Bella e Strana

Final day in Greece

2009-12-28T23:05:00.000-08:00

June 25, 2009. I spent my last day exploring the central market of Athens! So many wonderful things...barrels full of olives, huge wheels of halava, hanging carcasses of meat just begging to be painted!
I went out of central Athens to find the National Arccheologial Museum, very neat and crowded with Italian tour groups. The I drank some gritty Greek coffee, got lost (reading bus signs in Greek is not an easy task), and met up with Jeana to do some last minute shopping before running off to the airport.
My flight was delayed, and I met some nice Canadian guys while waiting around, and I ended up showing them around Rome the next day! But that is another adventure.

Athens and the Acropolis

2009-12-28T20:58:00.001-08:00

June 24, 2009. We visited the new Acropolis Museum (it had just opened that week!) It was pretty impressive, a beautiful open space. Nothing like the old stuffy artifacts behind glass sort of set up. Here we are with the caryatids.Later, really cheap yummy gyros on Souvlaki Row
Then the hike up to the Acropolis! It was amazing, you could see all of Athens sprawling out...

For dinner, a great place Rick Steves recommended, 12 shared dishes, ouzo and dessert.

Hydra!

2009-12-28T20:30:00.000-08:00

June 23, 2009--daytrip to the island Hydra (pronounced EE-dra). Just a short ferry ride away from Athens, and so gorgeous. The bluest water I've ever seen. I missed being my the ocean after just a few days of Athens city life. I spent the day hiking around the island, finding different beaches to swim, sunbathe and paint at.No cars on the island, only donkies!
After a lovely lovely day, back to Athens to explore the Plaka and have dinner with everyone.

Athens

2009-12-28T19:48:00.000-08:00

June 22, 2009. First full day in Athens. My travel companions were busy preparing for their conference in the morning, so I set out exploring the marketplace! I saw some sights and sought out the famous poet-sandal maker, got a gyro on souvlaki row...so good.

Later, I went to the International folk narrative research conference cocktail party, where Jeana and her friends met up with a professor friend.
Our hostel was right near the brand new Acropolis Museum, where they put on a great light show at night, animated smiling Kore...
Athens is a very interesting city. It reminded me of a very ancient LA...it has a lot of secrets.

Epidarus

2009-08-09T19:00:00.000-07:00

June 20. We took a bus trip over to Epidaurus the healing sanctuary of the ancient world. It is also the home of one of the largest ancient theaters. We tested out it's acoustics with singing and jokes. It was pretty amazing how far sound traveled with no help from technology.
We returned to Nafplio for a summer storm, and then for dinner. We got ouzo accompanied by tiny fried fish, along with olives, giant beans, grilled feta, sausage, tomato and cucumber salad, and more ouzo!
A perfect last night in Nafplio!

Mycenae

2009-08-09T16:11:00.000-07:00

June 19. We took a day trip to Mycenae to see the archeological site of the ancient Greek city. It was beautiful, but very hot....We stopped in Argos on the way back to search for Grappa (it is sold in plastic bottles!)
We went to the beach upon returning to Nafplio! The water was so refreshing, even if the waves were a little rough.
For dinner that night, we started with the most amazing olives, olive oil and toasted bread.
The infamous Greek Salad.
Jeana and I shared moussaka and some kind of pig skewer, and our waiter kept supplying our table with free red wine! Very tasty.

The Conquering of the Palamidi Fortress

2009-08-09T12:21:00.000-07:00

June 18. My first morning in Nafplio, we got up bright and early to climb the Venetian fortress before it got too hot. The natives debate whether there are 800 or 1000 steps.....
There were a lot of steps.
The views were amazing. The ocean was so blue and seemed to go on forever...
After that hike, we were all exhausted and rested for most of the day. I explored and discovered a beach! The Mediterranean is so nice...And for dinner we had the fish special:
yum!

Greece! Day 1 in Nafplio

2009-08-09T11:56:00.000-07:00

June 17. With school finally over, and people heading their separate ways, I departed for Greece to meet up with Jeana on my first real vacation in a long time...
After a long day of travel from Florence to Rome to Athens to Nafplion on the Peloponnese peninsula, I arrived just in time for dinner. We had dolmades--grape leaves stuffed with meat and rice, stuffed peppers...some wine of course...
My travel companions, the folklorists! Adam, Linda, Kristi, and Jeana
And my moussaka. Delicious!
We walked around Syntagma square afterward. Even in this tiny tiny town, everything was open very late, it was so beautiful...

Biennale 2009, Venice

2009-08-09T11:20:00.001-07:00

June 9th, my roommates and I journeyed to Venice to see the international contemporary art show, the Biennale. Participating countries have their own pavilions in the Giardino--there was so much to see in just a day!The Exhibition Hall:
The Russian pavilion was pretty neat, with a room of black lit crowded frescoes and the theme of "victory over the future."
The International Exhibition hall was immense and maze-like. We got lost, but saw a lot of cool stuff
And we spent some time wandering the streets of Venice of course! Good ol' San Marco full of pigeons...
Adventures continued with catching 3 am trains to get back to Florence, huddling in the cold, and watching bum fights. But that's another story!

oh wow....

2009-06-16T10:02:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy busy hectic wonderful-ish time. Our numbers are slim here in Florence. The last of us art kids are packing and traveling, eating their last kebabs and pizzas. I visited the Biennale in Venice (more on that later!) And now I am off to Greece tomorrow. It will be a very interesting travel day....I've never been alone in a country where I don't speak the language...but I'm meeting up with Jeana and her conference friends for some time in Napflio before heading over to Athens. Oh, and I booked my flight home finally, I'll see you all in July!

Final days in Florence (for everyone else)

2009-05-31T10:00:00.000-07:00

It's been an interesting week. It went from everyone pulling all-nighters--studying, drawing and writing papers, to all night walks around Florence and piazza hang outs to say goodbyes to everyone who's leaving. Some highlights--I got to do several portraits while Jackie was working on her drawing final...
Wonderful sandwiches!! at Noe
Aladdin pants and hammocks!
Dinner with la Marsha at Pizzaiolo....soooooo good. Like pizza straight from Napoli.
And breakfast with Tony! Definitely the best way to start the day.
Allora, now, I'm trying to start and finish paintings....say more goodbyes, and manage to get more sleep!!

CSU Banquet

2009-05-29T10:08:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, we had our final banquet at a lovely restaurant near the Bargello. We all got dressed up and ate yummy Tuscan food--our last hurrah as a group...
Our lovely dinner..
Followed by spumante in Santa Croce
...and karaoke, which I usually can't stand. but it was really fun this time!

So now that finals are over CSU Firenze is officially finished. People have already started leaving, although most of my friends are staying at least until the end of the weekend or maybe even a little longer. Our apartment will soon become a refuge/hotel for now homeless students as they complete their travels. But all us art kids are still here another few weeks finishing up exams at the Accademia! Speaking of which, I have to go finish my sugar lift for my second to last etching!

Last Week-ish

2009-05-27T12:25:00.000-07:00

Last week I went to the Pecci Museum in Prato with Avery! It was super hot but we took shelter in the almost empty contemporary museum to see a new painting the museum acquired by Lorenzo Bonechi (really neat contemorary tuscan artisit!) and an installation show by Loris Cecchini (dotsandloops) Very interesting!
Me with "Conversazione"
Then, later that week, Marsha had all of us art kids over for dinner. We all made fabulous things (and Marsha loved my porchini mushroom risotto--yay!)
the food (second course):

I have a lot more to post, but I'm really stressing out about my etching final--I have to do it next week, instead of in two....so lots of work to do. Wish me luck!

Mostra Nostra!

2009-05-15T11:03:00.000-07:00

We had our final show yesterday! It was a big success, tons of people came, the art looked great...I'm so proud of everyone :)Along with my Annunciation piece, I had a wall for a few of my small portraits I've been doing!

All the art kids with Marsha and Domenic (photo stolen from Jackie!)
Other than that...the semester is winding down--one more week until finals. And then I have until mid June to finish a bunch of etchings and do some more paintings. But I just booked a flight to Greece to see Jeana while she's at her conference in June!! I am so so excited and also terrified that I don't have enough time to do everything...I dread to think about packing up all my stuff from the whole year. But I'm going to paint all day tomorrow, hopefully...

LDM Art Show: the art is in the streets

2009-05-10T08:22:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the Lorenze dei Medici art show on Via Faenza. Marsha had all us CSU kids participate, so we set up our art in the restaurants and shops, and on easels in the street. Here's me with my Annunciation piece!
After all that running around, we had a lovely late morning snack of bagels and cream cheese and lox and a few bottles of wine...
Then we had a very long day of art show stuff, but later that evening we had "Cena sotto le stelle"--dinner under the stars!
It was a yummy price fixed 15 euro meal with delicious antipasta (prosciutto, other meaty things, crostini with liver, and bruschetta), then a pasta course, and a meat and white bean dish, and wine of course, and a chestnut flan for dessert!
I have a lot to catch up on...I've been really sick and I've fallen behind on everything. But my parents visited me for my spring break and we spent a lovely week in Rome! I'll post more about that later. ciao!

ze weekend!

2009-04-05T12:38:00.000-07:00

This weekend was spent between school, attending seminars for the "Art Clash" art show, hanging out with mutual friend from LB Jacki who is studying in La Spezia, homemade Italian luncheon with Marsha and prof, walks around town, and some kind of crazy salsa line dancing??!!
Today, we made crepes, and bread. We have almost no food in the house....I went out to paint, the weather is finally nice enough to sit outside! I was only rained on for a little....but I did this little painting in the park near our apartment, with limited palate.
this one was just really quick--of Italian mommies gossiping while watching their kids play soccer...
I spent the rest of the evening in the Art Hole working on my other painting...and now it's time to study for my Italian and Cinema midterms for tomorrow!

Rabbit Rabbit Rabbit!

2009-04-01T13:54:00.000-07:00

Happy Spring! Sorry for the random updates...I have to play catch up one of these days...but I'll start with today. Went to the Accademia--this is what I've been working on in Painting--imaginative figure/landscape with acrylic and oil pastels...Then down to etching! I am learning a lot (the hard way..) but is very very exciting to see what happens when you print! (and see what mistakes you have to fix...hehe..)
This is our Professor Viggiano--the victim of the Italian's april fools--Pesce d'aprile!
I'm so so excited for spring--the mercato is full of bright and delicious fruits and veggies! Tonight for dinner, we made roasted asparagus wrapped in prosciutto, with beets and bell peppers....
And Gaby made a whole roasted chicken, and I made asparagus risotto!! It came out really well...super creamy and flavorful!
Now Avery has some banana chocolate chip muffins in the oven....mmm...Next week is midterms, then my parents are coming for a Roman Holiday! Everything is super busy and crazy right now--more so than usual. There are 3 art shows coming up, the ever-present need to paint/study.....the weather is different everyday...life is good.

Birthday in Italia!

2009-03-23T01:15:00.000-07:00

On Saturday I celebrated my 22nd birthday in Florence! I wasn't too excited to begin with...22 just isn't an exciting year..but thanks to my friends, I had an amazing day!! It began, of course, with birthday gelato.We stopped by the Central Market to pick up some olives, and they sang me "Tanti Auguri"--the Italian birthday song
We went to our friend Stefany's house for an afternoon BBQ--with wonderful burgers, cheesy spinach dips, chips...and a nutella birthday cake!
Daniela and Jeff made awesome calamari with squid fresh from the central market!
It was also Jef's b-day! So we all ate way too much and had a fun time. Later on, dancing! It was a very nice birthday....I don't even feel that old at the moment.

grass!!!

2009-03-10T13:56:00.000-07:00

So after my last post about the beautiful sunny weather, it rained for a week straight! They say "marzo e' pazzo" because the weather is so crazy...BUT after all that rain we had the most beautiful weekend! On Friday I walked around all day, exploring Oltrarno, and sketching at the Brancacci chapel and then I went to a fun Italian dance party with Gaby! On Saturday we all went to the Pitti Palace to bask in the sun at the Boboli Gardens....we napped on the grass (it felt just like being at Long Beach!)
It was a lovely lovely day, and we went back the next day to bask a little more before seeing two of our friends perform in an English/Italian performance of the Vagina Monologues! The weather is a little more indecisive right now...but we are going on our last feild trip this weekend to Napoli, and hopefully it will be sunny there! Other than constantly discussing the weather, I am painting, going to the Accademia (now that it's resumed after a month of testing) aaand, cooking a bit and whatnot..that's all for now, ciao!

Ah Firenze!

2009-03-01T03:39:00.000-08:00

On Friday, we took a walk Oltrano to go to the Pitti Palace! It was really really sunny...a gorgeous spring day! (I'm sorry, I'm so excited about warm weather it's all I can talk about...)

After spending some time at the Galleria Moderna, we got gelato and marveled at the beautiful twilight colors...

Afterwards, Avery and I went home and our couchsurfers from Spain (who are studying in Ireland) arrived. Gaby made a lovely dinner, and they bought some nice Lambrusco wine for us to all try. Then we gave them a night gelato tour of Firenze, it was fun and we were able to communicate really well between english, spanish and italian!

Mardi Gras in Florence

2009-02-28T05:39:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday night, I went for a walk with Avery and we stumbled upon a random mardi gras celebration for the last night of Carnevale in Florence. A truck blasting techno came rolling down the street out of nowhere--followed by a HUGE crowd. We followed them into Santa Croce where a strange sort of open air dance party broke out, complete with firedancing and strange creative costumes..it was quite surreal.

Carnevale!

2009-02-22T13:05:00.000-08:00

Last weekend I went to Viareggio (a beach town near Pisa) with Gaby to celebrate Carnevale! There were amazing floats, tons of confetti, costumes, music...it was really amazing...here's a video I took:

I'll post some more pictures from that later...I just finished up my first week of the new spring semester here, I'm pretty excited! More to come...

Blue skies in Firenze!

2009-02-19T07:12:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was so gorgeous! Clear skies, sun...still kind of cold but I walked around for a few hours just to enjoy it (I swear spring is almost here..) People were basking by the Arno, and I found some secret paths to go down by the water...

I climbed up to this garden (I think it's called the Giardino Bardini) the view was great, and I can't wait to go back when there are flowers!

I painted a portrait of my friend Geo, and then we had an impromptu dinner party potluck! We had pasta with squash and pancetta, roasted chicken and vegetables, potatoes, stuffing, salad...so yummy. We tried to go dancing, but that failed, and we just ended up sharing a big pitcher of sangria at Salamanca...

Amsterdam! day 3

2009-02-16T16:34:00.000-08:00

We went to the Van Gogh Museum on our last day! A new exhibit, "Van Gogh and the Colors of the Night" had just opened, so we got to see a lot of amazing night landscapes...along with the permanent collection.
Canals and bikes at twilight...
We ate our last meal at a nice Indian restaurant...saag paneer, mango lassi, naan with lamb....

Sorry for all the food pictures!! but it was the most wonderful thing to be able to eat delicious spicy ethnic food once again, we've reached the halfway point, we deserved a delicious reward :) go to my shutterfly to see more!

Amsterdam! day 2

2009-02-16T15:56:00.000-08:00

After getting some well deserved rest, we explore the canals...
...in search of bagels!!
Half lox and cream cheese on an everything bagel, half banana maple syrup on a cinnamon raisin bagel....
It was so yummy, and Avery made a friend that showed no intention of ever leaving her lap
After our brunch, we went to the Rijks museum, which was amazing even though only part of it was open..I saw a bunch of Rembrandt's including "The Night Watch."

Then we had another yummy dinner at an asian fusion place, EM's eat mode! We ate yummy soups--udon, wonton, chinese noodle soup with japanese curry.....and Ben and Jerry's ice cream for dessert.
If you haven't noticed the theme of this trip yet, it is eating wonderful ethnic food that we can't get in Florence :)

Amsterdam!

2009-02-16T14:53:00.000-08:00

Well, I just got back from spending the weekend in Amsterdam with Avery, Sara and Gaby! We had a very interesting time, considering we had to travel in the middle of the night...here we are on our 6 am flight, that we had t catch a 3 am bus for!When we finally arrived in Amsterdam, it was snowing! The cold shocked us into being awake..
Then we found shelter and our first meal of the day in the Pancake Bakery! We had amazing dutch pancakes...with apples and bacon, ham cheese and onions, brie spinach and cashews, and a special Indonesian pancake!
Afterward, we wandered the canals, and saw the Anne Frank House.
After resting at our hotel for a bit, we went out to discover Bazar--an old church converted into an amazing restaurant serving North African, Turkish and Iranian food. We had hummus, a wonderful couscous dish with a skewer of all kinds of meats and vegetables, and then some veal spareribs.....so so good. And this was after deciphering the menu in Dutch! It was one of the best meals we've had all year.

For dessert, I had fresh mint tea, with a plate of Turkish delight, and baklavah...covered in this strange spun sugar...it was so good! We also had amazing Turkish yogurt with honey....

A wonderful first day in Amsterdam, despite the lack of sleep!!

painting!

2009-02-12T06:58:00.000-08:00

Finals are over!! Last night, in between studying, my friend Finn modeled for me! It's been so so so long since I've painted a portrait...but he was a great model and entertained himself and me by playing his guitar. I finished in under 2 hours, on top of the time to do a quick under painting the night before. Here it is!I want to keep doing these...but for now, I'm going to pack and get ready to head out to Amsterdam for the weekend!

Finals Time

2009-02-06T14:32:00.000-08:00

Finals are approaching! The weather is still indecisive...pouring rain with breaks of sudden sunshine....oh, how I miss the sun!!
Santa Croce is stunning after a storm..

Tomorrow I will go back to the Uffizi...to do "research" for my Museum Studies paper :)

Primavera?

2009-02-01T12:33:00.000-08:00

It's been a strange stormy/sunny week in Florence. Right when I think spring is almost here--the sun is out, the sky is blue, you barely need a coat--and suddenly you wake up to rain. But I can't complain...Florence is just a beautiful gray and dreary :)The other day, I painted a landscape from the window of my studio/art hole. It's still a little too cold to sit outside for long. But I was pretty pleased with the results...I love painting on cardboard!!
Today, after a leisurely morning of sleeping in and making crepes, we went to the Uffizi! It is sooo nice getting in for free with our Accademia librettos. I love knowing I can go back at any time :)
(this is just a neat street art piece that caught my eye on the way...I thought she looked like a Judith, and then I saw several beautiful Judith Paintings from Botticelli to Artemesia Gentileschi at the Uffizi...maybe she'll be my next subject)
After the Uffizi, Gaby made a wonderful dinner, and our first couch-surfer arrived! Now we are in for our last week of class before finals....time to write papers and finish paintings...and study D:

Field Trip--Venezia, Vicenza, e Mantova

2009-01-31T02:33:00.000-08:00

The next day we had the option of going to Venice to see art with Domenic, or going to see Palladian villas. I chose Venice of course! It was beautiful and magical...We saw Titian's famous Assumption of the Virgin at the Basilica dei Frari, and saw Tintoretto's amazing decorations for the walls and ceilings of the Scuola San Rocco. We also visited the Accademia where we saw Giorgione, Bellini, Veronese, and more Titian and Tintoretto! It was a lot to see, but it really made me appreciate the Venetian artists on a whole new level...it was really inspirational!After all that art, we wandered the streets of Venice getting thoroughly lost. It was surreal seeing all the places I'd been before, Venice is like a dream...but we found St. Mark's and had a nice dinner on our way back to the train station.
The next day, we saw one of the famous Palladian villas, the Villa Rotonda, and played in the bamboo forests.
In Vicenza, we saw an amazing opera house..the space was so deceiving, beautifully lit..I can only imagine what a performance would be like there. We grabbed a delicious lunch before hopping back on the bus. I tried some polenta con vitello--the polenta is so so good in the Veneto region!
Our last stop was Mantova, which seemed to step right out of my Renaissance Art History text book. We saw the Palazzo Te, frescoed by Guilio Romano, and then the Palazzo Ducale which was immense, but housed Mantegna's famous Camera Picta.
And that concludes our whirl-wind Northern field trip. Until next time! I need to paint...so maybe I'll be posting some art soon!!

Field Trip--Ferrara and Padova!

2009-01-26T09:57:00.000-08:00

On Friday, we left for our Northern Field Trip! We spent some time in Ferrara to see the Castello Estense and Palazzo Schifanoia (and eat a really yummy pizza with rucola and ricotta, and a free beer!)We played in the park

And then continued on to Padova where we saw the Basilica del Santo, which was stunning. It was huge, but not overly dark like some churches tend to be...it was full of light, dramatic scuptures, colorful frescos...and lots of creepy reliquaries.
Then, to our very nice hotel in Padova for a group dinner. We had lasagna bolognese, guinea fowl with creamy polenta and some kind of yummy green cooked with pancetta...and some yummy and odd cake (dolce pazientina)
Then we spent the evening playing pictionary telephone with friends!

Rainy Day Hiking Adventure!

2009-01-18T15:55:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I am finally caught up to the present! There isn't really much to write about for the last few weeks...I haven't really gone anywhere exciting, just school and the usual sorts of adventures. But today, we went up to Piazzale Michelangelo...and beyond! We went up and up, and found trees (an amazing sort of discovery in Firenze)...It peaceful and green and rainy. We ended up leaving Florence entirely; it was quite the hike!

A dopo!

New Years!

2009-01-18T15:37:00.000-08:00

Ok, New Years is only a few weeks late...but after returning from Spain, we threw a little festa at our apartment (the art colony). Jeana and I made deviled eggs and homemade brownies!We went to Piazza della Signoria for the countdown. It was insane how many people were there. Fireworks going off in all directions.
At midnight everything got even crazier and bottles were launched in the air, glass shattering...it was so so loud and smokey...
We escaped and ended up going to a rave/dance party in the outdoor mercato at Sant'Ambrogio where I buy my fruits and veggies, it was awesome!!
Overall, a very exciting New Years, especially since mine are usually very low-key. I drank lots of spumante, gave an early morning tour in the rain, and didn't go to sleep until 8 am....

Back to Madrid...el fin!

2009-01-18T15:19:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the excessive food posts! I can't help it...the tapas were amazing! When we got back to Madrid, we got grilled shrimps and sweet house wine at Abuelos.After walking around town and doing a little shopping, we went back to the Oreja del Oro for more champignones...
We also tried grilled pig ears!! Really weird....a little crunchy, but delicious!
Ok, one non-food picture...
And then, we went for dessert and tried Spanish cheesecake!!
And that concludes Spain! Go here for more pictures. Adios!

Last Night in Sevilla..

2009-01-18T14:48:00.000-08:00

We had some wonderful tapas to hold us over until after the flamenco show. We finally tried all the specialties in one sitting--paella, jamon iberico, and gazpacho! Plus Andalucian wine...light fresh and delicious.
We saw a great show at a cultural center. There was a male and female dancer, singer and a guitarist...it was amazing and yet completely different from the first show!
After the show we went to a really great local place for dinner! We had ribera wine at the bar, and then were whisked upstairs to eat octopus salad and the most tender wonderful fried eggplant with honey sauce....oh man!

We had some kind of weird dessert from Granada and a sweet sherry....
And that was the sweet, sweet ending to Sevilla. Oh wait, after dinner, we went to a bar in Plaza Santa Cruz...it was amazing. We had some more wine, and when in got late...the bar man lit the candles for the altar for the Virgen Mary, and a Flamenco guitarist played a tribute....and then some impromptu flamenco concert broke out...it was like a dream. A perfect ending for Sevilla...

Another lovely day in Sevilla!

2009-01-15T12:39:00.000-08:00

Delicious Desayuno...cafe con leche, zumo de naranja, huevos revueltos, e pan!We visited the Alcazar....an amazing palace built by the Moors for a Spanish king. It was so so beautiful..the tiling, the architecture, the gardens that went on forever and ever....
We had yummy shrimps for lunch before hitting up the Flamenco Museum!
Unfortunately, the Cathedral was closed, but we admired the outer-awesomeness..
(it was rainy, but still beautiful none-the-less)

Lovely Sevilla...

2009-01-14T10:06:00.001-08:00

We took the fast train down to Sevilla after our Christmas in Madrid. We explored the Barrio Santa Cruz, and admired the huge Gothic cathedral... The streets are all lined with orange trees that light up at night! It was so stunning, I immediately fell in love with this town.
We stumbled upon Plaza Nueva, where there was a cool craft market and an outdoor Rodin exhibition!
We had a lovey dinner of spinach and garbanzo beans at Carmella's, and then after getting very very lost, caught a free flamenco show at La Carboneria. It was so amazing!
The sangria was really cheap and good. The music was indescribable...the dancing was so passionate, I'd never seen anything like it. We were dazed afterwards and treated ourselves to a latenight churros and hot chocolate...

More Madrid

2009-01-08T12:25:00.000-08:00

The day after Christmas, we crammed in as many museums as humanly possible! We started early, and beat the crowds at the Prado. It was so immense...we spent hours there and still didn't see everything. I discovered an artist I really really like in the very first corridor--Ribera. He was a 17th century Spanish painter who lived and worked in Italy and was strongly influence both by Carravaggio and Venetian painters. His work is amazing...oh, the way he paints flesh....After the Prado, we had a lovely lunch at La Platteria del Museo. We split the pote astoriano (a stew w/ ham, beans, and green beans) and a salad with feta and ham. We have realized by now that the Spanish are obsessed with jamon...
Then we hit the Reina Sofia for some awesome modern art. We saw Picasso's Guernica, and I got to see a few works by a contemporary Spanish artist I like--Antonio Lopez Garcia! After that we were completely drained and needed some afternoon tea...
Then, we hit the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. We had our old master fill from the Prado, so we mainly looked at the Impressionists and fauvists. It was a really nice collection, and a little less intimidating than the other two museums.
After our evening paseo, we had a drink and tapa at La Oreja de Oro. We drank Ribeiro and ate grilled mushrooms--champignons...it was delicious and a great local spot! Very smokey..
and here is Purta del Sol all done up in Christmas cheer!

Christmas in Madrid

2009-01-08T12:04:00.000-08:00

After whirling through Barcelona, we had a nice rest day--on an 8 hour bus to Madrid! It was amazing to see such a huge busy city entirely shut down for one night. On Christmas Eve, nothing was open. Not even the kebab place. And yet everyone was out walking around, it was really great (and luckily we had a fabulous picnic ready in our room from La Boqueria)

On Christmas Day we walked around the city. I made Jeana try chestnuts...I'm still not sure if she really liked them :)
Festivities in Plaza Mayor
yay, Happy Holidays!

Siete Qui (you are here)

2009-01-08T11:53:00.001-08:00

Ah, the beginning of the new year! We just started class again yesterday, and things are still picking up momentum...meaning I am not completely stressed out yet! I am falling in love with Florence again. Things were getting so hectic and so so cold before the winter break, I think I started losing sight of the beauty here. A vacation in Spain helped. Spain was wonderful, magical, different. But I missed Florence...This last weekend, Gaby and I took a long meandering walk, and ended up all they way over here:I think I'm started to get used to winter, and I even enjoy taking more walks now, whereas before all I wanted to do was stay inside. It seems like every time I go out, I see something new..even if I've walked the same street dozens of times. A new fresco, store, art studio, graffiti..and always new people to watch.

I hope you are had a lovely holiday season and new year...buon anno!

Barcelona! (part 2)

2009-01-06T14:11:00.000-08:00

We walked up to Park Guell, which was quite the hike even with the escalators! The mosaics were so gorgeous...it was a really neat place I would love to hang out for some length one day...

Later after seeing many more sights, including La Sagrada Familia, we treated ourselves to churros and hot chocolate at the best place (according to Rick Steves) in Barcelona! I think he was right...based on the amazing hot chocolate itself as well as the huge line outside!
yuuuum...it was so thick. Almost too rich.
Then we went to the Picasso Museum, which was pretty amazing. We were exhausted by the end of the day, and ready to indulge in some Basque tapas!

Barcelona!

2009-01-06T01:30:00.000-08:00

Jeana and I began our Spanish Adventure in the magical city of Barcelona...We arrived rather late due to delayed flights, but were just in time for a late Spanish style tapa dinner. We drank yummy house wine, empanada, olives, and jamon with potatoes in a spicy sauce. Then we retired to our hostel off Las Ramblas. We started our first day pretty early, seeing the Colombus monument, Placa Reial, and stopped into an herbal shop to have our first caffe con leche!
We got lost in the maze-like Boqueria Mercato, full of butchers, fruit vendors, tapas bars...it was intense!
We meandered down Las Ramblas, seeing birds and critters for sale
We saw our first Gaudi house, and the stumbled upon a cool (and free!) Rodchenko show inside his Perdrera house!

Buon Natale!

2008-12-20T13:52:00.000-08:00

We had our school Holiday party last week. It was quite fun, champagne and food and dancing. Jeana comes to Florence tomorrow, and then we depart for Spain the next day!! I'm so excited. So, if I don't get another chance....Happy Holidays, Merry X-mas, Happy Hannukah, etc!! (see you next year! and this is a really neat site I found if you are ever bored and in a need for a laugh....BedJump.com)

art stuff!

2008-12-18T09:37:00.000-08:00

School is out for Natale! I finished with midterms yesterday, and had my last day of class today.. This past week was so intense, many many hours were spent in the art studio--which we dubbed the Art Hole. John made this lovely sign:Welcome to our closet!
But I actually really like it. It's cozy, and the atmosphere reminds me of Long Beach. Spot lights, music playing, the smell of oil paint, crazy people painting at all hours or taking naps in the corners...
The Accademia has been interesting lately as well. There is some kind protest that's been going on for a week, and the entryway and courtyard look like a bizzare art installation...

Trapani!

2008-12-16T04:02:00.000-08:00

On our last day in Tapani, we tried to get to the Egadi islands, but the water was rough, so we couldn't go...We walked through the center, and hung out by the sea basking in the sun (something I have been seriously missing in Florence) It felt like California....

We had a nice lunch, and I sampled a specialty of the area, cous cous con pesce. It was very yummy with some white wine! And then we tried another oddity of Sicily, gelato in a brioche! I wasn't crazy about the brioche, but we got an insane amount of gelato for 2 euros. I've never had so much in one sitting before...mmm...

Then we hopped on our plane and said ciao ciao to sunny Sicilia! More Pictures!

Trapani

2008-12-15T10:00:00.000-08:00

After exploring Erice, we discovered the historic center of Trapani. It was so beautiful with all the lights! It was Santa Lucia day, and all of the Italians were out taking their evening passeggiata. We went church hopping for a little, and had an impromptu tour in a church in need for restoration. It was beautifully in ruin, and our guide showed us tons of amazing details I would have missed on my own. This reflief represents air.

A very kind policeman recommended that we take a walk along the sea, and sample the free Arancini for Santa Lucia day. It was a beautiful night...
We had delicious pizza for dinner in our room. We watched Italian TV, I think my comprehension is finally getting better, especially after having to speak Italian all weekend!

Erice!

2008-12-15T02:58:00.000-08:00

We arrived on the top of the mountain...Erice is a beautiful town, narrow steep paved streets, full of churches and gastronomical shops...We visited the most famous pasticceria in Erice/Sicily, and perhaps even Italy!

I sampled a marzipan manderin, it was really good, and someone actually thought it was a real tangerine!
We walked around and admired the views...it was beautiful beyond words...

Bella Sicilia!

2008-12-15T02:19:00.000-08:00

This weekend I ventured south to Sicilia! Samantha and I left from Pisa airport, and stopped by to see the leaning tower...it was a rainy, dreary day in Tuscany.
We arrived in Trapani, Sicily that evening, found our B&B, explored the main shopping street, and had a wonderful feast at "Il Solito Posto." We had heaping portions of busiate pasta-homemade and special to the region. I had "mediterranea" with all kinds of seafood, and Sam had marscapone and funghi. We split the pesce spada (swordfish) for our secondi, and shared a 1/2 litre of the vino locale, which was a very nice white wine. We shared a tiny piece of cassetta siciliana cake for dessert, which was interesing, but not my favorite.
The next day we set out for Mt. Erice. We hiked to the base, with the help of many jind people we had to ask for directions on the way.. and after some delays due to wind, we took the cable car up to the top with a nice British girl we met who is studying and teaching in Palermo.

It was a beautiful ride up, we could see the entire peninsula of Tapani, the blue blue sea, the islands. It was so beautiful and clear, it reminded me of California :)

Field Trip--Ravenna

2008-12-11T04:29:00.000-08:00

On Sunday, we continued onto Ravenna...We saw a TON of early christian mosaics...and then had lunch at the most amazing piandini place. It's like a flatbread panini. I had mine with parma, rucola and a soft cheese squaquerone!

More mosaics...
The last church we saw had a flooded crypt (with goldfish!)

Field Trip--Urbino and Assisi

2008-12-11T03:52:00.000-08:00

Last weekends field trip was very intense...lots and lots of art and art history and mosaics and churches. Our first night, we had an immense never ending feast--the antipastas alone were amaaazing! Ricotta and mozzarella..salumi, olives, artichoke hearts...more cheese! Then a huge sampling of pastas for the primi--risotto alle verdure, ravioli, gnocchi al pomodoro, passatelli ai funghi porcini, tagliatelle al ragu.....for the secondi, carne e patate con verdure e insalate. And dessert of course! And wine!The next day, we went to Raphael's childhood home in Urbino
Then to Assisi! We visited the immense Basilica di San Francesco. The frescos were so beautiful..
And then, back to Urbino for free time in the evening. I went to a really neat bar with some friends to drink our dinner...

ciao ciao

2008-12-04T12:49:00.000-08:00

It's been another busy busy week! I haven't taken any pictures recently...it's been getting colder and colder. We've had a few days of rain and hail and storms! But tomorrow we go up north on another field trip. I am very excited even though it will be even colder than Florence. We are going to Assisi, Urbino and Ravenna...we are going to see some beautiful art..frescoes and mosaics....wee!

Buon Giorno di Ringraziamento!

2008-11-27T15:56:00.000-08:00

My first Thanksgiving abroad was a success! We spent all day cooking wonderful things, it felt and smelt like home. We had a 5 kilo turkey, moist and roasted to perfection...mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes (patate americane) with marshmallows of course! Green beans with pancetta, creamed spinach, mushroom gravy, stuffing, panzanella, biscuits with honey butter, garlic mozzarella bread, pear/cherry bread, and pumpkin pie! John made us awesome headdresses and names (I am Wild Belly!)

We had a wall of post-it notes....things we are thankful for :) I stuffed myself silly. And now it's time for a brief nap before tuning into the California Thanksgiving fest via skype. For more pictures, go here!

Bologna!

2008-11-25T08:42:00.000-08:00

I went to Bologna on Saturday with Sara and Avery for a shopping mission. We discovered the hugest outdoor mercato we've ever seen (and with the best prices too!) I got a scarf for €1, and a purse for €5...we walked around the freezing cold for 2 hours and barely covered half of it...We also saw the massive San Pietro Basilica, and stumbled upon an awesome chocolate festival which was almost too overwhelming. We tried some hot chocolate to die for...and then did some shopping for winter clothes at H&M...
Go to my shutterfly for more pictures! And Happy Thanksgiving to everyone tomorrow! We are going to have our own little feast here :)

Roma! (part fine)

2008-11-24T10:38:00.000-08:00

After the Galleria Borghese, we saw an exposition on the Etruscans and a really cool video artist Bill Viola. I had a lovely dinner/lunch with Heather and Avery. We ate Aranchini (fried risotto--piccante and tartufo), lasagna (my first time here so far) and vino!

We hung out in Piazza della Republica for a bit before heading back to the hotel via metro to catch our bus back to Firenze. It was an exhausting but beautiful trip with amazing things stuffed into every nook and cranny. Here is the link to the rest of my pictures again!

Roma! (part...?)

2008-11-24T10:22:00.000-08:00

Laura and I were the sleepiest roommates ever! The hotel was so nice...I slept like a baby...On Sunday, a group of us went with Domenic to the Galleria Borghese to see some Bernini statues and some Caravaggio paintings (amazing!!)
I think one of the reasons I loved Rome so much...there were trees! and grass! It was so open and full of greenery...it felt a little more like home. Plus ruins.
Some of my sketches from the Galleria. We could only spend two hours there...I want to go back!

Trevi Fountain and The Spanish Steps!

2008-11-24T10:12:00.000-08:00

After our wonderful Roman dinner, we went to see some of the necessary sights...it was so beautiful at night. We made a wish at the fountain, but didn't stay long on the steps since it started to rain!

Roma! (part tre)

2008-11-23T12:59:00.000-08:00

Cena! After a full day of sights and walking, we were ready for a nice dinner...We had stuffed fried olives for our starter, and excellent spaghetti carbonara for our primi. I also shared a marvelous funghi pizza with my friend Mark (I was starving!) I tried samples of everyone else's desserts...the Tiramisu was very yummy....

Roma! (part due)

2008-11-23T12:41:00.000-08:00

Early next morning, we set out to the Colle Oppio, and had our first view of the Coloseum. We saw the Foro and Palatino....they were absolutely amazing. We had a really great archeologist tour guide who was very knowledgeble.

We has a short lunch break before seeing the Colloseum and the Pantheon. Our guide also took us to a great gelato place. Al 90 of us crammed in there somehow....Then, I tagged along with Domenic to check out some Caravaggio paintings in the church of San Luigi dei Francesci. They are so so amazing in person..

(more to come...but check out my shutterfly for more pictures!)

Roma! (part uno)

2008-11-23T12:04:00.000-08:00

We started our exciting Roma field trip at 6 am....We watched Gladiator in Italian, and made our first stop at Tarquinia where we saw underground Etruscan frescoed tombs! Then to the centro di Tarquinia for lunch and a visit to the Etruscan museum...

Our next stop was Cerveteri, a huge necropolis that we were able to explore for a few hours. It was amazingly peaceful and beautiful...

After frolicking in flower fields and exploring dark cavernous tombs, we hopped on the bus and continued onto Roma! We had a lovely dinner (which Laura and I almost missed due to sleeping) at our very nice hotel. After dinner we got gelato!

Tripa!

2008-11-22T15:29:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I tried...tripe! Gaby and Avery and I all split a panino (just in case we didn't like it) but it was actually pretty good! Grammy will be so proud of me :)

This little cart is right by my apartment, I pass by it all the time on the way to the Sant'Amrogio mercato. There's always a crowd of hungry Italians.

Roma!

2008-11-17T17:19:00.000-08:00

So Rome was amazing. It really was eternal, it was vast and magical and full of antiquities and art and good food and it was also very peaceful (for the most part)I will post more pictures and details of my journey later...buona notte!

rainy day!

2008-11-13T06:45:00.000-08:00

It's been getting colder here in Firenze! Last night we had a real storm, with thunder and lightning (and I went out anyway to get gelato of course!) After a busy morning of Grammer (ugh..) and etching (yay), I walked around with John.
We stumbled upon some kind of food festival on our way to the mercato and we sampled cheese and bisocotti...marveled at the marzipan....
We bought some anrancini--a treat from southern Italy--fried risotto balls! One had creamy vegetables inside, the other cheese and prosciutto...sooo good for a rainy day! There were also tons of sweets--fresh cream and choclate filled donuts. Maybe I'll go back tonight for dessert!
Tomorrow we depart for Roma! (at 6 am...) I am very excited, this week has been a whirlwind..

this week's happenings

2008-11-08T15:54:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday, we went to a big election party on the other side of the river. We were patriotic and ate free McDonalds and watched the big screens anxiously. We stayed until past 2 am, and none of us got much sleep...but yay!The next day we started our etching ("incisione") class at the Accademia...at 8:30 am! Our teacher is very nice and patient with us. He's been teaching for more than 40 years, he knows his stuff! The lessons are entirely in Italian, I feel like I'm getting so much better in listening comprehension already. I made my first print that day, it was pretty exciting!

I'm in the class with Avery, Gaby, Mel and Jackie, plus the Italian students. It's been amazing seeing their work. I am definately going to like this class :)

Belated Halloween!

2008-11-06T18:17:00.000-08:00

Our friends threw a Halloween party tonight, since everyone was traveling last week for PLP break, and missed out on the festivities. We threw our costumes together rather last minute with things we had lying around, .99 euro cent store finds, and some handmade creations!

Avery is a star-catcher, Gaby is a flapper, John is a bee, Sara is a pirate, and I am the Virgin Mary! It was a lot of fun, even if there wasn't any candy....but I am so excited for the weekend!! A million possibilities, and no obligations yet. I am going to take my time, clean, study, paint, hang out...see what comes my way. This week has been so stressful...time for some rest :)

The Amalfi Coast!

2008-11-06T11:03:00.000-08:00

During our PLP break, I went to the Amalfi Coast with my roommies--Gaby, Sara, Avery and John, and our friends Heather and Stefany. We stayed in the town of Atrani for a few days...hiking to Ravello, exploring Amalfi, and Positano...eating wonderful seafood..Then we took a ferry to the island of Ischia for Sara's 21st birthday!

I took a TON of pictures...go to my new photo site to see them! Now I'm off to a belated Halloween costume party....gotta go find a costume!

Fall Semester Begins!

2008-11-03T13:20:00.000-08:00

Today I had my first classes of the new semester! John and I had to go to the Pecci Contemorary Art Museum in Prato for our first lezione for our Accademia painting class. It was very interesting...the only contemporary museum around Florence. I still don't understand anything anyone says. But then I had my Reading and Conversation class at CSU. I really like my new professor, I actually did understand everything he said..it was amazing! It was rainy all afternoon...it was nice just hanging out at home. Sara and I went to the Coop since we had absolutley no food in the house, and I made Jeana's chickpeas with wine/tomato/feta sauce. Delicious!

I have a lot to post for my PLP break trip to the Amalfi Coast, but that will be for another time. But, here are some pictures from the "Creative Festival" that was held at the Fortezza last weekend!

around florence and beyond..

2008-10-27T14:02:00.000-07:00

I finished with PLP last week! I had a few days of free time in between my oral final exam and my written, so I had some time to actually relax for once! On Wednesday, I hung out with Samantha, who I met on the train from Lucca! She's from Missouri and is studying art and literature, and Italian. We saw the Fattori show at the Accademia, walked around the San Lorenzo mercato looking for the perfect boots and belts, and we went across the river where I saw my first Florence wildlife--a muskrat chilling on the bank of the Arno! We had to ask an Italian what it was...it looked like a cross between a beaver and a giant rat.
We had our orientatin at the Accademia today. It was extremly disorienting, but I am looking forward to starting class next week! Tomorrow a group of us leave for the Amalfi Coast (at 6:45 am...) We are taking the cheaper regional train, so we'll be in transit for a long long time. I plan to catch up on my sleep! We are going to stay in Atrani for three nights, and then one night on the island of Ischia on Halloween for Sara's birthday! I am very excited...I need to go pack! I will post pcitures upon my return...ciao!

another food post...

2008-10-21T14:29:00.000-07:00

When I went to the mercato yesterday, I bought some fresh porcini mushrooms! Gaby made some awesome calzones withe the mushrooms, turkey sausage, spinach, and mozzarella...They were so good! I don't know how I can go back to eating the 2 euro calzones down the street on my lunch break...
And then tonight, I made dinner for Avery and I! I made polenta with an eggplant/mushroom/tomato sauce, and even though I had absoluetly no idea what I was doing, it came out really yummy!
Me pretending I know what I'm doing...
So I am actually completely caught up in pictures and happenings right now. And I have nothing to do for the next two days (aside from study for my written final on Friday) What an odd feeling. I actually cleaned the kitchen, organized my closet, cleaned up my part of the room...I'm not used to haveing any time. Must be adventure time!

Sunday evening walk

2008-10-21T14:10:00.000-07:00

Sunday evening, I took a walk with Sara, John and Avery. We started out in Santa Croce, and meandered down to the Arno to watch the post-sunset sky...and the bats! There were tons of them flying around (eating mosquitoes I hope!)

After building up an appetite, John and Avery and I caved in and got our first burgers of the trip. Mine had eggplant and cheese....it was divine, although pretty small and expensive.

After, we wandered some more...to the Mercato Nuovo to rub the boars snout for good luck and the promise to return to Florence. It's worked before!

After, we wandered some more...to the Mercato Nuovo to rub the boars snout for good luck and the promise to return to Florence. It's worked before!

Calcio!

2008-10-21T13:36:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, we went to our first Fiorentina soccer game (versus Regina) We all wore purple to support our home team, and got some delicious gelato before the game...

yum!

The stadium had an amazing view and it was a gorgeous day...

excitement!
And afterward we got pseudo burritos at my new favorite place, Eby's Bar!
Woo! So that was not only my first Calcio game in Italy, but also my first professional sporting event ever I think...

Friday Night Potluck...at our house!

2008-10-21T09:09:00.000-07:00

We had so many people over, I don't know how they all fit in our kitchen!! We had lots of good food. I made Panzanella, Gaby made pasta carbonara and a rice pilaf, Avery made mozzarella garlic bread, and Sara assembled some delicious ice cream sandwiches for dessert! Our friends brought over lots of wine, some salads, and desserts...It was a lot of fun, and I can't wait to have another one! Check out John's pictures for more, plus the entire guest list wearing silly glasses!

Now I'm hungry. I think I will make some pasta! I had my final oral exam today for PLP. I had to speak in Italian for 5-10 minutes, and then 2 of the professors asked me questions. I was really nervous, but I spoke about Giovanni Fattori, an Italian painter from the 1800's...and I think I did ok! We'll see. But I'm almost all caught up from last week. Next is the Fiorentina Soccer game!

Last Thursday's Potluck!

2008-10-21T08:34:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday we went to a potluck at our friends Rosa, Andrea, Caitlin and Heather's house! There was lots of good food, wine, etc...
Eunice made a nutella frosted cake!!!!

Martin, Finn, Heather, Caitlin, and Josh chillin in the living room..
Me and Gaby and Sara!Overall a fun night, although we all had an Italian test the next day...

food post!!

2008-10-19T03:02:00.000-07:00

OYE! This week was very very crazy. I am still recovering. BUT, we now have some internet in our apartment!! And hopefully tomorrow we will have wireless. I have a ton of posts to do, but I will start with the food post...On Tuesday night, John made us all a wonderful pesto and mushroom pasta dinner before we went out to a really fun Jazz club! It was delicious and went fabulously with some white wine from Cinque Terre.
Buon Apetito!
On Wednesday night, the art students organized a Nutella party (I don't remember the exact reason, but it was awesome!)
We all picthed in and brought Nutella, apples, bananas, cheese, crackers, cookies, milk..I broguht Spumante! It was a wonderful feast, followed by the CSU soccer game and open mike night at Unplugged...
More to come, but I'm going to attempt to go out painting today....

The final Cinque Terre day

2008-10-14T08:19:00.000-07:00

I ended up hanging around Riomaggiore on Sunday afternoon after everyone else went back to Florence...I wanted to paint! I did a few watercolors, and became a tourist attraction for people getting off the ferry...It was a gorgeous day once again, and I relaxed with my paints and a bottle of wine my friends left me with. I met a nice couple from Washington, and saw an octopus while wading through the water! I eventually forced myself to get on the train...I could have stayed there forever :)

(and that concludes my weekend adventure! I think I need to rest this weekend...finals for the summer language program are coming up. Ciao!)

Cinque Terre dinner!

2008-10-14T08:07:00.000-07:00

We treated ourselves to a lovely dinner by the sea after resting after the hike...sea food pastas and a litre of chilled house white wine...it was divine. I had spaghetti allo scoglio ("of the cliffs" with squid, mussels, and some kind of crustacean, in an aromatic sauce...)

Cinque Terre...back to Riomaggiore!

2008-10-14T07:54:00.000-07:00

After our hike, we took the ferry back to Riomaggiore, the town we were staying in. It was amazing to see how far we hiked!! The coastline was amazing...and I felt pretty accomplished (and also very dead). We caught the sunset just in time, and hung out on the rocks with some wine...ah, relaxation!

The last leg of the Cinque Terre hike..

2008-10-14T07:36:00.000-07:00

We rested for a little in Vernazza before continuing on to the last town, Monterosso. Christian and Juan Carlos comandeered a boat...and then we hike the longest, most difficult portion. After our swim, we rewarded ourselves with pizza con pesto e birra freddo!!

More Cinque Terre!

2008-10-13T07:51:00.000-07:00

More pictures from the hike! I'm glad it was so lovely, otherwise the hike would have been a tad too brutal! There was great graffiti in the Via dell'Amore...Vernazza was definitley the most scenic town. I had my gelato fix there (red grapefruit and indian fig)

Cinque Terre!

2008-10-12T16:40:00.000-07:00

I spent the weekend in Cinque Terre...it was so incredibly beautiful! I'll post more later, but here are a few photos for now...From the hike (of doom!), the swim and the pizza feast that followed, and the ferry ride back..

ciao!

Siena!

2008-10-06T07:28:00.000-07:00

We went to Siena on Saturday! It was nice to get out of Florence for the day...we had a lovely lunch, perched on a steep alleyway..I had Tuscan ribollita soup, and rabbit! Also a little bit of vino...We ate gelato at the Piazza del Campo (I had ricotta and fig, and marscapone and nutella) and we visited a bunch of museums, and the Duomo! I saw so much beautiful art...We sampled some of Siena's famous pasteries and a caffe corretto!

It's getting colder in Florence...still on my quest for the perfect yet affordable coat...I did get some slippers from the outdoor market today! Our marble floors are very chilly. OK, time for homework and soccer game, and weekend planning...

End of exams

2008-10-03T06:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the last day of the Accademia exams. John and I were working in a printmaking room with some very interesting machines. The project was to create a painting to go on a wall inside a hotel reading room in Tuscany. We had to do a plan in color and scale, and then a "particolare" or large detail painting the next day. I'm so happy to be done! John and I celebrated by going to Vivoli's. I had blackberry, melon, and peach...it was wonderful. Now I'm trying to plan a weekend somewhere, but I am discovering that booking hostels last minute is not a good idea...I'm trying for Venice right now, hopefully Cinque Terre next weekend...we'll see!

Rosh Hashanah!

2008-10-01T11:59:00.000-07:00

Last night we had a Rosh Hashana dinner at our apartment with all of the studio art people! Gaby made the most amazing latkes, brisket and kugel...here she is at the latke station. Sara was very excited about the latkes :)
Our oven was not working, but luckily we met our very nice neighbors and they let us use theirs. While we were waiting for dinner, we entertained ourselves with experimental camera art..
The dessert spread!!! Kugel, Tiramisu, chocolate torta, cookies, homemade fudge, plum cake....mmm...
(there's one of my paintings from class in the background!)
Jackie, Corrine, Ron, Finn, Maria Elena, and Laura get ready to eat dessert!
The only Jews at the dinner: Gaby, Marsha (our awesome art advisor) and me!

Accademia Exams

2008-10-01T10:44:00.000-07:00

The past three days have been dedicated to taking the entrance exam to the Accdemia di Belle Arti! It has been very stressful and confusing. No one seems to speak any english there, and it's hard to relax when the pressure is on to produce a good drawing!!Here are the painters on the first day!
Jackie and John looking excited for the 2nd day!
Gaby and Mel wait in the sculptors line.
This was the quick figure painting I did yesterday. I wasn't too happy with my drawing....but one more day!!

Gregorian Chants and Gelato

2008-09-28T12:50:00.000-07:00

This was the backdrop/fresco for the Gregorian chant concert we saw last night! My roommate Sara took a short video of the perfomance. Stefany, Gaby, Geo, and Avery enjoy their gelato at Neri!
We were in awe of their dessert display case....
I want this!!! (whatever it is...)
Ok, that's all I have time to post right now..But I am pretty much caught up now! Today I walked 6 km for the Corre La Vita (while wearing a t-shirt designed by Ferragamo..) Afterward, our friends hosted a pot luck at their apartment and we stuffed ourselves silly! I explored a huge flea market held every last Sunday and I bought a neat hat and a bag!! Time to go get all my stuff ready for the exam tomorrow......ciao!

Friday night!

2008-09-28T12:31:00.000-07:00

On Friday, it finally happened....we got ethnic food cravings. After Art Advising, we sat around the living room and talked about burritos and dumplings and udon...it was torturous. So we went to an Asian market and got some curry mix. Gaby made some amazing chicken and veggie curry (with risotto rice!) It was so good...we ate it all.

Later that night we all went to Finnegans, a local pub to celebrate Nicholas' B-day!
Daniella, John and Laura having a good time!
Sara and I (and our beers!)
and Sara and Avery!

The Arno at night...

2008-09-28T12:21:00.000-07:00

On their last night in Florence, Jalees Nicole and Mike took me out to dinner! We explored (got lost..) on the other side of the Arno, and ended up at Dante's Pizzaria! I had a great pizza with porcini mushrooms, and truffle cream, and cheese...it was decadent! We got gelato afterwards at my new favorite cheap place and enjoyed the view..

(thank you guys for the gelato nutella fund!! you are awesome!)

Mercato Centrale!

2008-09-28T11:50:00.000-07:00

Jalees, Mike and Nicole were passing through Florence this last week on their European backpacking adventure, so I took them to the Central Market of Florence...It was my first time there this trip, and it was impressive as ever! Two stories of meats, cheese, bread, fruits, vegetables, oil and vinegar...I also had a really good cappuccino for less than than €1!

...and after we bought some food, we went to the Duomo before I had to run off to class!

clouds!

2008-09-28T11:24:00.000-07:00

Last Tuesday my class took a field trip! It was a gorgeously cloudy day and we walked across the river--to the Oltarno section of Firenze. We visited the British National Library, had a tour in Italian, and then got some really awesome gelato (only 1 euro!!!!) We also went to Santo Spirito for a bit, but the church was closed. I love field trip days...

brief hello!

2008-09-27T15:25:00.000-07:00

I have a lot to catch up on, but it's going to have to wait! This week I take my entrance exam for the Accademia di Belle Arti. It is 4 days long, 6 hours a day...each day a different task (still life painting, nude figure drawing, project/public space design, and an immaginative painting)

Tonight we went to a free Gregorian chant concert at Santa Croce. It was so incredebly beautiful...and afterwards we tried a new gelato place--Gelateria dei Neri (I had ricotta and fig and caramella)

I have a lot of pictures to post from this last week..but wish me luck on the exam! ("in bocca al lupo" in Italian)

Pot Luck etc.

2008-09-22T09:57:00.000-07:00

Ok, gotta play catch up a little now! Last week I went to a potluck at my friend's apartment. We had a ton of delicious homemade food...pastas, mashed potatoes, wine, chicken and veggies...an immense variety of cookies for dessert...John and I made a Caprese salad...it was a big hit!
Daniella makes wonderful bruscetta...mmm...
Their beautiful view!
And this was my drawing from class last Friday. It was an hour and a half or so....Now I have to go home and work on my painting homework :(

Nutella Donuts....

2008-09-22T09:45:00.000-07:00

Ok...I had to have a special post just for this. When we were wandering around Lucca, we found this place that makes handmade donuts...dipped in sugar....and then in Nutella. It was swarmed with Italians...and since we have developed a severe Nutella addiction in the past few weeks we could not pass up this spendid opportunity...

That pretty much made my day. It was decadent...sigh.

Lucca!

2008-09-22T09:21:00.001-07:00

After a short train ride, we arrived in the beautiful town of Lucca!

Our first stop was at a gelateria. And as much as I love gelato, I couldn't resist getting a Nutella Crepe...

it was soooo good!!!
After our snack, we explored Lucca. During the thrid weekend of every month they have a GIANT antique festival. I had a blast looking at all the neat old junk..and buying a few trinkets!
Last time I was in Lucca, everything was closed (I think it was on a Sunday or Monday) But it was so cool to see it so crowded and alive!
Before catching our train back to Firenze, we had dinner at a cute trattoria out on the patio (my second meal out this whole time!) I had pasta con salsiccia e funghi.

Pisa!

2008-09-22T08:59:00.000-07:00

Saturday morning, my roommates plus three friends embarked on a Pisa adventure...
John and Avery on the train.
I took a nice nap...
Pisa is a very nice town, and it was a beautiful day! We took the mandatory silly pictures with the Leaning Tower (which was not as tall as I imagined it would be..)

John and Avery and I eat yummy gelato in the shade of the tower...

Sarah and John chillin on the grass (I miss my grass at Long Beach!!!)

Some art stuff...

2008-09-19T07:44:00.001-07:00

Here are a few things I did last week. I forgot my camera cord today, so I'll post my latest things later on...But in preparation for the Accademia entrance exam (which is only a week away!!!) we have been attending "Art Advising" twice a week. We draw from the model for a few hours, do some homework paintings, and get feedback from Marsha.This is pretty much my first time painting with Tempera paint...it's been tough switching over, but I was really pleased with how this still life came out!
Aaand, my roommate Sara posed for me for a quick painting, yay!
Ok, I will post more later...ciao!

Last Week's Salsa Adventure!

2008-09-19T07:44:00.000-07:00

Here we are preparing for battle with the rain...nothing was going to stop us from Salsa Night!
(not even a long trek in high heels on rain slicked cobblestones...) But we finally made it! And danced and had a lovely time...
In other news: This week has been so long, yet it went by so incredibly fast. I'm trying to move up to the Advanced Italian class...which may or may not be a good idea. My intermediate class took a field trip to Vivoli's this week...how can I leave that behind, even if it is a little slow! What else...last night I went to an Italian Oasis cover band (but they only played one Oasis song..) Plus late night Duomo and dancing...I need to get more sleep. We may be going to Pisa tomorrow. And I just heard about an electronica festival going on tonight? Hmmm... :)

Festa di Vino! (part 2)

2008-09-13T09:45:00.001-07:00

So after our leisurely breakfast, we began the wine tasting! 10 euros bought us a souvenir wine glass and a punch card for 8 tastings. There were too many booths and too many Chianti Classicos to count...Here are my roommates enjoying their first glass of vino and some shelter from the rain:After 3 or 4 tastings, we went to find lunch at a recommended place. We had porchetta paninos...stuffed with herbs and roasted to perfection. It went great with our wine!

We had some really amazing wines. One of my favorites was a Vin Santo that was so sweet...it tasted like burnt caramel...Overall, an amazing day despite the rain. Hopefully we will have enough energy to go salsa dancing tonight!

Festa di Vino! (part 1)

2008-09-13T09:15:00.000-07:00

We set out for Chianti this morning at 8 AM. We had a beautiful bus ride through the rolling Tuscan hills, and arrived in Greve in less than an hour! We explored the local mercato which sold everything from fruits and veggies to beautiful leather purses and underwear! Greve is a charming town...it was the perfect place to explore on a Saturday morning.
We found the main Piazza where the wine festival was going to take place, and it promptly began to rain! Luckily we were a little prepared...
We had the quintessential Italian breakfast (brioche and cappuccino) and watched them set up the festival while chatting and sketching.

On to the vino!!

San Gimignano!

2008-09-13T08:41:00.000-07:00

I absolutely fell in love with the Duomo at San Gimignano...it was pretty small compared to the one in Florence, but every wall and ceiling and space was painted with fresco...it was so colorful! I spent a lot of time in there just marveling. I couldn't really decide what to draw...
But we saw a great underpainting for a fresco at the Museo...
We went and hung out at La Rocca, one of the free look-out points. There was a beautiful view, and we watched a storm roll over the Tuscan hills, thunder and all!

Our trip wouldn't be complete without another gelato stop (especially one that claims to be world famous!!)I got raspberry-rosemary and Champelo--some kind of champagney-orange flavor...it was amazing....
After San Gimignano, we had a lovely Tuscan dinner at Machiavelli's house. We ate crostini (with liver, sausage, tomatoes, olive tapenade..), ribollita soup (mmm!!!), arrost misto, and biscotti with vin santo! (and lots of Chianti to go with dinner of course) In other words, it was a very nice first trip.

Volterra

2008-09-13T08:28:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, We began our Tuscan Field Trip with Volterra...a beautiful city famous for it's Alabaster. We visited The Museo Pinacoteco to see Rosso Fiorentino's Deposizione. It was so beautiful. I want to go back so I can have more time to sketch it....Domenic was a great museum tour guide!Next we went to the Museo Etrusco. I really liked the Ombra della Sera statue...and the beautiful views!

...And of course, I concluded my visit with some gelato! (Panna cotta e Banana!)

Duomo Day!

2008-09-12T16:27:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I need to catch up a little before I can post pictures from our field trip today! On Monday it was the 712th Anniversary of the laying of the foundation for the Duomo of Florence. So on this one day a year, they open the terrace for people to go up and walk around...for free! We had class all afternoon, but luckily, my Italian teacher is awesome and we took a little class trip...
The beautiful red roofs of Florence....
That's all I have in me for now. Hopefully tomorrow will bring Chianti wine festival fun?