Today I saw the David-It was simple but I get why people love it. The eyes and the hands were the most impressive part for me. The hands were large but powerful. They fit even though they shouldn't have. The statue made me quiet for a moment.
The Ufizzi gallery also doubles as a sauna in the summer months in case tourists need it. The gallery was pretty amazing otherwise. I think I stood in front of Botticelli's "Primavera" for 15 minutes just staring. There have been only a few things in my life that I have done that with (the coliseum) but that painting just sucked me in. I had to copy a section of it in a painting class last year and spent a lot of time looking at it in a book. I knew many of the curves of the figures, the colors of the flowers, the pose of the woman's feet. When you know something so well and you finally see it in real life, it just stops you cold. The painting is seamless. I know the parts that are awkward, the extra long arms, the foreheads that are too short or protruding. When you paint something you have to see all of these things in order to copy correctly. There were no brush marks or obvious lines. I followed it with my eyes. I wish I could appreciate everything I saw the way in which I did to that painting.
In Florence I went to some of their open markets to look at all their handmade goods. I wasn't really looking for anything in particular but was instantly caught up in the beauty of it. They sold usable beautiful things, not plastic statues and packs of postcards. I didn't even need a purse but instantly wanted one. The smell of the leather in the hot sun, mixed with that odor of the working Italian vendor filled the air around me. I found one I liked and found the initial asking price to be 35 euros. I am a terrible haggler and even if I could get them to price that down I didn't think I could afford that. I felt a weird dilemma. I work hours and hours at home to make money to save it for this trip. I still have money and could definately get by on this trip if I buy this purse. I start to think 'at home I don't even want or like purses that look like this why do I want this now?' I then am reminded of what my aunt said to me when she gave me 50 dollars right before I left. "Keep it and don't spend it until you find something you really want and wouldn't buy it for yourself, then use this money, thats what your Grandfather used to always say." I was completely torn. I left the market. I thought about it more. There were so many things on this trip that I would have probably wanted in a moment like that. I secretly wanted a more expensive bag too and the cheaper ones that I was looking at weren't even that great. Also I decided before I left that I would spend my money more on experiences than on souveneirs. I later bought a book when we left the Ufizzi, I love it and I don't regret it at all. It was much cheaper but something that I'll always have to look back on and learn from.
(i also got myself a pashmina scarf ;() )
The Ufizzi gallery also doubles as a sauna in the summer months in case tourists need it. The gallery was pretty amazing otherwise. I think I stood in front of Botticelli's "Primavera" for 15 minutes just staring. There have been only a few things in my life that I have done that with (the coliseum) but that painting just sucked me in. I had to copy a section of it in a painting class last year and spent a lot of time looking at it in a book. I knew many of the curves of the figures, the colors of the flowers, the pose of the woman's feet. When you know something so well and you finally see it in real life, it just stops you cold. The painting is seamless. I know the parts that are awkward, the extra long arms, the foreheads that are too short or protruding. When you paint something you have to see all of these things in order to copy correctly. There were no brush marks or obvious lines. I followed it with my eyes. I wish I could appreciate everything I saw the way in which I did to that painting.
In Florence I went to some of their open markets to look at all their handmade goods. I wasn't really looking for anything in particular but was instantly caught up in the beauty of it. They sold usable beautiful things, not plastic statues and packs of postcards. I didn't even need a purse but instantly wanted one. The smell of the leather in the hot sun, mixed with that odor of the working Italian vendor filled the air around me. I found one I liked and found the initial asking price to be 35 euros. I am a terrible haggler and even if I could get them to price that down I didn't think I could afford that. I felt a weird dilemma. I work hours and hours at home to make money to save it for this trip. I still have money and could definately get by on this trip if I buy this purse. I start to think 'at home I don't even want or like purses that look like this why do I want this now?' I then am reminded of what my aunt said to me when she gave me 50 dollars right before I left. "Keep it and don't spend it until you find something you really want and wouldn't buy it for yourself, then use this money, thats what your Grandfather used to always say." I was completely torn. I left the market. I thought about it more. There were so many things on this trip that I would have probably wanted in a moment like that. I secretly wanted a more expensive bag too and the cheaper ones that I was looking at weren't even that great. Also I decided before I left that I would spend my money more on experiences than on souveneirs. I later bought a book when we left the Ufizzi, I love it and I don't regret it at all. It was much cheaper but something that I'll always have to look back on and learn from.
(i also got myself a pashmina scarf ;() )
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