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Florence Day 2
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My experience in Florence was more than delightful, it was inspiring. The art here was so beautiful and overwhelming that I skipped the inside of some sites to save for when the gang gets here. I saved the Leaning Tower Climb and the inside of all those sites from yesterday, and in Florence the Duomo and Baptistry. There are also some really great Markets in Florence with some really artsy stuff that I must indulge in next time.
The city is absolutely beautiful. There are many things to do within such a close distance with each other that you could really do it all in a day! The only problem with Florence (not for those with money) is that since so many people in the world come here to study art, the city no longer gives student discounts and the entrance fees for things really add up; hence-there-forth being another contributant to why I didn't go inside everything (plus, as I said before it will be cool to have first time wows later on; always leave something for next time!).
The sites today were significant. First I went to the Medici Chapel, the site of the Medici tombs and a very large guilded statue collection of the family. It was very beautiful. Also here is more sculpture work by Michelangelo on the tombs of some famous dead people. I couldn't hold back a really lous laugh as I studied one of his sculptures; it was of a woman...however, it looked like a man with round circles placed over his chest to make him a woman... it was so masculine (this is a common characteristic of all of Michelangelo's women. He never grew out of it)!
Afterwards, I hiked back to the Uffizi Gallery to get the museum guide so I can read more about the work. I think it's a good idea to have it on hand in case I want to use a pose or composition technique in my photography later on. Next I went tot the San Lorenzo Church which was, once again, very beautiful. I love the fact that the feeling of this sanctuary was very calm and laid back. It felt like what I imagine a monastery would be like overall. The main attraction I came here for was some more dead people. Not just ANY dead people, but the tombs of non other than Michelangelo and Galileo themselves. I flew through the rest of the church-no problem for me-and walked back to Piazza Vecchio for some artsy shopping.
Since I am coming back I didn't need to hit the souvie stands; I ditched into designer stores, antique shops, and many Florentine paper shops to check out the prices for my book. Holy expensive batman. I loved the paper and it's quality, but 20 euros a sheet? I don't trust myself that much... maybe when I actually hand craft something to sell I will call my contact here that I made in one of the shops. However, I did manage to grab a calligraphy pen with various tips and a notebook for myself because in Figure Drawing next semester, I will be doing a lot of sketches in ink and pencil. For my honors credit I want to study the techniques of Ruben and adapt them to small studies at the PMA sculpture rooms.
In between shops I picked up some lunch at a nice deli. I got a great HUGE slice of pizza and a rather large (and great for it's worth) piece of cake. The cake was called schiacciola alla Fiorentina, and I have no idea what type of pizza I ate, even after I bit into it-some vegetable assortment ;) But that reminds me, I need some meat because I haven't had a healthy intake of it lately-it's been mostly carbs. Between the crossaints, pizza, gelati, and pasta I can feel the fat starting to layer back again.
I have gotten just a little bit pudgy from this trip-for the record, that is.
After taking another walk around the Duomo I went back to the hostel where I had 4 hours to chilax before my next train. Caught up on checking emails, sent my family a nice letter, and found directions to my next hostel. I also tried to make reservations to see the Last Supper, but the office was closed and I can't do it online. SOOOO, I will have to get up very early tomorrow morning to beg them for a same day, even though the voice message said you can't same-day book on the phone, but you can INQUIRE about same day booking a museum counter. I will make sure to look into this early tomorrow so that if it doesn't work out I can make Milan a pass through for the gang in March. I would see it Monday, but it's closed. Therefore, a pass-through is the only other option (once again saving something for next time, but I hope I do get in tomorrow! I DON'T mind seeing it twice!)
Right now I am kicking back and relaxing on the train on the way to Milan. I now that once I get there I have to take the yellow or green line to the red and get off at a stop only 200 meters from the hostel. It's going to be okay... but I hope there are escalators because I am killing, man! My pack got so heavy that my back and shoulders are really feeling it.
Time for a snack and a nap. I can't wait to get to the hostel and settle down a little-I'm tired!
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