappealing in decor. We then headed back over toward the Arena, and the Chapel!!!! I was sooo excited. Some of you who read this may know that I have actually visited the Scrovegni Chapel before... when I was 9. Mom took us, Nick, me and Guy, on our first trip to Europe, and I guess after the Louvre, and Versallies, and the wonders of Venice, I was a bit tired, and especially tired of art. The story of our visit goes that while Mom, and I'm sure Guy, were esctatic to be there, I was decidely not. I believe that I began to cry, lied down on one of the side benches, closed my eyes, and refused, quite loudly, to look at any more art. For any of you who have seen the interior of the Chapel, you will know that it is almost impossible to NOT look at something when you are there, and my decision to close my eyes was one of absolute desperation. HOWEVER, this time was definitely different.
We only got to be inside the Chapel for 15 minutes, and we looked over every single scene! It was breathtaking and I am so happy I had the opportunity to return when I was a bit more knowledgeable and a lot less tired. Pictures follow below of the town of Padova, and the outside of the Chapel, however cameras were not allowed inside, so Sorry!
Missing everyone, but relishing my last days here!
That Girl in Europe (for exactly two more weeks!)
Padova:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2547150&id=8642257&l=a3192dc727
Thursday, April 16, 2009
I Leave In Two Weeks
Wow. It just hit me that I am leaving Florence and Italy in two weeks. This idea blows my mind. For so long my life has been either waiting to go to abroad to Florence, applying to Florence, waiting to hear back from Florence, planning my trip to Florence, LIVING in Florence, exploring Florence, and now its leaving Florence? I am having such a hard time with this. While it is true that all good things must come to end, does this really have to?
The hardest part about this is that I am so conflicted. A large part of me is excited to go home, see my family, not stress about language barriers and strange customs. But a HUGE part of me will miss blundering through conversations with crazy taxi drivers, weaving through the crowds gawking at the Duomo (this I will miss less than the other things), and most of all living in this incredible city in this inspiring country on my favorite continent. But then again I am a European Studies minor :) With all that has been happening, like writing and presenting my 22-page research paper on Marriage Imagery in the Florentine Renaissance, I feel like I haven't quite taken the time to think about what I am leaving behind, and what I am moving towards. Unfortunately, the list of what I leave behind is much, much longer than what I am moving towards.
There are no funny stories today, or even scary anecdotes, I just kind of needed to get these thoughts out of my head and into another space. Maybe now I can sleep.
Love to all,
That Girl in Europe (but not for long)
The hardest part about this is that I am so conflicted. A large part of me is excited to go home, see my family, not stress about language barriers and strange customs. But a HUGE part of me will miss blundering through conversations with crazy taxi drivers, weaving through the crowds gawking at the Duomo (this I will miss less than the other things), and most of all living in this incredible city in this inspiring country on my favorite continent. But then again I am a European Studies minor :) With all that has been happening, like writing and presenting my 22-page research paper on Marriage Imagery in the Florentine Renaissance, I feel like I haven't quite taken the time to think about what I am leaving behind, and what I am moving towards. Unfortunately, the list of what I leave behind is much, much longer than what I am moving towards.
There are no funny stories today, or even scary anecdotes, I just kind of needed to get these thoughts out of my head and into another space. Maybe now I can sleep.
Love to all,
That Girl in Europe (but not for long)
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Mexican Easter!
I would also like to add a HUGE thank you to Sarah T. Kellin, Sarah D, and Chris for having me over for your Mexican Easter festivities. I don't think I have EVER enjoyed Easter so much :)
Some of My Last Travels
Hello!
What a couple of weeks, and the ones coming up don't look much calmer! It has been an interesting time, as I took my last trips out of the country and welcomed friends to my own. I toured tiny towns of Italy, and visited the largest Metropolis on this side of the Atlantic. A study in paradoxes, my last couple of weeks have been in a word.... exhausting. :)
The weekend following my trip to beautiful Belgium, I traveled over mountains to the other side of the Italy, and embarked on a Pilgrimage to the great Italian painter, Piero della Francesca. I will henceforth refer to it as the Piero Pilgrimage. Sarah M. and I went with a class from our school, and visited FIVE cities: Arezzo, Monterchi, Sansepolcro, Urbino, Rimini. It was a whirlwind of two days, but absolutely unforgettable. We saw, without a doubt, almost the entirety of this artist's work, and even if we didn't see every work, we saw the best!! We also had this FABULOUS dinner, where we sat at two huge tables of 25 people each, and were served course after delicious course of food for 3 hours. I must explain the magnitude of the food though. When I say course after course, I mean FOUR courses with at least SEVEN options each. We had antipastas, primis, secundis, and dolce! All washed down with unlimited delicious wine from central Italy. I have NEVER been so full. It was an unforgettable weekend, and I adored all the small towns I had never seen before!
I came home after that weekend, and looked at the list of places I had compiled on my first flight to Florence last September of all the places that I wanted to see while I was abroad and realized that my number one city was NOT crossed off! So I got my ticket and I headed to LONDON the next weekend. I must say that it was a relief to get off the plane and be able to speak English, it made everything so much easier! However, I did miss the smell of Italy when it was replaced with the pollution in London. :( I immediately hit the museums, starting off with the National Gallery and touring for hours. I saw paintings I have dreamt about for years, but interestingly I did not remember being there before. I went to London on my first trip to Europe when I was 9 years old, and I didn't remember anything I saw on my trip this time. Anyway, I hit the National Gallery, the Tate Modern, the Portrait Gallery, the Tower, and Somerset House and Courtauld Institute, which many of you know I had hoped to attend this semester. It was a good experience, and I was given a tour of the Institute so I know what I am getting into if I decided to apply again, this time for graduate school there. Also by chance they were hosting an exhibition of the Tuscan Renaissance Marriage Cassone (large chests given to brides by the groom's parents) which I am writing a very long presentation on at the moment! So it was great to see some other examples of the works, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. I then walked all around that area, and truth be told, shopped. I was staying in Sloane Square at the Sloane Square Hotel (which I completely reccomend, it was AMAZING and perfect location). It was easy to hit up the square for shopping and an easy walk to HARRODS! :) All in all a great weekend but London was a bit hard to do alone, I feel like it is definitely a place to go with a group as walking around all those museums gets a bit lonely! However, I had tons of English movies to keep me company and I saw two chick flicks I had been dying to see, hehe. It was a great end to a fantastic weekend.
I headed back to Italy, and welcomed my bestie Natalie T. to our shores! We toured Florence, went on a day trip to the hill towns of Orvieto and Cortona, and then back to Florence where we did a whirlwind of museum visits (Uffizi, Accademia, Pitti Palace) with some shopping thrown in (San Lorenzo, Oltrarno) where we are proud to say she only bought things crafted in Florence! We dined on amazing food, including a new place for me in the Oltrarno. It was incredible to be able to share my adopted city with someone who knows me so well from another life! We finished our time together in Rome, and she went on to tour the city while I headed back to real life and homework!
This weekend I have stayed in Florence and caught up on culture and sleep! Today's Easter celebration was intense, but another experience I am so happy to remember. No one celebrates like the Florentines!
All my love, and I have attached pictures below!
That Girl in Europe
Piero Pilgrimage (Arezzo, Monterchi, Sansepolcro, Urbino, Rimini):
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2539154&id=8642257&l=119ca9cab7
London Calling:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2543716&id=8642257&l=0d4f390007
Natalie in Italy (Florence, Orvieto, Cortona):
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2543729&id=8642257&l=5899527a75
What a couple of weeks, and the ones coming up don't look much calmer! It has been an interesting time, as I took my last trips out of the country and welcomed friends to my own. I toured tiny towns of Italy, and visited the largest Metropolis on this side of the Atlantic. A study in paradoxes, my last couple of weeks have been in a word.... exhausting. :)
The weekend following my trip to beautiful Belgium, I traveled over mountains to the other side of the Italy, and embarked on a Pilgrimage to the great Italian painter, Piero della Francesca. I will henceforth refer to it as the Piero Pilgrimage. Sarah M. and I went with a class from our school, and visited FIVE cities: Arezzo, Monterchi, Sansepolcro, Urbino, Rimini. It was a whirlwind of two days, but absolutely unforgettable. We saw, without a doubt, almost the entirety of this artist's work, and even if we didn't see every work, we saw the best!! We also had this FABULOUS dinner, where we sat at two huge tables of 25 people each, and were served course after delicious course of food for 3 hours. I must explain the magnitude of the food though. When I say course after course, I mean FOUR courses with at least SEVEN options each. We had antipastas, primis, secundis, and dolce! All washed down with unlimited delicious wine from central Italy. I have NEVER been so full. It was an unforgettable weekend, and I adored all the small towns I had never seen before!
I came home after that weekend, and looked at the list of places I had compiled on my first flight to Florence last September of all the places that I wanted to see while I was abroad and realized that my number one city was NOT crossed off! So I got my ticket and I headed to LONDON the next weekend. I must say that it was a relief to get off the plane and be able to speak English, it made everything so much easier! However, I did miss the smell of Italy when it was replaced with the pollution in London. :( I immediately hit the museums, starting off with the National Gallery and touring for hours. I saw paintings I have dreamt about for years, but interestingly I did not remember being there before. I went to London on my first trip to Europe when I was 9 years old, and I didn't remember anything I saw on my trip this time. Anyway, I hit the National Gallery, the Tate Modern, the Portrait Gallery, the Tower, and Somerset House and Courtauld Institute, which many of you know I had hoped to attend this semester. It was a good experience, and I was given a tour of the Institute so I know what I am getting into if I decided to apply again, this time for graduate school there. Also by chance they were hosting an exhibition of the Tuscan Renaissance Marriage Cassone (large chests given to brides by the groom's parents) which I am writing a very long presentation on at the moment! So it was great to see some other examples of the works, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. I then walked all around that area, and truth be told, shopped. I was staying in Sloane Square at the Sloane Square Hotel (which I completely reccomend, it was AMAZING and perfect location). It was easy to hit up the square for shopping and an easy walk to HARRODS! :) All in all a great weekend but London was a bit hard to do alone, I feel like it is definitely a place to go with a group as walking around all those museums gets a bit lonely! However, I had tons of English movies to keep me company and I saw two chick flicks I had been dying to see, hehe. It was a great end to a fantastic weekend.
I headed back to Italy, and welcomed my bestie Natalie T. to our shores! We toured Florence, went on a day trip to the hill towns of Orvieto and Cortona, and then back to Florence where we did a whirlwind of museum visits (Uffizi, Accademia, Pitti Palace) with some shopping thrown in (San Lorenzo, Oltrarno) where we are proud to say she only bought things crafted in Florence! We dined on amazing food, including a new place for me in the Oltrarno. It was incredible to be able to share my adopted city with someone who knows me so well from another life! We finished our time together in Rome, and she went on to tour the city while I headed back to real life and homework!
This weekend I have stayed in Florence and caught up on culture and sleep! Today's Easter celebration was intense, but another experience I am so happy to remember. No one celebrates like the Florentines!
All my love, and I have attached pictures below!
That Girl in Europe
Piero Pilgrimage (Arezzo, Monterchi, Sansepolcro, Urbino, Rimini):
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2539154&id=8642257&l=119ca9cab7
London Calling:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2543716&id=8642257&l=0d4f390007
Natalie in Italy (Florence, Orvieto, Cortona):
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2543729&id=8642257&l=5899527a75
Monday, March 23, 2009
The Beauty of Belgium!
Ciao!!
The weather in Florence is finally warming up and it is sooooo beautiful!!! I spent some of the day just walking around, appreciating the beauty of the city in sunshine. Of course because its finally sunny the tourists have descended and it is almost impossible to move in the Piazza al Duomo but other than that everything is perfect. School is going well and I was nominated for the Coluccio Salutati Award, an award given to four students who have strived for academic excellence and integration into the Italian culture. I have to write an essay about how Italy and the culture has affected me, and then there are four finalists. My two art history professors nominated me so it is a huge honor! But even more exciting is the trips I have undertaken in the past two weeks!! I wrote form the Brussels Airport but I didn't write about my trip! So it begins:
I landed in Brussels on March 12th in the evening and immediately set out for the Grote Markt and its gloriously decadent buildings, so pretty!! The sun was, unfortunately, nowhere to be seen so I scurried under the cover of a newly purchased umbrella (emblazoned with BELGIUM) to the Manneken Pis. Such a cute like bugger! I had my first waffle, which reminds me! When I stepped off the plane in Belgium, I kid you not, it SMELLED LIKE WAFFLES! I had no idea they were as pervasive as they were. Anyway, that night I stayed at the Hotel Mozart (soooo strange! covered in crazy wallpaper and huge pictures of Barack Obama!). The next morning I headed to the Musee di arte ancien. Such a collection! Though I have to say that it was a bit bittersweet because the two works I was most excited to see: The Annunciate by the Master of Flemalle and the Lamentation by Rogier van der Weyden were not there! Memling, van der Weyden, van der Goes, DAVID, Ingres, Bosch, and many others (see pictures below, and I apologize for the blurriness I have such a hard time without the flash, so please excuse the quality of some of the images). After the museum I headed to the train station and boarded a train for Bruges, the focal point of my Belgian expedition.
When I got there I was immediately captivated by the mediveal and quaint beauty of the city. The canals sparkled in the sun, and it was love at first site. My hotel was situated right on a canal and I had an adorable attic room that looked over the whole city! I immediately dropped off my bags and hiked up the Belfort. WHAT A VIEW! After I stared for sooooo long, I headed down and over to the Cathedral where I saw the Bruges Madonna by Michelangelo, I can't get away from Mike even in Belgium! It was exquiste but so much smaller than I had imagined. It fits so perfectly into his Florentine period right before he went to Rome for the Pieta. I really couldn't believe how minute the details were. The church itself was not very impressive other than its huge tower which was under construction. After my Italian interlude I decided to keep the rest of the gems for the next days and headed home to an amazing Belgian meal at my hotel. I had tomato soup and waterlooi, which is chicken cooked in its own broth with vegetables and yummy sauce. After a hearty beer, I was ready for sleep. The next morning I woke early to head ot the Groeninge Museum, the main reason for my trip..... AND IT WAS CLOSED! Closed for installation for a new show arriving three days after I left. So devasted I dragged myself to the Hans Memling Museum to lift my spirits, and did it!! The small shrine of St. Ursula and the Mystic Marriage of St. Catherine were enough to galvinize me and put a smile back on my face... well those and a couple of waffles :) After my galvinzation, I strutted out to the Jeruzelkerk, which was by far one of the strangest church I have entered, and if I happened to ever need a setting to film a horror movie about virgin sacrifices to a god, I found my place! It was soo dark and creepy with a hidden room where there was a fake dead Christ in the Tomb for veneration. I quickly hightailed it out of there and walked back into the sunshine and warmth of the center. From then on I just wandered and found awesome little hidden alcoves and blind alleys that dot the whole city. I also wandered into the Basilica of the Holy Blood in time to see over 200 christians line up to rub a cylinder that held a "vial of the Holy Blood of Jesus Christ from his time on the cross." I did not point out to any of them that if someone got a vial of JC's blood while he was on the cross then chances are that person was not mourning but rather maybe from the other side...... Anyway! I left that church before someone could spot me as a heretic and headed over the Markt for more people watching. After an eventful day, I retreated to my hotel bar and once again ate wonderful food and retired with a full stomach!
The next morning marked my departure from Bruges for Ghent. A beautiful, and quick, train ride got me to Ghent at about noon, so I climbed the Belfort there (saw MORE amazing views) and headed to the Gravensteen Castle, which was sooo cool! I climbed ramparts, explored torture rooms (with the instruments still in place) and waltzed in the banquet room. All in all, a very nice little interlude. After my brief respite from the visual arts, I headed to St. Bavo's to view the ONE OF A KIND Ghent Altarpiece by the brothes van Eyck. And what a sight. I stood in a tiny room for 30 minutes while I tried to devour every minute detail and inch. It was one of the works that made me fall in love with art and to be able to stand in front of it for a minute, nevermind 30, was an awesome experience. I will admit a tear came out, just like when I saw the Last Supper of Leonardo in Milan. These works are such a part of me and so heartbreakingly beautiful that I miss them when I can not see them. How strange that I say these things about art... but I don't know much that can equal it.
After Ghent I went back to Brussels for my flight, and headed back to Florence where I was welcomed home with beautiful weather and gosh, it was nice to be home!
That was Belgian adventure, and it followed with an easy week at school.
This last weekend I went on another art tour, but this time it was Piero Pilgrimage....can you name the Piero who roamed the hills of Arezzo and San Sepulcro....
Stay tuned for more on that later this week!!
All the love!
Lydia
Brussels:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2531457&id=8642257&l=6f2faab190
Bruges:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2533704&id=8642257&l=8b9a42476b
Ghent:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2533928&id=8642257&l=67f6e27765
The weather in Florence is finally warming up and it is sooooo beautiful!!! I spent some of the day just walking around, appreciating the beauty of the city in sunshine. Of course because its finally sunny the tourists have descended and it is almost impossible to move in the Piazza al Duomo but other than that everything is perfect. School is going well and I was nominated for the Coluccio Salutati Award, an award given to four students who have strived for academic excellence and integration into the Italian culture. I have to write an essay about how Italy and the culture has affected me, and then there are four finalists. My two art history professors nominated me so it is a huge honor! But even more exciting is the trips I have undertaken in the past two weeks!! I wrote form the Brussels Airport but I didn't write about my trip! So it begins:
I landed in Brussels on March 12th in the evening and immediately set out for the Grote Markt and its gloriously decadent buildings, so pretty!! The sun was, unfortunately, nowhere to be seen so I scurried under the cover of a newly purchased umbrella (emblazoned with BELGIUM) to the Manneken Pis. Such a cute like bugger! I had my first waffle, which reminds me! When I stepped off the plane in Belgium, I kid you not, it SMELLED LIKE WAFFLES! I had no idea they were as pervasive as they were. Anyway, that night I stayed at the Hotel Mozart (soooo strange! covered in crazy wallpaper and huge pictures of Barack Obama!). The next morning I headed to the Musee di arte ancien. Such a collection! Though I have to say that it was a bit bittersweet because the two works I was most excited to see: The Annunciate by the Master of Flemalle and the Lamentation by Rogier van der Weyden were not there! Memling, van der Weyden, van der Goes, DAVID, Ingres, Bosch, and many others (see pictures below, and I apologize for the blurriness I have such a hard time without the flash, so please excuse the quality of some of the images). After the museum I headed to the train station and boarded a train for Bruges, the focal point of my Belgian expedition.
When I got there I was immediately captivated by the mediveal and quaint beauty of the city. The canals sparkled in the sun, and it was love at first site. My hotel was situated right on a canal and I had an adorable attic room that looked over the whole city! I immediately dropped off my bags and hiked up the Belfort. WHAT A VIEW! After I stared for sooooo long, I headed down and over to the Cathedral where I saw the Bruges Madonna by Michelangelo, I can't get away from Mike even in Belgium! It was exquiste but so much smaller than I had imagined. It fits so perfectly into his Florentine period right before he went to Rome for the Pieta. I really couldn't believe how minute the details were. The church itself was not very impressive other than its huge tower which was under construction. After my Italian interlude I decided to keep the rest of the gems for the next days and headed home to an amazing Belgian meal at my hotel. I had tomato soup and waterlooi, which is chicken cooked in its own broth with vegetables and yummy sauce. After a hearty beer, I was ready for sleep. The next morning I woke early to head ot the Groeninge Museum, the main reason for my trip..... AND IT WAS CLOSED! Closed for installation for a new show arriving three days after I left. So devasted I dragged myself to the Hans Memling Museum to lift my spirits, and did it!! The small shrine of St. Ursula and the Mystic Marriage of St. Catherine were enough to galvinize me and put a smile back on my face... well those and a couple of waffles :) After my galvinzation, I strutted out to the Jeruzelkerk, which was by far one of the strangest church I have entered, and if I happened to ever need a setting to film a horror movie about virgin sacrifices to a god, I found my place! It was soo dark and creepy with a hidden room where there was a fake dead Christ in the Tomb for veneration. I quickly hightailed it out of there and walked back into the sunshine and warmth of the center. From then on I just wandered and found awesome little hidden alcoves and blind alleys that dot the whole city. I also wandered into the Basilica of the Holy Blood in time to see over 200 christians line up to rub a cylinder that held a "vial of the Holy Blood of Jesus Christ from his time on the cross." I did not point out to any of them that if someone got a vial of JC's blood while he was on the cross then chances are that person was not mourning but rather maybe from the other side...... Anyway! I left that church before someone could spot me as a heretic and headed over the Markt for more people watching. After an eventful day, I retreated to my hotel bar and once again ate wonderful food and retired with a full stomach!
The next morning marked my departure from Bruges for Ghent. A beautiful, and quick, train ride got me to Ghent at about noon, so I climbed the Belfort there (saw MORE amazing views) and headed to the Gravensteen Castle, which was sooo cool! I climbed ramparts, explored torture rooms (with the instruments still in place) and waltzed in the banquet room. All in all, a very nice little interlude. After my brief respite from the visual arts, I headed to St. Bavo's to view the ONE OF A KIND Ghent Altarpiece by the brothes van Eyck. And what a sight. I stood in a tiny room for 30 minutes while I tried to devour every minute detail and inch. It was one of the works that made me fall in love with art and to be able to stand in front of it for a minute, nevermind 30, was an awesome experience. I will admit a tear came out, just like when I saw the Last Supper of Leonardo in Milan. These works are such a part of me and so heartbreakingly beautiful that I miss them when I can not see them. How strange that I say these things about art... but I don't know much that can equal it.
After Ghent I went back to Brussels for my flight, and headed back to Florence where I was welcomed home with beautiful weather and gosh, it was nice to be home!
That was Belgian adventure, and it followed with an easy week at school.
This last weekend I went on another art tour, but this time it was Piero Pilgrimage....can you name the Piero who roamed the hills of Arezzo and San Sepulcro....
Stay tuned for more on that later this week!!
All the love!
Lydia
Brussels:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2531457&id=8642257&l=6f2faab190
Bruges:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2533704&id=8642257&l=8b9a42476b
Ghent:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2533928&id=8642257&l=67f6e27765
Monday, March 16, 2009
Last Couple of Weeks: Part 3
PRAGUE!!!
Sorry it took me so long, but this will get me up to this weekend (I am currently in the Brussels airport as I write this, and I intend to share those stories with you as soon as I have pictures up!)
I went to Prague to visit one of my close close friends from Wisconsin. It happened that the weekend I went was a bit of a Wisco reunion, because not only was I in town, but three of my guy friends were there, as well as same more girlfriends! All in all I believe we were with about 10 wisconsin kids one night!! It was so great to see everyone that I hadn't seen in so long and I already miss them again!
Sarah came with me, and got to meet a TON of people from back home, and this led to some hilarious moments as she forgot names but all in all it was so much fun. We had an intrepid tour guide in Natalie and she took us all over the city! We headed up the hill to Prague Castle, across Karl's Bridge to see the Lennon Wall (yes that's John Lennon, not Lenin as I originally thought!), did some shopping. We danced over to see Gehry's dancing building, and then we just danced... all night long at a 5-storey club overlooking the river.... it was a fascinating experience. We also particpated in a pub crawl that took us all over the city and I have to say was SUPER fun because I saw parts of the city I definitely never would have visited other wise (mostly residential stuff). It was such a great weekend, and I am really glad I went back to Prague, especially with some of my best friends. It was a very lighthearted weekend, and overall it was a good counterpoint to my trip with Mom that was much more somber in tone, just because we, obviously, visited a concentration camp. I am so glad I got to experience that great city with both my family and my friends, and it once again brought home how lucky I am to be in Europe with som many great people.
My flight is being called so I will tell you all about Bruges, Brussels and Ghent in the next post, and post pictures!!
Love you all, and miss you terribly!! (send emails!!)
Lydia
Sorry it took me so long, but this will get me up to this weekend (I am currently in the Brussels airport as I write this, and I intend to share those stories with you as soon as I have pictures up!)
I went to Prague to visit one of my close close friends from Wisconsin. It happened that the weekend I went was a bit of a Wisco reunion, because not only was I in town, but three of my guy friends were there, as well as same more girlfriends! All in all I believe we were with about 10 wisconsin kids one night!! It was so great to see everyone that I hadn't seen in so long and I already miss them again!
Sarah came with me, and got to meet a TON of people from back home, and this led to some hilarious moments as she forgot names but all in all it was so much fun. We had an intrepid tour guide in Natalie and she took us all over the city! We headed up the hill to Prague Castle, across Karl's Bridge to see the Lennon Wall (yes that's John Lennon, not Lenin as I originally thought!), did some shopping. We danced over to see Gehry's dancing building, and then we just danced... all night long at a 5-storey club overlooking the river.... it was a fascinating experience. We also particpated in a pub crawl that took us all over the city and I have to say was SUPER fun because I saw parts of the city I definitely never would have visited other wise (mostly residential stuff). It was such a great weekend, and I am really glad I went back to Prague, especially with some of my best friends. It was a very lighthearted weekend, and overall it was a good counterpoint to my trip with Mom that was much more somber in tone, just because we, obviously, visited a concentration camp. I am so glad I got to experience that great city with both my family and my friends, and it once again brought home how lucky I am to be in Europe with som many great people.
My flight is being called so I will tell you all about Bruges, Brussels and Ghent in the next post, and post pictures!!
Love you all, and miss you terribly!! (send emails!!)
Lydia
Monday, March 9, 2009
Last Couple of Weeks: Part 2
Ciao!!
What a weekend I just had!! I headed northeast to visit Natalie T. in Prague, but more on that later. First! I must tell you all about Amsterdam!
I got into Amsterdam early in the morning on Friday, March 26th. I immediately met up with some of my friends from school who were also visiting that weekend, including NATALIE!! We reunited for the first time in many months, and it was so great to see her. Amazing how long two friends can go without seeing each other, and still be as if you were never apart except for great stories about the time in-between! We were staying on the fringes of the Red Light District, and so we "explored" the coffeeshops and crazy stores that abound in that area before heading over to Damplein to find PANCAKES. Our breakfast was delicious, but I was surprised because at the small restaurant we went to, not only was our waiter Italian, but the entire place was filled with the Italian language and strong Italian cologne!! It was almost as if I had never left Florence! After we had our late breakfast, we walked around and just got used to our new landscape. That evening we decided to trek across the city and make a light night call at the Van Gogh Museum, which was open until 10pm. It was such a great museum!! A complete range of his artistic process, it had everything from portraits, still lives, and starry nights. It also held two pictures that I had never seen before but fell completely in love with on site. There was an exhibition on his Night scenes, and while the Starry Night of fame was on display (which I was so happy about because I missed it in NYC this summer) there were two works that were spectacular! First, another starry night, though this one was much less flashy and much more contemplative on the source of illumination and the selectivity of colors. My other favorite was a Dance Hall scene that was imbibed with so much color and movement I felt like I could hear the skirts swish and swoop. After a very satisfactory museum jaunt, we went over to Leidenplein which is a nightlife center filled with clubs and restaurants. Interestingly, we ate Italian that night. I am beginning to feel that I will never be able to fully escape Italy... but then again, why would I want to? :)
That night we simply wandered all over the city, stopping in at different bars and such.
The next day, Saturday, we set off for Rijksmuseum (near the Van Gogh, though it seems a lot farther during the day when you can site see for hours just walking around) and found an ADORABLE cafe that overlooked the canals (Villa Zeezicht, Torensteeg 7) where we ate lunch and I had my first hamburger in months, it was superb! After that we head to Museumplein and to the Rijksmuseum. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately for Natalie because who knows how long I would have wanted to stay otherwise) the major building of the museum is closed for renovation and they just have a "Highlights" exhibition open, but it was still an insane collection and really moving. We sat in front of Rembrandt's Night Watch for about 30 minutes just looking and talking about the work and what I had learned from Simon Schama (our god) about it. After that we strolled Museumplein, took pictures of the I AM AMSTERDAM sign, and the concert hall at the other end. While I was reading aloud about the -plein to Natalie from my Rick Steve's guidebook (who I will NEVER buy again) I happened across a passage that was very irritating and insulting to me. It goes, "Dutch art is meant to be enjoyed, not studied." Hmm, then it’s probably a bad thing that I have spent 4 semesters taking classes about Northern and Dutch art, eh?? Stupid Rick Steves. Natalie thought this was highly hilarious, as I had just finished explaining Dutch art in technical and chronologic terms, relating it to other art movements. I guess that was all hogwash. After the plein, it was getting late and we walked another scenic route back to our District where we found incredible Tibetan food near our hotel. It was a great meal, and I remembered how much I love Asian food! That night we headed to the Bulldog Coffeeshop (supposedly one of the first large coffeeshops of its kind) and then toured the Red Light District. This came with some awkward moments, such as when I, distracted by Natalie, tripped and put my hand out to catch myself on the wall beside me. This would have been unnoteworthy had the "wall" not been the window behind which a prostitute was proudly displaying her "wares." Other moments ensued including the moment that I realized there was a brothel immediately beside the Old Kerk. Church + Brothel sharing a wall? I still don't know how I felt about that. The entire experience left me shaken. I kept looking through these glass barriers at the women below the red lights and wondering what they were thinking, and whether they were there by their own accord or were being exploited by someone else. And I couldn't help thinking that whether or not they were there voluntarily, they were still exploited by a tourist trade that promotes and advertises them as if they were products and not people. Even my own curiosity about them, though completely removed from their trade, seemed obtrusive and wrong. I have yet to fully comprehend my own feelings on the matter, but I believe it is something to seriously think about at length.
Our last day was a busy one! We headed out early and went straight to the Anne Frank House. What an experience, anyone who has heard about the Holocaust but never really felt they understood the sheer terror people must have felt need only to walk up to the Bookcase that hid the entrance to this tiny annex and it hits you so hard its almost impossible to breathe. Walking up the tiny stairs and into these miniscule rooms was something I will never forget. The stories of those people were told from the perspective of a small girl, but when you read her words its hard to imagine someone so young understanding so much, yet when you see her room, it is so clear how young she was.
We left the Frank's house and walked the whole of the city to the Botanical Gardens, which were an unusual site for me. I have never considered the Botanical Gardens of any city a place I must see, but I am so glad that I was able to walk through Amsterdam's. Not only was it beautiful and contained plants that I had never seen or heard of, but also its history was so interesting! It was first created to house medicinal plants and is one of the oldest growers of some very important herbs that many medicines still contain. We walked through South Africa, Mexico, California, the Desert, and Canada. Afterwards we headed back to our apartment for a quick nap and to rest our tired feet. However, I must say that our walks, more than any single site, were my favorite parts of the trip. The streets were so vibrant, and the canals so beautiful. Our last stop was the Museum Amstelkring. It is a 16th century house that houses a 17th century Catholic church in its attic! Created in the 1640's when the city governors outlawed Catholicism, it was a hidden church where practicing Catholics could gather for Mass and the sacraments. It was so interesting to see another hidden religion and how they incorporated the entirety of a church into a house (including confessional and a pulpit!). That night we had Tibetan food again and headed back to our hotel early for our REALLY EARLY flights home the next day.
All in all I loved Amsterdam and especially its history, however I was very disturbed by its current form and am still deciphering my feelings about why I think its ok for prostitution to exist but not want to see it? Is it a moral issue for me or am I simply so entrenched in my society's view of it that I wish it to be hidden. I do not like the feeling of not knowing my own mind, but at the same time I am distinctly not ok with what I felt when I saw those women below the red lights that loudly proclaim their profession.
Still pondering,
Lydia
Amsterdam, Album 1:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2524469&id=8642257&l=7a304
Amsterdam, Album 2:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2525230&id=8642257&l=9ba2b
What a weekend I just had!! I headed northeast to visit Natalie T. in Prague, but more on that later. First! I must tell you all about Amsterdam!
I got into Amsterdam early in the morning on Friday, March 26th. I immediately met up with some of my friends from school who were also visiting that weekend, including NATALIE!! We reunited for the first time in many months, and it was so great to see her. Amazing how long two friends can go without seeing each other, and still be as if you were never apart except for great stories about the time in-between! We were staying on the fringes of the Red Light District, and so we "explored" the coffeeshops and crazy stores that abound in that area before heading over to Damplein to find PANCAKES. Our breakfast was delicious, but I was surprised because at the small restaurant we went to, not only was our waiter Italian, but the entire place was filled with the Italian language and strong Italian cologne!! It was almost as if I had never left Florence! After we had our late breakfast, we walked around and just got used to our new landscape. That evening we decided to trek across the city and make a light night call at the Van Gogh Museum, which was open until 10pm. It was such a great museum!! A complete range of his artistic process, it had everything from portraits, still lives, and starry nights. It also held two pictures that I had never seen before but fell completely in love with on site. There was an exhibition on his Night scenes, and while the Starry Night of fame was on display (which I was so happy about because I missed it in NYC this summer) there were two works that were spectacular! First, another starry night, though this one was much less flashy and much more contemplative on the source of illumination and the selectivity of colors. My other favorite was a Dance Hall scene that was imbibed with so much color and movement I felt like I could hear the skirts swish and swoop. After a very satisfactory museum jaunt, we went over to Leidenplein which is a nightlife center filled with clubs and restaurants. Interestingly, we ate Italian that night. I am beginning to feel that I will never be able to fully escape Italy... but then again, why would I want to? :)
That night we simply wandered all over the city, stopping in at different bars and such.
The next day, Saturday, we set off for Rijksmuseum (near the Van Gogh, though it seems a lot farther during the day when you can site see for hours just walking around) and found an ADORABLE cafe that overlooked the canals (Villa Zeezicht, Torensteeg 7) where we ate lunch and I had my first hamburger in months, it was superb! After that we head to Museumplein and to the Rijksmuseum. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately for Natalie because who knows how long I would have wanted to stay otherwise) the major building of the museum is closed for renovation and they just have a "Highlights" exhibition open, but it was still an insane collection and really moving. We sat in front of Rembrandt's Night Watch for about 30 minutes just looking and talking about the work and what I had learned from Simon Schama (our god) about it. After that we strolled Museumplein, took pictures of the I AM AMSTERDAM sign, and the concert hall at the other end. While I was reading aloud about the -plein to Natalie from my Rick Steve's guidebook (who I will NEVER buy again) I happened across a passage that was very irritating and insulting to me. It goes, "Dutch art is meant to be enjoyed, not studied." Hmm, then it’s probably a bad thing that I have spent 4 semesters taking classes about Northern and Dutch art, eh?? Stupid Rick Steves. Natalie thought this was highly hilarious, as I had just finished explaining Dutch art in technical and chronologic terms, relating it to other art movements. I guess that was all hogwash. After the plein, it was getting late and we walked another scenic route back to our District where we found incredible Tibetan food near our hotel. It was a great meal, and I remembered how much I love Asian food! That night we headed to the Bulldog Coffeeshop (supposedly one of the first large coffeeshops of its kind) and then toured the Red Light District. This came with some awkward moments, such as when I, distracted by Natalie, tripped and put my hand out to catch myself on the wall beside me. This would have been unnoteworthy had the "wall" not been the window behind which a prostitute was proudly displaying her "wares." Other moments ensued including the moment that I realized there was a brothel immediately beside the Old Kerk. Church + Brothel sharing a wall? I still don't know how I felt about that. The entire experience left me shaken. I kept looking through these glass barriers at the women below the red lights and wondering what they were thinking, and whether they were there by their own accord or were being exploited by someone else. And I couldn't help thinking that whether or not they were there voluntarily, they were still exploited by a tourist trade that promotes and advertises them as if they were products and not people. Even my own curiosity about them, though completely removed from their trade, seemed obtrusive and wrong. I have yet to fully comprehend my own feelings on the matter, but I believe it is something to seriously think about at length.
Our last day was a busy one! We headed out early and went straight to the Anne Frank House. What an experience, anyone who has heard about the Holocaust but never really felt they understood the sheer terror people must have felt need only to walk up to the Bookcase that hid the entrance to this tiny annex and it hits you so hard its almost impossible to breathe. Walking up the tiny stairs and into these miniscule rooms was something I will never forget. The stories of those people were told from the perspective of a small girl, but when you read her words its hard to imagine someone so young understanding so much, yet when you see her room, it is so clear how young she was.
We left the Frank's house and walked the whole of the city to the Botanical Gardens, which were an unusual site for me. I have never considered the Botanical Gardens of any city a place I must see, but I am so glad that I was able to walk through Amsterdam's. Not only was it beautiful and contained plants that I had never seen or heard of, but also its history was so interesting! It was first created to house medicinal plants and is one of the oldest growers of some very important herbs that many medicines still contain. We walked through South Africa, Mexico, California, the Desert, and Canada. Afterwards we headed back to our apartment for a quick nap and to rest our tired feet. However, I must say that our walks, more than any single site, were my favorite parts of the trip. The streets were so vibrant, and the canals so beautiful. Our last stop was the Museum Amstelkring. It is a 16th century house that houses a 17th century Catholic church in its attic! Created in the 1640's when the city governors outlawed Catholicism, it was a hidden church where practicing Catholics could gather for Mass and the sacraments. It was so interesting to see another hidden religion and how they incorporated the entirety of a church into a house (including confessional and a pulpit!). That night we had Tibetan food again and headed back to our hotel early for our REALLY EARLY flights home the next day.
All in all I loved Amsterdam and especially its history, however I was very disturbed by its current form and am still deciphering my feelings about why I think its ok for prostitution to exist but not want to see it? Is it a moral issue for me or am I simply so entrenched in my society's view of it that I wish it to be hidden. I do not like the feeling of not knowing my own mind, but at the same time I am distinctly not ok with what I felt when I saw those women below the red lights that loudly proclaim their profession.
Still pondering,
Lydia
Amsterdam, Album 1:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2524469&id=8642257&l=7a304
Amsterdam, Album 2:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2525230&id=8642257&l=9ba2b
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Last Couple of Weeks: Part 1
I was having such a good run of keeping up my posts, but oh well.... life happens! Its been a while I know, and there is soooo much to talk about!
First off, my birthday!! I turned 21!! and that night I tasted, for the first time, the sweet nectar of alcohol! Wow! I know get what all the fuss is about, I wish I had started drinking ages ago! :)
I was supposed to have a small get together at my apartment that night. But before that was going to go off, I went to a salon and was beautified.... it seems to be a tradition that in the weeks before my birthday I let myself go, and then try to fix it the day before... wonder what that's about?? Anyway, on my way out of my apartment I forgot one vital thing.... My keys. So suffice to say the party didn't happen because I couldn't get back into my home, but it was alright because my friends took me out, and the night was amazing. I ended up getting back into my apartment that night, so alls well that ends well. I have decided not to post pictures of that night, because... well.... it was my 21st birthday and I know some people read this who I don't think I want to see those pictures :)
The weekend after my birthday, I returned to my third home away from home, Assisi and set out to explore a new city, Orvieto. Assisi is the most beautiful city, and I just love the serene and tranquil feeling I have whenever I set foot within its city walls. And what walls! I went this time with my friend Sarah M. and two of the girls from Wisconsin studying in Rome (Lauren F. and Sally G.) who have been mentioned below. I must admit that after 6 months of living here, I should be a lot better at the transportation but I still managed to miss our first train to Orvieto. We got there finally on Friday, the 20th and were able to see the Duomo there (with its frescoes from the Renaissance that proudly feature NINJAS, see pictures attached to understand), and walked around the area. We also went 208 feet into the ground! A well called the Pozzo di San Patrizio (because of the similar well in Ireland, no relation to the saint) was built in the mid-1500's to provide the Papal See with an outpost should Rome be sacked again. It is so fantastical to walk all the way into the ground, and very creepy! After climbing back out, we headed back down the hill to head to Assisi.... and what a journey that turned out to be!!
We got on a train to Assisi, and then missed our change station. We had to take a train to ANOTHER station to get back on the right path. However, the next train didn't come for 2 hours, so we were stuck in Terontola for a while, and I still don't really know where we were! After a long trip that should have taken 2 hours but took 5, we arrived in Assisi. We headed straight to our adorable hotel, the Hotel Palloti, and then to dinner which was absolutely fabulous and exactly what we needed. After a restful night, we headed out to explore the city. For me it was a return trip, but none of the other girls had been there so it was such a treat to share it with them!! We went to Santa Chiara, and saw heavily veiled nuns sitting in adoration of the crucifix that converted St. Francis and St. Clare to their respective monastic lives, and then headed up the hill to the Rocca Maggiore. The Rocca Maggiore is one of the oldest surviving fortresses from the middle ages. It was very cool to say the least, we climbed towers, and gazed at one of the most impressive vistas I have seen in Italy. Afterwards we backtracked down the hill and entered the Basilica di San Francesco, a place that now has a super special meaning to me.
I know I have mentioned my internship in the below posts, but to fully explain it I will take a minute. My work is to identify, catalogue and publish the research and images of Bruno Zanardi, an Italian restorer whose work on the Upper Church fresco cycle in Assisi took place in the 1980's. In doing this work, I have been intensely studying Giotto and the controversy about the authorship of the St. Francis fresco cycle. Because I have become an expert at these stories, it was really fun for me to give a mini-tour of the Upper Church with the girls, one of which is another Art History Major. I have to say that knowing so much about them helped me to appreciatate them, but it did not change the overwhelming emotion that is expressed in the works, and I was still completely taken aback by there power. Assisi was so beautiful, and I am so glad I went back, I hope I get to go at least once more before I leave.
This gets us up to about a week ago and I will continue in another post so you can take a break from my babbling! However, I will give you a bit of a teaser! Last weekend was supposed to be a little less about religion, but it strangely became all about it.... Stay tuned for my second installment of the Last Couple of Weeks where we discuss amoung other things.... hiden churches, hidden jews, catholics, weed, and the Red Light District?? Here comes Amsterdam....
Best,
Lydia
Orvieto Pictures @:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2521467&id=8642257&l=7fd51
Assisi, Take Two Pictures @:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2521477&id=8642257&l=136b8
First off, my birthday!! I turned 21!! and that night I tasted, for the first time, the sweet nectar of alcohol! Wow! I know get what all the fuss is about, I wish I had started drinking ages ago! :)
I was supposed to have a small get together at my apartment that night. But before that was going to go off, I went to a salon and was beautified.... it seems to be a tradition that in the weeks before my birthday I let myself go, and then try to fix it the day before... wonder what that's about?? Anyway, on my way out of my apartment I forgot one vital thing.... My keys. So suffice to say the party didn't happen because I couldn't get back into my home, but it was alright because my friends took me out, and the night was amazing. I ended up getting back into my apartment that night, so alls well that ends well. I have decided not to post pictures of that night, because... well.... it was my 21st birthday and I know some people read this who I don't think I want to see those pictures :)
The weekend after my birthday, I returned to my third home away from home, Assisi and set out to explore a new city, Orvieto. Assisi is the most beautiful city, and I just love the serene and tranquil feeling I have whenever I set foot within its city walls. And what walls! I went this time with my friend Sarah M. and two of the girls from Wisconsin studying in Rome (Lauren F. and Sally G.) who have been mentioned below. I must admit that after 6 months of living here, I should be a lot better at the transportation but I still managed to miss our first train to Orvieto. We got there finally on Friday, the 20th and were able to see the Duomo there (with its frescoes from the Renaissance that proudly feature NINJAS, see pictures attached to understand), and walked around the area. We also went 208 feet into the ground! A well called the Pozzo di San Patrizio (because of the similar well in Ireland, no relation to the saint) was built in the mid-1500's to provide the Papal See with an outpost should Rome be sacked again. It is so fantastical to walk all the way into the ground, and very creepy! After climbing back out, we headed back down the hill to head to Assisi.... and what a journey that turned out to be!!
We got on a train to Assisi, and then missed our change station. We had to take a train to ANOTHER station to get back on the right path. However, the next train didn't come for 2 hours, so we were stuck in Terontola for a while, and I still don't really know where we were! After a long trip that should have taken 2 hours but took 5, we arrived in Assisi. We headed straight to our adorable hotel, the Hotel Palloti, and then to dinner which was absolutely fabulous and exactly what we needed. After a restful night, we headed out to explore the city. For me it was a return trip, but none of the other girls had been there so it was such a treat to share it with them!! We went to Santa Chiara, and saw heavily veiled nuns sitting in adoration of the crucifix that converted St. Francis and St. Clare to their respective monastic lives, and then headed up the hill to the Rocca Maggiore. The Rocca Maggiore is one of the oldest surviving fortresses from the middle ages. It was very cool to say the least, we climbed towers, and gazed at one of the most impressive vistas I have seen in Italy. Afterwards we backtracked down the hill and entered the Basilica di San Francesco, a place that now has a super special meaning to me.
I know I have mentioned my internship in the below posts, but to fully explain it I will take a minute. My work is to identify, catalogue and publish the research and images of Bruno Zanardi, an Italian restorer whose work on the Upper Church fresco cycle in Assisi took place in the 1980's. In doing this work, I have been intensely studying Giotto and the controversy about the authorship of the St. Francis fresco cycle. Because I have become an expert at these stories, it was really fun for me to give a mini-tour of the Upper Church with the girls, one of which is another Art History Major. I have to say that knowing so much about them helped me to appreciatate them, but it did not change the overwhelming emotion that is expressed in the works, and I was still completely taken aback by there power. Assisi was so beautiful, and I am so glad I went back, I hope I get to go at least once more before I leave.
This gets us up to about a week ago and I will continue in another post so you can take a break from my babbling! However, I will give you a bit of a teaser! Last weekend was supposed to be a little less about religion, but it strangely became all about it.... Stay tuned for my second installment of the Last Couple of Weeks where we discuss amoung other things.... hiden churches, hidden jews, catholics, weed, and the Red Light District?? Here comes Amsterdam....
Best,
Lydia
Orvieto Pictures @:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2521467&id=8642257&l=7fd51
Assisi, Take Two Pictures @:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2521477&id=8642257&l=136b8
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
A Moment of Ease
Greetings friends,
I have found myself with a moment of rest, absolutely nothing to do and it feels quite nice. It is interesting that I have just had a super busy weekend and tomorrow is my birthday, and yet for the next hour I have nothing I have to do. Its amazing!! So I decided I would share with you!
Returned from Paris yesterday. What a fabulous city, I knew I liked it, but each time I go it just gets better and better. I guess when its not raining, and you aren't almost missing trains its easier to like a city, but still. Plus I had good company, Mom joined me on her way back from Ghana. She had amazing, and intense experiences there, but those are hers to share which I am sure she would do if you asked! We spent the weekend, I arrived late Thursday night, walking, shopping, museum hopping and just talking. It was just what the doctor ordered, but then when is family not what you need? Spending time with Mom, talking to my brother, and getting hilarious emails from my extended, and not even related, family are some of the brightest times of my days. Not that exploring isn't amazing in and of itself, but it is nice to know that when these experiences come to a close, I have something just as special that never will. I can't thank everyone who supports me and loves me enough for all the help and advice you are all so willing to give.
Anyway, back to more friviolous things, I don't know if you are supposed to get mushy on blogs, I'm still new to this whole thing. But seriously, thank you to those of you who know exactly what I am talking about, you all know who you are, or I hope that I have made it clear at some point to you.
But really, THE SHOPPING!! I have to admit we went a bit crazy, but gosh it is so fun to shop with your Mom, especially when your birthday is less than three days away :) I was finally able to find a jumpsuit that I LOVE, and I can't wait to wear it!! I'm hoping I will have something to wear it to soon..... The museums were obviously insane, we went to two new museums (new to me, not to Paris) the Musee Rodin, who is one of my most favorite artists ever, BURGHERS OF CALAIS ANYONE?, and the Atelier Brancusi. Both were so much fun, and so different not only in their offerings, but also in their setup. Each beautifully curated, and lovely to visit, everyone should put them on the list for your next Paris trip :)
Well I have attached pictures of the Melamed-Johnson adventures in Paris, and I hope that you will enjoy them!
Please continue writing me with updates and fun comments, or even raunchy jokes ;P @ melamed.johnson@gmail.com
Best!
Lydia
First Album:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2518455&id=8642257&l=e2302
Second Album:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2518495&id=8642257&l=007ff
I have found myself with a moment of rest, absolutely nothing to do and it feels quite nice. It is interesting that I have just had a super busy weekend and tomorrow is my birthday, and yet for the next hour I have nothing I have to do. Its amazing!! So I decided I would share with you!
Returned from Paris yesterday. What a fabulous city, I knew I liked it, but each time I go it just gets better and better. I guess when its not raining, and you aren't almost missing trains its easier to like a city, but still. Plus I had good company, Mom joined me on her way back from Ghana. She had amazing, and intense experiences there, but those are hers to share which I am sure she would do if you asked! We spent the weekend, I arrived late Thursday night, walking, shopping, museum hopping and just talking. It was just what the doctor ordered, but then when is family not what you need? Spending time with Mom, talking to my brother, and getting hilarious emails from my extended, and not even related, family are some of the brightest times of my days. Not that exploring isn't amazing in and of itself, but it is nice to know that when these experiences come to a close, I have something just as special that never will. I can't thank everyone who supports me and loves me enough for all the help and advice you are all so willing to give.
Anyway, back to more friviolous things, I don't know if you are supposed to get mushy on blogs, I'm still new to this whole thing. But seriously, thank you to those of you who know exactly what I am talking about, you all know who you are, or I hope that I have made it clear at some point to you.
But really, THE SHOPPING!! I have to admit we went a bit crazy, but gosh it is so fun to shop with your Mom, especially when your birthday is less than three days away :) I was finally able to find a jumpsuit that I LOVE, and I can't wait to wear it!! I'm hoping I will have something to wear it to soon..... The museums were obviously insane, we went to two new museums (new to me, not to Paris) the Musee Rodin, who is one of my most favorite artists ever, BURGHERS OF CALAIS ANYONE?, and the Atelier Brancusi. Both were so much fun, and so different not only in their offerings, but also in their setup. Each beautifully curated, and lovely to visit, everyone should put them on the list for your next Paris trip :)
Well I have attached pictures of the Melamed-Johnson adventures in Paris, and I hope that you will enjoy them!
Please continue writing me with updates and fun comments, or even raunchy jokes ;P @ melamed.johnson@gmail.com
Best!
Lydia
First Album:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2518455&id=8642257&l=e2302
Second Album:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2518495&id=8642257&l=007ff
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Frenzied in Florence
Ciao Tutte!!
I have had a whirlwind of a week, and it shows no signs of abating. Last week I did a presentation on Michelangelo's Madonna of the Stairs, his earliest extant work. It was great to learn so much about the work, but the presentation was on the same day as a test I had in my Botticelli class, and I also presented Botticelli's Mystic Nativity, the artist's only signed and dated work, that day. Phew. One would think after that week I would have a break, but other than Saturday (which I slept completely through) I have still be super busy. I have another presentation in my Michelangelo class, this time on his Doni Tondo (in the Uffizi) due next Tuesday. Now you might think that gives me tons of time, but.... I am going to Paris this weekend!!!!!! I am so excited, I love that city, and I get to see Mom!
She is just finishing her tour in Ghana and she is meeting me in Paris for the weekend!! I can't wait to see her, and it should be so incredible. I am ready to see something other than Renaissance art for a bit, and where better to go than Paris again?!?! I will of course post all about it next week, but for now I am working on my projects, getting very little sleep, and packing.
On a side note, I hope everyone wished my brother a Happy Birthday on February 7th, he turned 25!!! I would just like to take the chance to say hello to him in Bolivia, and wish him the best of years, because no one deserves it more than him.
That's all for now, I must get back to my boys Mike and Sandro. I hope everyone is doing well, and that if you haven't yet, you take the chance to look at some of my pictures below!!
Hugs for everyone!
Lydia
p.s. If you have any suggestions about what we should do in Paris, or great restaurants, or anything of that sort, PLEASE email me at melamed.johnson@gmail.com because if living in a foreign country has taught me anything, its that guide books do not always know the best places in town!!! Thanks, and I look forward to hearing all the suggestions!!
I have had a whirlwind of a week, and it shows no signs of abating. Last week I did a presentation on Michelangelo's Madonna of the Stairs, his earliest extant work. It was great to learn so much about the work, but the presentation was on the same day as a test I had in my Botticelli class, and I also presented Botticelli's Mystic Nativity, the artist's only signed and dated work, that day. Phew. One would think after that week I would have a break, but other than Saturday (which I slept completely through) I have still be super busy. I have another presentation in my Michelangelo class, this time on his Doni Tondo (in the Uffizi) due next Tuesday. Now you might think that gives me tons of time, but.... I am going to Paris this weekend!!!!!! I am so excited, I love that city, and I get to see Mom!
She is just finishing her tour in Ghana and she is meeting me in Paris for the weekend!! I can't wait to see her, and it should be so incredible. I am ready to see something other than Renaissance art for a bit, and where better to go than Paris again?!?! I will of course post all about it next week, but for now I am working on my projects, getting very little sleep, and packing.
On a side note, I hope everyone wished my brother a Happy Birthday on February 7th, he turned 25!!! I would just like to take the chance to say hello to him in Bolivia, and wish him the best of years, because no one deserves it more than him.
That's all for now, I must get back to my boys Mike and Sandro. I hope everyone is doing well, and that if you haven't yet, you take the chance to look at some of my pictures below!!
Hugs for everyone!
Lydia
p.s. If you have any suggestions about what we should do in Paris, or great restaurants, or anything of that sort, PLEASE email me at melamed.johnson@gmail.com because if living in a foreign country has taught me anything, its that guide books do not always know the best places in town!!! Thanks, and I look forward to hearing all the suggestions!!
Friday, February 6, 2009
Pictures!!!! Finally!
Ciao!!! I have finally found a way to share my pictures with everyone!! Below I have included links to photo albums. If you copy and paste the link in your web browser, you will be taken to each album.
I hope you enjoy, I had a great time taking them :)
Best!
-Lyd
Florence with Nick:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2493091&l=1da1e&id=8642257
Rome:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2492160&l=c6658&id=8642257
Paris:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2481472&l=ecf3d&id=8642257
Vienna:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2476853&l=df7c4&id=8642257
Prague:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2477666&l=a6074&id=8642257
Lucca:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2454100&l=5d587&id=8642257
Venice:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2477685&l=8eb10&id=8642257
I hope you enjoy, I had a great time taking them :)
Best!
-Lyd
Florence with Nick:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2493091&l=1da1e&id=8642257
Rome:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2492160&l=c6658&id=8642257
Paris:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2481472&l=ecf3d&id=8642257
Vienna:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2476853&l=df7c4&id=8642257
Prague:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2477666&l=a6074&id=8642257
Lucca:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2454100&l=5d587&id=8642257
Venice:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2477685&l=8eb10&id=8642257
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Quick Correction
Sorry, just a quick correction from my previous post.
Mom is currently in Ghana with the American Jewish World Service, not the Foundation. I know this is a minor typo, but they do such great work in aiding those in need, especially in the areas that Mom is visiting that I wanted to give credit where it was due!
That's all for now, update coming soon!
Lydia
Mom is currently in Ghana with the American Jewish World Service, not the Foundation. I know this is a minor typo, but they do such great work in aiding those in need, especially in the areas that Mom is visiting that I wanted to give credit where it was due!
That's all for now, update coming soon!
Lydia
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Ah, Memories!
Buona Giornata!
My apartment has just emptied for the first time in some 6 days. I have been visited by no less than 4 dear friends in the last week. It has been so great to see everyone, each from a different aspect of my life and different periods.
First, Lauren M. a dear friend from my riding days (she took me under her wing when I was about 15) came to stay from Wednesday to Friday of last week. We talked, we laughed, SHE cooked, and we ate. It was so nice to be able to recount some of our old horse-day stories and remember some of the crazy characters that were a part of everyday life of the circuit. She is currently back on the road, heading I believe to Berlin for the film festival next. So exciting!
Then two of my friends from Wisconsin, Lauren F. and Sally G. always visited from Rome, where they JUST began their study abroad sememster. They arrived early Friday morning, and we immediately began a thorough walking tour of the city. Beginning with the Duomo and ending high above the city at Piazzale Michelangelo and with many museums and churches in between. We were later joined by one of my closest friends from home, Claire P. who has lived in Rome and is a major source of information on Italian living. It was great to be able to be able to introduce these newcomers to Italy to someone with so much experience and knowledge about their new home in Rome.
We spent the rest of the weekend touring the city, doing a lot of shopping (I got new boots on sale and I am over the moon!), and heading out at night to some of my favorite haunts including Moyo and Kakuya on Via de'Benci. We ate out at my favorite restaurant Osteria de'Benci (on the same street, highly recommended, see past posts) and then last night we tried a Spanish/Latin restaurant called Salamanca which would have been fabulous had the service not been so horrible we absolutely refused to say Thank You by the end of the meal!
So my house has been emptied, and now I look at my Datebook for the first time in about a week and realize that I have 4 huge projects coming up and will probably never see any of my friends again unless they visit me at a library!
Off I go then, back to the end of the 15th century to my boys Sandro and Mike*. While I immerse myself in the idioms and genius of the Italian Renaissance, my brother continues to watch history in the making in Bolivia, and my mother ventures beyond the common trail to research new ways to aid AIDS/HIV victims in Ghana with the Jewish Foundation. I can not say how proud I am of my family, and how incredible each of these opportunities really is.
I hope everyone is doing well, and please continue with the emails and updates. I am now starved once again from news from home and those abroad!
Baci,
That Girl in Europe
*Sandro Botticelli and Michelangelo
My apartment has just emptied for the first time in some 6 days. I have been visited by no less than 4 dear friends in the last week. It has been so great to see everyone, each from a different aspect of my life and different periods.
First, Lauren M. a dear friend from my riding days (she took me under her wing when I was about 15) came to stay from Wednesday to Friday of last week. We talked, we laughed, SHE cooked, and we ate. It was so nice to be able to recount some of our old horse-day stories and remember some of the crazy characters that were a part of everyday life of the circuit. She is currently back on the road, heading I believe to Berlin for the film festival next. So exciting!
Then two of my friends from Wisconsin, Lauren F. and Sally G. always visited from Rome, where they JUST began their study abroad sememster. They arrived early Friday morning, and we immediately began a thorough walking tour of the city. Beginning with the Duomo and ending high above the city at Piazzale Michelangelo and with many museums and churches in between. We were later joined by one of my closest friends from home, Claire P. who has lived in Rome and is a major source of information on Italian living. It was great to be able to be able to introduce these newcomers to Italy to someone with so much experience and knowledge about their new home in Rome.
We spent the rest of the weekend touring the city, doing a lot of shopping (I got new boots on sale and I am over the moon!), and heading out at night to some of my favorite haunts including Moyo and Kakuya on Via de'Benci. We ate out at my favorite restaurant Osteria de'Benci (on the same street, highly recommended, see past posts) and then last night we tried a Spanish/Latin restaurant called Salamanca which would have been fabulous had the service not been so horrible we absolutely refused to say Thank You by the end of the meal!
So my house has been emptied, and now I look at my Datebook for the first time in about a week and realize that I have 4 huge projects coming up and will probably never see any of my friends again unless they visit me at a library!
Off I go then, back to the end of the 15th century to my boys Sandro and Mike*. While I immerse myself in the idioms and genius of the Italian Renaissance, my brother continues to watch history in the making in Bolivia, and my mother ventures beyond the common trail to research new ways to aid AIDS/HIV victims in Ghana with the Jewish Foundation. I can not say how proud I am of my family, and how incredible each of these opportunities really is.
I hope everyone is doing well, and please continue with the emails and updates. I am now starved once again from news from home and those abroad!
Baci,
That Girl in Europe
*Sandro Botticelli and Michelangelo
Monday, January 19, 2009
I'm Back!
Hello Friends!
I hope this post finds everyone well and good, and that the new year has begun pleasantly for everyone. It certainly has for me. I am back in Florence. I returned about a week ago, and just started class today. Or rather, I attempted to start today! My schedule was messed up, and I was unable to attend my first day of class! It should be fixed by tomorrow, so only a minor blunder.
I have settled back into my apartment, and spent some time just relaxing before another crazy semester begins, and pulls me into chaos and sleep deprivation again :) I have also been planning my trips for the semester and I am pleased to present to you my destinations so far! Beginning this weekend with a field trip to Carrara, Pietrasanta, then I am heading to Padua to see the Arena Chapel with a friend from home! For the rest of the semester I will be going to Assisi, Rome, Orvieto, Paris, Prague, Barcelona, London, and maybe some others!
I can't tell everyone how much I am looking forward to another semester abroad! I know this was a short post, but other than settling in and walking around my adopted city I have not been doing much of anything, a bit of a vacation shall we say?
I hope you are all doing well, and it was so great to see so many of you when I was home!!
Miss you all,
Lydia
I hope this post finds everyone well and good, and that the new year has begun pleasantly for everyone. It certainly has for me. I am back in Florence. I returned about a week ago, and just started class today. Or rather, I attempted to start today! My schedule was messed up, and I was unable to attend my first day of class! It should be fixed by tomorrow, so only a minor blunder.
I have settled back into my apartment, and spent some time just relaxing before another crazy semester begins, and pulls me into chaos and sleep deprivation again :) I have also been planning my trips for the semester and I am pleased to present to you my destinations so far! Beginning this weekend with a field trip to Carrara, Pietrasanta, then I am heading to Padua to see the Arena Chapel with a friend from home! For the rest of the semester I will be going to Assisi, Rome, Orvieto, Paris, Prague, Barcelona, London, and maybe some others!
I can't tell everyone how much I am looking forward to another semester abroad! I know this was a short post, but other than settling in and walking around my adopted city I have not been doing much of anything, a bit of a vacation shall we say?
I hope you are all doing well, and it was so great to see so many of you when I was home!!
Miss you all,
Lydia
Monday, January 5, 2009
Belated Happy New Year from the USA
Salutations!
Soooo, what a year this one will be! Or at least I hope its exciting.... So much to talk about now though. Nick is landed safely in Bolivia with his Abby, [or how I refer to her, Abby Secundo :) ]. I can't believe how much drama happened AFTER we left Florence, especially compared to how completely calm it was when we were there! Firstly, I left at 5am and got sick on the plane, again. Then I arrive home to.... one of my bags being lost AND Nick being stuck in Paris because his plane was so delayed out of Florence due to weather! If that wasn't bad enough, both of Nick's bags didn't make it the next day either. I swear air travel just is NOT fun!
However, the days that preceded these events were amazing and I have complied a list of things that Nick and I did while he visited me, just so you all don't think we lallygagged about all day.
Where We Went:
Santo Spirito (with a crazy little painting near the exit with what looks like two KKK members)
Il Duomo
Uffizi (I can not even begin to list the works...)
SS. Annunziata (first day we went exploring, very pretty church, paintings in atrium)
San Felicita (crazy Pontormo Deposition, tons of colors in the tiny chapel behind gate)
Piazza della Signoria (Loggia della Signoria, Perseus, Rape of the Sabine, Neptune)
Museo della Scienza
Accademia (David, Captives)
San Miniato (high up on the hill)
Piazzale Michelangelo
Casa di Dante (my neighbor)
Medici Chapel, San Lorenzo (called New Sacristy, by Michelangelo)
Chapel of the Princes, San Lorenzo (the totally over the top one)
Palazzo Vecchio (with my girl, Laura by Bronzino)
We never made it out of Florence, but as we rehashed the trip our last night together we realized that this was one of the first cities we had ever truly delved into together and gotten to know with a real depth. I am soo happy to say we had such a good time.
Since I have been back it has been a whirlwind of visitors, dinners, movies, and of course shopping. We start our art tours tomorrow, I understandably needed a bit of a break from that whole world for a couple days. So far I have been able to see two of my best friends, Adrienne and Emma, as well as Guy and William, who joined up for New Year's Eve! We were lucky enough to have the Riera's join us later on that night, and we had a blast! I then slept very deeply for about two days, and then we continued on with our frantic pace, hitting stores in San Francisco and Oakland, and all our favorite restaurants. Mom and I headed up to Sebastopol to see Ross and Bob, and had a very lovely, if rushed (Mom was starving), lunch. It was great to see them, and to see some of Ross's pictures from his own Florentine journey a "few" years ago. It was funny that the vista was exactly the same from a distance, but I could tell that it must have been such a different experience, and I love that Florence has the kind of history it does, and that it can be shared with equal enthusiasm and love between generations.
Well, I have to get back to figuring out what I am going to be doing this summer. This was a bit of a break from my research :) So far, I have a couple options including Madison for summer school, staying in Italy for a little longer, heading back to New York for another internship, maybe London, or even staying in the Bay. And though I know that I am lucky to have ANY of those options, the pressure that I am starting to feel to make every moment count is weighing on my decision making skills. If you have any opinions or advice for a 20 year old girl without a clue about what she really wants to do, I would be very appreciative.
Hope to hear from you all soon, about my life OR YOURS!!! I am always reachable at melamed.johnson@gmail.com.
Best, and Happy New Year!
Soooo, what a year this one will be! Or at least I hope its exciting.... So much to talk about now though. Nick is landed safely in Bolivia with his Abby, [or how I refer to her, Abby Secundo :) ]. I can't believe how much drama happened AFTER we left Florence, especially compared to how completely calm it was when we were there! Firstly, I left at 5am and got sick on the plane, again. Then I arrive home to.... one of my bags being lost AND Nick being stuck in Paris because his plane was so delayed out of Florence due to weather! If that wasn't bad enough, both of Nick's bags didn't make it the next day either. I swear air travel just is NOT fun!
However, the days that preceded these events were amazing and I have complied a list of things that Nick and I did while he visited me, just so you all don't think we lallygagged about all day.
Where We Went:
Santo Spirito (with a crazy little painting near the exit with what looks like two KKK members)
Il Duomo
Uffizi (I can not even begin to list the works...)
SS. Annunziata (first day we went exploring, very pretty church, paintings in atrium)
San Felicita (crazy Pontormo Deposition, tons of colors in the tiny chapel behind gate)
Piazza della Signoria (Loggia della Signoria, Perseus, Rape of the Sabine, Neptune)
Museo della Scienza
Accademia (David, Captives)
San Miniato (high up on the hill)
Piazzale Michelangelo
Casa di Dante (my neighbor)
Medici Chapel, San Lorenzo (called New Sacristy, by Michelangelo)
Chapel of the Princes, San Lorenzo (the totally over the top one)
Palazzo Vecchio (with my girl, Laura by Bronzino)
We never made it out of Florence, but as we rehashed the trip our last night together we realized that this was one of the first cities we had ever truly delved into together and gotten to know with a real depth. I am soo happy to say we had such a good time.
Since I have been back it has been a whirlwind of visitors, dinners, movies, and of course shopping. We start our art tours tomorrow, I understandably needed a bit of a break from that whole world for a couple days. So far I have been able to see two of my best friends, Adrienne and Emma, as well as Guy and William, who joined up for New Year's Eve! We were lucky enough to have the Riera's join us later on that night, and we had a blast! I then slept very deeply for about two days, and then we continued on with our frantic pace, hitting stores in San Francisco and Oakland, and all our favorite restaurants. Mom and I headed up to Sebastopol to see Ross and Bob, and had a very lovely, if rushed (Mom was starving), lunch. It was great to see them, and to see some of Ross's pictures from his own Florentine journey a "few" years ago. It was funny that the vista was exactly the same from a distance, but I could tell that it must have been such a different experience, and I love that Florence has the kind of history it does, and that it can be shared with equal enthusiasm and love between generations.
Well, I have to get back to figuring out what I am going to be doing this summer. This was a bit of a break from my research :) So far, I have a couple options including Madison for summer school, staying in Italy for a little longer, heading back to New York for another internship, maybe London, or even staying in the Bay. And though I know that I am lucky to have ANY of those options, the pressure that I am starting to feel to make every moment count is weighing on my decision making skills. If you have any opinions or advice for a 20 year old girl without a clue about what she really wants to do, I would be very appreciative.
Hope to hear from you all soon, about my life OR YOURS!!! I am always reachable at melamed.johnson@gmail.com.
Best, and Happy New Year!
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