Another full day in Florence, our tour began with a walk to the Uffizi Gallery. Tanya our tour guide led us through with information overload. I felt like I was taking art history in one hour. The artwork and pieces were beautiful; she was so knowledgeable and didn’t want to miss a detail of any artwork. It was nice to see her enthusiasm. The best part was seeing art work that I have studied since my senior year in high school. My favorite was seeing Botticelli’s Birth of Venus. The contraposto and creamy skin was so realistic and lifelike that I felt like that was me. We discussed how her body was a legitimate and anatomically correct, but the most important thing was that she was just so stunning. I wish I was better with describing just how amazing these things are. We also saw Giotto’s Madonna and his first use of perspective and depth.
Next we went to the Academia to see Michelangelo’s David. The anxiety leading up to that moment of finally seeing him was almost too hard to handle. Once I turned that corner I was beamed to him. His face was stunning. I was surprised to see that from the right side he looked so intimidated, the look of sheer terror hidden behind pride and courage. I could not help but stop and stair at the muscles and contraposto in his side. Michelangelo claims that his pieces were living in stone and he was there to bring them out. In all honesty, the David was the most beautiful pristine, clean, smooth, statue I have ever seen. Chills ran down my back. I loved him so much that I had to stay an extra hour just to sit and look at him, alone. I realize that this may not have been the best of ideas as Florence is a huge place with so much to do, but something about him just moved me… and it wasn’t him being naked. It was the power in his face, the intimidation of his body, and the way he made me feel that I could conquer anything I set out to do. Goliath here I come.
Next I bought a book about the Uffizi gallery, mainly due to the fact that I couldn’t take pictures and wanted to remember exactly what I had seen there. Megan and I also decided that it would be hilarious to buy these Botticelli Birth of Venus tattoos and tell our parents that we loved it so much we got it on our bodies permanently to remember our trip to Florence. Not a bad idea right?
Once again we ran to Grom to get gelato, it’s a necessity at this point in my life. That’s all I eat for lunch now days. Pretty sad when you burn 8 million calories a day and gain them back in one sitting. While we grabbed this we had to be back at the Duomo to go through the Baptistery, which is a separate building mind you and about 4 times smaller. I walked inside and what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a sink, and 8 tiny benches with a golden mosaic ceiling telling the life of Jesus. My favorite part was about hell, let me tell you why. Ever seen where the wild things are? Exhibit A from 1000 years before. My favorite part was that Becca decided that I was the body the monster was eating and to be honest after a long hot day that’s how I felt. The great story about this building is that the doors were designed by Giberhti, after he won a competition. My favorite square shows depth and relief which was a huge invention at the time. Directly after that we headed to the Cathedral. What’s amazing to me was that the inside of the building was generally plain compared to the outside. The façade is detailed to every nook and cranny with floral design, a sculpture, or semi precious stone. The inside decoration was mainly in the glass windows and marble flooring. The patterns were great in circular patterns that if you happened to get dizzy, it would not be your friend. The dome is the tallest one in Florence and built by Brunelleschi, who actually tried to make the doors for the Baptistery as well. The height and intense space is almost too hard to take in. That’s how it’s beginning to feel. I’m learning too much that it’s not entirely seeking in where I am and what I’m doing. I have to step back everyday and realize how marvelous this experience is instead of doing the routine. I am happy to be here, trust me this time has been life changing.
To my dismay we had to go sketch, not only sketch for a long while, but in the hot sun in the middle of the day. We ended on a bridge, Ponte Vecchio, a bridge in the middle of the city that has shops on it, mainly all gold jewelry, which is why Florence is famous also. The scene was picturesque and I hope that my sketches will begin to show just how beautiful it is here. While we sat there struggling to find perfection, all the people walking over the bridge would stand there and take pictures of us. I found it to be hilarious as my sketches are child’s play. We continued to a little park where we had Laura and Brady teach us their sketching technique styles. It was fascinating to see how easy and loose it was to sketch. I learned more about sketching in those few minutes than I had in a long time. I generally try to get the picture just right and it ends up looking wrong, now I just be loose and let my hand take over without my brain getting in the way and they look so much better. This trip is definitely helping me already in that aspect.
Next Darrin told us of this short walk to a church where they performed Gregorian chant. So we turn the corner and there are 700 steep steps. I think at this point in time I died and miraculously made it to the top. I guess that church wasn’t the right one, so what do we do? We continue to climb till we find it bound and determined. The other church higher up the hill was the right one! These three men sat in a grotto cellar of a church and sang these beautiful passages from the bible. As you walk out if the church you practically run into the greatest view of Florence. You could see everything, the far countryside and close enough to see the streets and buildings. It’s one of those moments that take your breath away… literally and figuratively.
Past this point, my stomach was eating itself. After walking around for 7 blocks, we finally found this adorable little place that had real spaghetti! I was stoked beyond belief. Surrriously the best spaghetti I’ve ever had (sorry Mom). The sauce was so rich with tomatoes and the noodles were thick and just the right amount of soggy. It was divine, the way Italian food in Italy was meant to be. At dinner this Japanese group next to us decided to send up “Jackie Chan” to sing Opera. You would not expect this little man to sing with such power, but he did. We picked the right spot at the right moment.
Here I am, yet again, sitting in the other nicer hotel with the screaming Penn University drunkards. It’s so loud here and I’m trying to concentrate with the dial up internet…or so it seems. Another day in the life. Ciao!
Next we went to the Academia to see Michelangelo’s David. The anxiety leading up to that moment of finally seeing him was almost too hard to handle. Once I turned that corner I was beamed to him. His face was stunning. I was surprised to see that from the right side he looked so intimidated, the look of sheer terror hidden behind pride and courage. I could not help but stop and stair at the muscles and contraposto in his side. Michelangelo claims that his pieces were living in stone and he was there to bring them out. In all honesty, the David was the most beautiful pristine, clean, smooth, statue I have ever seen. Chills ran down my back. I loved him so much that I had to stay an extra hour just to sit and look at him, alone. I realize that this may not have been the best of ideas as Florence is a huge place with so much to do, but something about him just moved me… and it wasn’t him being naked. It was the power in his face, the intimidation of his body, and the way he made me feel that I could conquer anything I set out to do. Goliath here I come.
Next I bought a book about the Uffizi gallery, mainly due to the fact that I couldn’t take pictures and wanted to remember exactly what I had seen there. Megan and I also decided that it would be hilarious to buy these Botticelli Birth of Venus tattoos and tell our parents that we loved it so much we got it on our bodies permanently to remember our trip to Florence. Not a bad idea right?
Once again we ran to Grom to get gelato, it’s a necessity at this point in my life. That’s all I eat for lunch now days. Pretty sad when you burn 8 million calories a day and gain them back in one sitting. While we grabbed this we had to be back at the Duomo to go through the Baptistery, which is a separate building mind you and about 4 times smaller. I walked inside and what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a sink, and 8 tiny benches with a golden mosaic ceiling telling the life of Jesus. My favorite part was about hell, let me tell you why. Ever seen where the wild things are? Exhibit A from 1000 years before. My favorite part was that Becca decided that I was the body the monster was eating and to be honest after a long hot day that’s how I felt. The great story about this building is that the doors were designed by Giberhti, after he won a competition. My favorite square shows depth and relief which was a huge invention at the time. Directly after that we headed to the Cathedral. What’s amazing to me was that the inside of the building was generally plain compared to the outside. The façade is detailed to every nook and cranny with floral design, a sculpture, or semi precious stone. The inside decoration was mainly in the glass windows and marble flooring. The patterns were great in circular patterns that if you happened to get dizzy, it would not be your friend. The dome is the tallest one in Florence and built by Brunelleschi, who actually tried to make the doors for the Baptistery as well. The height and intense space is almost too hard to take in. That’s how it’s beginning to feel. I’m learning too much that it’s not entirely seeking in where I am and what I’m doing. I have to step back everyday and realize how marvelous this experience is instead of doing the routine. I am happy to be here, trust me this time has been life changing.
To my dismay we had to go sketch, not only sketch for a long while, but in the hot sun in the middle of the day. We ended on a bridge, Ponte Vecchio, a bridge in the middle of the city that has shops on it, mainly all gold jewelry, which is why Florence is famous also. The scene was picturesque and I hope that my sketches will begin to show just how beautiful it is here. While we sat there struggling to find perfection, all the people walking over the bridge would stand there and take pictures of us. I found it to be hilarious as my sketches are child’s play. We continued to a little park where we had Laura and Brady teach us their sketching technique styles. It was fascinating to see how easy and loose it was to sketch. I learned more about sketching in those few minutes than I had in a long time. I generally try to get the picture just right and it ends up looking wrong, now I just be loose and let my hand take over without my brain getting in the way and they look so much better. This trip is definitely helping me already in that aspect.
Next Darrin told us of this short walk to a church where they performed Gregorian chant. So we turn the corner and there are 700 steep steps. I think at this point in time I died and miraculously made it to the top. I guess that church wasn’t the right one, so what do we do? We continue to climb till we find it bound and determined. The other church higher up the hill was the right one! These three men sat in a grotto cellar of a church and sang these beautiful passages from the bible. As you walk out if the church you practically run into the greatest view of Florence. You could see everything, the far countryside and close enough to see the streets and buildings. It’s one of those moments that take your breath away… literally and figuratively.
Past this point, my stomach was eating itself. After walking around for 7 blocks, we finally found this adorable little place that had real spaghetti! I was stoked beyond belief. Surrriously the best spaghetti I’ve ever had (sorry Mom). The sauce was so rich with tomatoes and the noodles were thick and just the right amount of soggy. It was divine, the way Italian food in Italy was meant to be. At dinner this Japanese group next to us decided to send up “Jackie Chan” to sing Opera. You would not expect this little man to sing with such power, but he did. We picked the right spot at the right moment.
Here I am, yet again, sitting in the other nicer hotel with the screaming Penn University drunkards. It’s so loud here and I’m trying to concentrate with the dial up internet…or so it seems. Another day in the life. Ciao!
What's a few hundred steps when you get the view of a lifetime? Keep on climbing!
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