1/3 of my feelings are mixed...

It's no secret in my group that I am ok with returning home. It's not that I have been whining a lot or anything like that...but when people ask me, I tell them point-blank that I am glad to go home. So that's the other 2/3. The part of me that has mixed emotions is mainly the part dealing with the NECC crew. I know full well that when we get back tomorrow it won't simply be a case of picking up the "shit phone" (the Nokia to the layperson) and calling each other to walk the 15 minutes, or whatever, to go get a Gelato. That part of me knows that life gets in the way...always. And, that's fairly sad. This small group has grown pretty close, despite the semi-anonamous beginnings. From the very start I was a little apprehensive...big surprise...about there being as many as 17 people going on this trip. Then they told us that there may not be enough to make the trip happen at all; that was interesting. I am very glad that they decided to go ahead with everything despite there being 6 of us. I may not be the poster child for this trip. Others in the group have certainly embraced their lives here much more. Yet, as a social experiment, and having taken my first true photography class, it has been quite an experience. I do wish that the multitude, even plethora, of extra expenses had been better explained to us though. It does get pretty darn expensive here everyday if you aren't careful. Overall, I am glad it is 3 weeks. Sorry people that wish to stay.... I won't miss the Euro, the language barrier, the smells, the tourists, the mosquitoes, the lack of air-conditioning, the small showers, the intermittent internet, the narrow streets, etc... but I will miss the closeness of the group, professors included, that has come from us being thrown into the blender that is Florence...together. I certainly can't see climbing towers or mountains or going to the Mediterranean with everybody from the Haverhill campus....Lawrence is right out, lol. Anyways, here I come shower and buffalo chicken and driving...I miss driving. And, I thank whatever that I had my music with me. It helped keep me sane(it's a relative term, folks), really. Deep breath.

Oppulence!!...yawn.

The more extravagant things I behold here in Florence...the more I long to return to my more minimalistic existence. Seriously, I am really what the group and I are calling "museum-ed out." The dust of this 3 week whirlwind tour hasn't yet begun to settle and I find myself being forced to reflect and choose favorite moments. This i s almost impossible for me at the time of this blog. I can say, however, that I came to Italy not caring about old paintings or sculptures and I remain in that frame of mind even now. In fact...the more old stuff I see, the more I long for the future. I know it's wrong...ok..maybe not "wrong" per say, but many things are just better as they get refined. Besides, I am not one for over-the-top fluff. I am fairly vain, but usually in a negative way and prefer not to be in photographs. The well-to-do in the paintings and palaces and churches and blah blah blah are just the opposite. "Look upon me and all my splendor. Fear me and fear my wealth. I have power over all." Bite me, I say. I mean, there are things I have seen that are incredible...such as the structures themselves...things built to serve a purpose (like tables or ceilings)...that have lasted for centuries. I am impressed with this much more than the "artwork" most people come here to see. I believe art is more a release and should have more behind it then just to adorn the rich and famous' bedroom walls. I am fully aware that they couldn't just post pics to Facebook and live eternally through the digital revolution like we can today, but when every single painting is about religion or religion or religion or the rich....it's spirit crushing for me. I guess I just don't see the world that way. So, in some ways I am seeing what I expected to see. And, in other ways there are things here that are great. Maybe next time the class should go to the Ferrari factory in Modena...'cause for a petrol-head like me; that's art. Art that you can use. HA.

"It's The Final Countdown!"

       We have two more days until we say ciao to Italy. It seems like it was only yesterday that we arrived here. It is crazy to think that we have spent 3 weeks here because we have done so much. Again this it's crazy! Many would agree that we have enjoyed our time here and in fact some us want to stay here forever. In fact some of us have already started looking for jobs in Firenze. It's not a bad idea but I think many of our bosses at home would be unhappy. But with the two days remaining, I say that we live it up and try to cram in as much as we can until our departure. Ciao! 

Florence Smells

Ok. You have to remember that this is coming from someone that lives in the suburbs and always has. And, it is also from someone who's olfactory sense isn't always up to snuff. All that being said however, Florence kinda stinks. When you wake up at 7:30am and get out the door to greet the day only to take in that first unpleasant waft, it's a total turn off. Then with each 5 or 6 new steps you may encounter 3 or 4 new, and equally unpleasant, odors. My favorite, of course, is the raw sewage variety. Chalk this one up to the renaissance era plumbing...fine. But, then there is last nights american college student's vomit...trust me....it's there. Or the constant puppy fecal matter or urine fragrance.....yuck. Is it like this in every city? It might be. Of course there are other smells too; like industrial train tracks, centuries of decay, or the ever-plentiful 2-stroke exhaust.....sigh. These are things I never want to get used to. So I usually just hold my breath or grin and bear it. Thankfully, there are 1 or 2 good....really good...smells also. But, you didn't think that was possible... The best example is the bakery on the corner of my street. Every day, between sewage and urine, I get a magnificent wiff of this place. It always smells the same and it always pleases me to pass by. Chocolate pastries and non-chocolate pastries...wow. This is my favorite aroma of the trip. There are most likely other bakeries or food shops delivering appetizing scents..but I maintain that mine is the best. The other aromas I find appealing are those of the beautiful women here. I leave you there.

A funny thing happened on the way to the Forum...

Yesterday, while most of the others went to Sienna, Barbara, Nikki, and I opted instead to go to Rome.  We went through some of classical Rome (none of Vatican or anything like that: next time!) but unfortunately didn't get to see the Pantheon.  What we did get to see, however, completely blew our minds.  We saw the Colosseum, walked through the Forum, and made wishes in the Trevi Fountain.   Oh-em-gee.  It truly was a remarkable day, and I am grateful to Barbara for coming with us.


Til next time,

~ Hannah

Here's our fabulous group at il Museo Bargello this morning. We were joined by a friend from home, on the right end, Rafael Lindau.
It was a spectacular morning weather and Museo-wise. After immersing ourselves in all things sculptural @ the Bargello we walked a few blocks to Casa Buonarroti, the former home of Michelangelo. We walked the same streets as he had, a frequent thought of mine in this marvelous place.

Check it out: http://www.casabuonarroti.it/it/

Lucky me...?

I got pooped on by a pigeon today.  I am equal parts disgusted and amused.  Luke got so blessed today as well.  Good day for luck, bad day for hygiene.  Here is a photo of the perpetrator for your amusement.


Til next time, ciao!

~ Hannah