…continued from last post.

so that last morning we were in florence we decided to go to the museums.. because florence houses some of the best art in italy we had to reserve a ticket for the galleria academia (to see the david) and the uffizi.. which has a lot of paintings and scultpure. when we made our reservations i actually ended up with a different time than the other three girls so i headed out to the academia about an hour before they did.. (at 9am) i got lost on the way but used the extent of my italian knowledge (dove e la galleria academia) to ask an old man where I was going.. so found it, got to cut the line because of the reservation and walked around the museum.. it’s actually not that big but because it has the david people are willing to pay almost 20 euro to see it.. and it’s DEFINATELY worth it.. it seems so cliche because there are cheap david sculptures sold at every tourist shop but when you actually see it your heart stops… literally.. i don’t know if I have EVER seen a piece of art that incredible. It’s HUGE, way way way bigger than I thought and every proportion/vein/muscle, etc was perfect. Michaelangelo was such a genius.. I guess he had to have permission from Italy to dissect 30 human bodies a year, so you can see how that knowledge is portrayed in his artwork. It was so cool. Also in the museum were Michaelangelo’s unfinished marble sculptures which were sweet.. it’s kinda funny because being in Italy you hear stories about these artists, and I guess Michaelangelo was kind of a diva.. if he didn’t want to do something he didn’t.. and at one point he ran away from Italy so he didn’t have to do a certain piece for a Pope because he couldn’t do it his way.. and then they also had plaster casts for marble sculptures which I don’t think I’ve ever seen before.

After the Academia I had around two hours to kill so I walked around Florence which isn’t that big at all.. I ran into a piazza which has one of the David copies outside (the one everyone takes pictures of.. where it originally stood) I checked out some shops and the Vecchio bridge.. it’s a bridge built before the war which shops on it, and Hitler had helped fund/make it so when the Germans invaded Italy he told his troops not to bomb it because he thought it was beautiful.. so that is why it still stands today. Around 11:30am I went to the Uffizi to see if I could get my ticket because my reservation was for noon and it was MADNESS. I don’t know if I’ve seen a longer line.. hundreds of people in line to go to this museum.. there was a two hour long to get into the museum without a reservation, a line to get your reservation, and another line to get into the museum with your reservation.. to say the least I didn’t get into the museum until 1pm.. an hour after my reservation.. but it was worth it.. I love the Met in New York but this museum has the best paintings I’ve ever seen.. European collections are so much better than we have.. it had a whole room dedicated to Botticelli (my artist for my triptych painting.. the piece called the Primavera) he also did the Birth of Venus.. they had Carvaggio, Rafaelo, Leonardo, etc etc etc.. so good. After that I had to wait on the Ponte Vecchio for the other three girls (the bridge) what a bad place to meet.. it was so crowded.. but luckily we found each other and crossed the river to go to Michaelangelo’s Gardens.. we had to walk up like 6 flights of “nature stairs” to get to the top but it was an incredible view of the city.. and up top of the hill was also the other David copy.. so now I’ve seen all three ha. It was pretty though.. I almost feel like I’m taking these amazing places for granted because every thing we see here is so cool and beautiful and so it’s hard to compare it to something else..

After the gardens we ran into an antique market but all but Meghan were too tired to walk so we sat down on some stairs while she wandered around.. then we headed back to the hostel, grabbed our stuff and went to the train station..

.. and man was it good to be home in rome.. it’s a weird feeling to be back and know where you’re going.. its funny, we get back to Rome and there is trash everywhere and we’re like “YAY WE’RE HOME”.. whereas every other city we went to last week was so so clean.. if you drop anything in Venice you get a huge fine.. guess you’d have to be there but it’s funny.

I probably had like 5 shopping bags with me as well as my backpack and purse so Kym and I stopped at the Trevi fountain on the way back and watched all the crazy tourists and gypsies trying to sell things.. we also went to Abbey Theater that night to grab a drink and we met the bartender who is there every night.. he’s from Birmingham, UK and moved out to Rome to be a translator.. he promised he’d take us to a Mexican restaurant (apparently there are three in Rome.. I had no idea) and he also took me on a short vespa ride… (don’t worry it was safe mom! haha) anyways a good end to a good trip.

This week is INSANITY though.
Monday.. we were supposed to have our triptych drawing done on our canvas.. each canvas is 30cmx130cm tall.. so I had painting from 2-7pm working on that.. then I was there from 7-midnight painting.. then this morning I went to studio around ten AM and painted until 1pm.. I pretty much have to wait til the oil paint dries a little ‘cos it’s starting to get muddy. I had no idea how hard oil painting.. I have a lot more respect for painters now.. ugh, so hard… so tonight I had to work on this big elaborate sketchbook for Palatine Hill.. my identity system project that spans the entire semester for our graphic design studio, it includes research, photos, value drawings, watercolor paintings, sketches, logo ideation, etc.. it’s kinda a big deal.. so that’s due tomorrow.. then it’s Halloween and one of the apartments is hosting a deal.. then Thursday I have my second art history test.. which I already feel so unprepared for.. the other class doesn’t even have tests or homework.. for their final they have the option to write an essay.. whereas our final is like comprehensive of 120 works of art and two essays! eek.. then Friday our logo for Palatine is due.. as well as my painting!!!!!!! GHA. To say the least Saturday will be a good day.. it’s also the day I’m going to my art history prof’s house to take a cooking class and eat a six course italian meal (he used to be a chef) can’t wait!

All for now.. ciao! xoxo

the copy in it’s original place

the porta-potties at the festival di creativa.. it’s what my triptych is off- Botticelli’s Primavera

The Ponte Vecchio on the left.