Blogs from Florence, Tuscany, Italy, Europe - page 181

February 12, 2005 San Bonaventura-Roma Hill overlooking the Foro Romano Central, gorgeous, ancient Tourists take turns peaking in the church minutes before the ceremony, curious and full of romantic thoughts Chilly, light rain Elegant young guests Family in fur coats and radiating smiles Alessia is 8 months and shining, expectant Zia Chiara is nervous and proud The groom is greeting his guests Flower tucked in the label Brothers-in-law Peers, childhood friends, aunts, uncles And Zio walks his second graceful yet humble daughter down the aisle…Zia weeps silently at the second wedding in 4 months... The reception took place in a restaurant called Baba, who grow all their own food and cook without using any preservatives and the healthiest of ingredients. Dried flowers, antique pots and pans, hanging plants, an old white piano and plaster and ... read more

A few glimpses at sketches, designs, ideas primarily inspired by design and decorative styles I've been observing around Florence-an iron gate (the same one in front of the bank, or to the gate of the Medici palace) of intricate, vine-like curls, everending depictions of Madonna and child, iconography on every street corner, window frames high above the passers-by carved with care and interest-styles and symbols repeated all over the city...if only you look UP. Also, a few more random observations of my Florentine environment: -In the mornings bars are lusciously profumed of capuccino, the sweet smell of " le paste"- freshly baked bomboli (donut-like), foglie (filo dough crusted with sugar), filled croissants (cornetti di marmelata, crema, riso dolce, ricotta) and other fruit or creme filled pastries. From about 7:00-8:30 am bars (here they are cafe's) are ... read more

ARTE FIERA-Bologna, 28 January 2005 4 football fields full of contemporary art-displayed by galleries from Australia, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Austria, Sweden, United States and individual arts dealers/collectors. Walls filled with young, new and controversial artists working in mixed media, paint, film, metals, neon light. And then we come upon rooms displaying Andy Warhol next to Giorgio DiChirico, not to mention pieces by Pablo Picasso, Joan Miro, Cy Twombly, Giorgio Morandi, Joseph Albers, Mark Chagall, Roy Lichtenstein, Chuck Close, Nan Goldin, Carlo Carra, Mario Sironi and Jean Michel Basquiat scattered throughout the emense halls…men and women in suits and expensive ideas sit and chat, or eye the visitors casually. Now and again someone lays down a easy 50,000 for a sketch, or a painting or sculpture-many of which are so avant-guarde that I wonder if the ... read more

January 20, 2005 BEFORE THE HISTORY LESSON COMES THE CONTEMPORARY UPDATES: What I learn from watching Italian TV: -January 12, 1984 Florence hit -23 degrees centigrade, the lowest it has ever been. -The lovely young, half naked, ladies on TV are obviously more concerned with their sparkling bosoms and lusciously coiffed locks whether they are delivering the evening news, morning weather, or dancing a jig between TV programs. Other observations: -Young Italians don’t seem to have the same rhythm as we Americans do, but they DO dance their own “thang”. Not only do they dance with little or no self-consciousness, their sense of style seems to run along this concept as well. Men and women, young and old, experiment with coloring their hair, wearing it long, short, shaved, spiked, highlighted, spray painted as well as ... read more

December 16th, 2004 Along with a glass of milk, I just ate the green, sugar crystal-speckled head of a molasses reindeer. I shared a confection-sugar coated almond cookie with my flat mate who closed her eyes to savor, and I smiled thinking of my mother. Christmas. Downtown, the church bells are ringing deep and far above us, there is the Romanian street band playing in Piazza Republica around the corner, behind me in the busy street passers-by pause by a video and music presentation that takes up an entire store-front, a hip advertisement strategy. Today I had lunch with my nephew and climbed 463 stairs to witness a birds eye view of a very misty and hauntingly quiet Firenze from Ghiberti’s dome. At the top of this stone magnificence, breathless, he proposed to his girlfriend. My ... read more