Ah, Fiesole

6-27-07

Great views, great sunset, and great food are exactly what you will find in Fiesole. I heard about this place before I left for Florence from Grammy and Grampy. They said I absolutely had to go and thank goodness I listen to everything they tell me. It’s beautiful! We went to the Tabbacchi to purchase our bus ticket and made our way to the Duomo to catch the number 7 bus. Thankfully, Kate escorted me to the stop earlier today so I knew exactly where to stand and wait. Kate also informed me that sometimes you can get away with not validating your ticket when boarding the bus. Sneaky, sneaky. We had to try. Enough people boarded so we put non validation plan into action and successfully snuck our way up to Fiesole. We hopped off the bus and immediately headed to the first restaurant we saw – Ristorante Aurora. It sits right on the edge of the hill so the views were amazing during dinner, which by the way was very fancy. Complimentary champagne, free appetizers, silky table cloths, duck ravioli…the works. With views like that, you have to dine in style. The food was amazing but we were cutting into our sunset viewing time, so we quickly asked for the check and ran a little ways down the hill for pictures. Let’s just say the sunsets in New Mexico beat this by a landslide. The sky was just too cloudy for anything spectacular and colorful. So what does one do when landscape pictures are too dull? One takes pictures of herself, of course. Fiesole has a whole street full of mopeds just begging for someone to pose with them. I jumped at the opportunity because posing with one is almost the same as riding one with an Italian boy…almost. I will cross it off the list anyway. The streets also have pedestrian crossings very reminiscent of a certain Beetles album, Abbey Road. Call me John Lennon. Overall, Fiesole is a very romantic town and one that I would love to revisit. Next time, I will bring my own bottle of champagne, probably some peanut M&M’s, and a blanket and find a nice little, quiet area to enjoy the view. Let’s just hope a great sunset decides to show up too.
Update on the hair cut today…it went wonderfully! It was the first time since 5th grade I have had my hair cut by someone other than Glen and I was beyond nervous. Good thing Princess Guilia came along to interrupt for me. They cut my bangs exactly the way I wanted and they even put in some extra layers. Very fun. It’s a good Italian haircut, but the whole experience further justifies why I spend so much money on Glen every few months. You need to have a hairdresser that knows you and knows your hair. It is more important than you think. I am lucky to have Glen. She is the best hairdresser in the world…and I can literally say that now.

This Guy Name Michelangelo

6-26-07

Well, I did it. I survived my first exam at the Accademia. A couple days ago, after our professor outlined the structure of the exam in class, I left thinking there was no way I would be able to become an art history buff in time to pass the exam. As it turns out, my memory likes to pretend to be a steel cage when it comes to remembering certain information. I am so glad it likes to pretend with art history. We were asked to prepare to discuss, in detail, a full page list of Michelangelo’s works. Detail means everything from date, location, and patronage to composition, technique, and style. Now, locations are not hard to identify because Michelangelo really only moved between three places during his lifetime; Florence, Rome, and Bologna. Easy. But then comes the hard part of placing each artwork with a date and a patron. Thanks to Amy Jo’s Michelangelo book, I found each work separated into chapters by date and patron. Somehow the author knew I would be looking for that. Great minds think a like, that’s what I always say. Explaining the composition, technique, and style is the fun part. I have learned that when it comes to analyzing artwork, anything goes. You just have to sound like you know what things such as foreshortening and catrapposto mean. I have also learned that if you pause long enough and run your hand over the artwork without speaking, that constitutes a critique. At least, that’s what my professor does, so that must be how it’s done, right? I will have to try that method when I visit the David. This Thursday we will be visiting Michelangelo’s house and then the San Lorenzo where almost all of his drawings are stored. It is still somewhat surreal to think the famous artworks we have only seen through projectors can be seen in museums right down the street. It is even more surreal to think that in about 2 days, I will actually be able to look up and see the Sistine Chapel and stand in front of the Pietà. Two of Michelangelo’s most famous works. Unbelievable. I have never really been too excited about history, but this art history stuff is not so bad.

This past weekend, a group of students took a trip to Switzerland. A trip that I was unaware was happening. Apparently, it is called the adrenaline capital of the world so it’s no surprise that they got to go white water rafting, walk a high ropes course, and almost go skydiving. I officially have a regret, something I was trying to avoid during my trip. I would have gone to Switzerland in a heart beat! I started looking through my calendar for any possible openings, but I only have 4 more weekends here. This weekend is Rome, next is Sorrento and Capri, next is Paris, and then Barcelona. Where has the time gone? This is my resolution to the problem, mom close your eyes, I am going to skip class. That’s it. There is no other option. I have to fill this regret with extreme sports and I may just have to jump out of a plane. Am I sounding like my brother yet? I will have to look further into the trip, of course, but I will keep you updated.

Meanwhile, Kate and I are off to get my hair cut. This should be interesting.

The Craziness of Florence

6-24-07

(Aunt Amy Jo, I Apologize For Not Keeping Up the Blog on a Daily Basis. I Promise to Work on This as I Now Know How Important it is to Everyone)

Happy San Giovanni Day! Today and this entire weekend has been a celebration of this San Giovanni guy, the patron saint of Florence. Although I am not sure exactly what we are all celebrating, I do know that everyone in Florence has gone absolutely crazy! The craziness began on the walk home from the train station yesterday. We took the train to Via Reggio for the day to get some sun, play in the ocean, and drink Pina Coladas. Funny story about the Pina Coladas real quick. No one in Italy knows what they are. We were dying to have some because we felt they were fitting for our day at the beach, but when we walked up to the beach restaurant, they thought we were nuts. However, one woman over heard our request and went to the back, cut up a real pineapple, and made the drinks. She was from the Dominican Republic, so of course she knew. They were fabulous. Anyway, back to Florence. Music was playing everywhere when we got to the apartment. American music. Florentines, we have noticed, love the 80’s, Gwen Stefani, Avril Lavine, and the umbrella song (Rhiana). We decided to investigate the commotion and realized that every resident of Florence was outside. I have never seen so many people in one area in my life. Streets were blocked off to make room for tables with candle light. Piazzas were crowed with people singing along to live bands and street performers performed for hundreds of viewers, including myself. In the Piazza Pitti, a band with violins, mandolins, guitars, and basses played songs very reminiscent of Nickel Creek, one of my favorite bands. I never thought I would come across that kind of music over here. I loved it. Another performer near the Ponte Vecchio attracted a huge crowd with just his piano. He was amazing. In the Piazza della Republica, a Charlie Chaplin look-a-like was putting on a comedy show, but his humor definitely would not fly in public in the United States. The craziest part was walking down the streets and seeing marathon runners run by you. Where did they come from? We followed some of them towards the Duomo where there was a finish line. Apparently, marathons here start in the evenings and runners have to maneuver their way through crowds because they have no blocked off path. Last night was probably one of the funniest, most random nights I have ever been a part of. Tonight a fireworks show takes place in the Piazza Michelangelo along with the Calcio Storico, medieval soccer game, and a parade. Should be another great night.

Kate and I finally met up for dinner! We met on the Ponte Vecchio and ate at the Open Bar restaurant. It’s a very fancy restaurant that looks out on to the Arno, so romantic. I brought along some of my friends and she brought along Princess Giulia. I explained to Giulia that I was a princess too and that even though my parents don’t run their own country, I still get to wear a tiara and a sash. She may think I am a little strange after that conversation. Hopefully, Kate and I will meet up again before she leaves.