Benvenuto a Milano
After a few days in Milan, I think this is the city that has been the most difficult to adjust to. I expected it, but it’s more real now that I’m here. It’s incredibly high-maintenance: everyone here is styled perfectly, and it’s very difficult to blend in. We had 2 days off, which just finished, and most people bought quite a few things to help them look a little more Milanese – but with my shopping abilities, I was quite unsuccessful. Which is something of a disappointment, because for most of the trip I was looking forward to buying a nice pair of jeans and shoes from Milan (but being here, I can see there were many better deals in Rome).
Viareggio
Yesterday I rode my first real train. I also bought my first real train tickets and navigated my first real train stations. Trains are fun. Murray, Kiks and I were heading out to Viareggio on the coast for a day at the beach, waking up at 6am and boarding the 7:59 train. We decided to splurge an extra 3euros each on first class (totaling 9euros one way) only to find a train full of 2nd class seats. Adventure! They were comfortable seats at least, and the train was pretty empty.
Di Cenacoli a Boboli
These past few days have been great, as expected. On the 24th we did our Cenacolo tour, visiting 4 different Last Supper works in the city. The first was by del Sarto in 1526, and it was less than a 4 minute walk from our apartment (We can see the church, San Salvi, through our back windows). Next was Ghirlandaio’s 1480 work in San Salvatori, followed by Castagno’s from 1447 in the Sant’Apollonia, and Ghirlandaio’s other work in the bookstore room of San Marco. Odd place for a bookstore, but you use what you have I guess.
Settecento Venti
After a day of sleeping in, laundry, groceries, and not much else, I didn’t know where I wanted to go in the evening, but I knew I wanted to get away somewhere alone. I rode along the south side of the Arno to scout out places to view the fireworks tomorrow, and enjoy the sunset on the way. Growing darker, I headed back into the centro, and decided Santissima Annunziata would make a good spot to park and rest for a bit.
San Spirito et Al
Russell had mentioned many times that he feels like he’s coming home when he returns to Florence. He passed through the city as a teenager, visited again for 4 months as a student in his 20s, and has returned numerous times thereafter, not including a couple weeks each summer for the past 5 years of this field study.
Caldo in Firenze
The weather is hot. Not regular hot, but hot hot. But this is Florence.. let me pick up where I ended previously in Dolciano.
Bella Toscana
Yesterday was our first full day in Tuscany. I had a bit of a rough night the night before; our welcoming pizza and wine (and more wine and grappa) having a bit more of an effect than I had hoped. But we were in good company, with Gabrielle, Marino, and Andrea – Andrea being the lord of the manor, which was once the summer home of the Duke of Tuscany (we’re staying in the renovated workers quarters). It’s a pretty fancy place, complete with pool and 300 year-old domed chapel, and we certainly have more room here than in Rome.
Arrivederci Roma
On our final day in Roma we all worked on our projects. Rus freaked us out good on the lack of quality the previous presentatino, and the night before, so we got hardcore and worked. And we finished. And presented. Then the 14 of us walked across town to a seafood place in San Lorenzo for an amazing 6-course dinner complete with a 1/2 litre of vino per person. Total was either 18 or 23 euros, depending on the appetite, but for our last meal in Roma it was more than worth it.
Città Eterna
Last night, heading out to find pizza with mogho, it hit me how normal this all feels. Yeah, we live up the street from the coloseo, big deal. When I get back to Vancouver, I fully expect to look back and be amazed. Living a few blocks away from one of the most recognizable ancient monuments in the world… A symbol, a stadium, thousands of years old, still drawing crowds from around the globe.
Arrivo
Current time: Wednesday, May 28, 12:10AM.
Amount of sleep since Sunday: approximately 4 hours – At least it’s dark out now!
