Since my last blog I have:
1. Spent a week in Greece for Spring Break.
2. Hugged my mom!!
3. Gone to Venice (again).
4. Spent a day hopping from Sienna to a little farmhouse in the Chianti countryside to San Gimignano to Pisa with my Mom and Rob. What a day!
5. Had gelato at the World Champion gelateria (there really is a world championship and they really did win it!).
6. Climbed the Duomo (why did I wait so long to do that?).
7. Spent multiple afternoons lying in the Boboli Gardens at Palazzo Pitti.
8. Finished two books and started three.
9. Said “I want Bojangle’s!” approximately 1000 times.
10. Gone running, gotten shin splints, started running again.
Greece was probably the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen for a significant amount of time. We spent about three days on the island of Corfu, where we relaxed, went on a cruise around the island, and went four-wheeling. The ATV tour was, no doubt, the best part of that leg of the trip. We were riding around for about six hours in a group of four-wheelers and saw so much of the island. Creation is truly incredible. It was all fun and games until a girl accidentally went off a cliff….and then it was just funny! No worries, she was perfectly fine. She managed to jump off before her four-wheeler made its fall. Even it was fixable after they finally got it back up. I don’t know which state gave her that driver’s license, but they should seriously re-think it.
After Corfu, we made our way to Athens with our bus driver, Socrates, who must have smoked at least two packs of cigarettes a day. We drove all night (including a two-hour ferry ride) and woke up to Socrates on the bus intercom saying “Heeey ladiesss” in the raspiest voice I’ve ever heard—someone should get that guy a new lung. Alas, we made it to Athens and got to spend some time at the Acropolis, check out some museums, walk around the temple of Zeus, and eat some incredible food. The Greek yogurt was, not surprisingly, the best I’ve ever had. My [tall, dark and handsome] yogurt guy topped mine off with honey, walnuts, and a banana. I hope they serve that in heaven!
When my Mom and Rob got to Florence last week, I was so excited to show them all my favorite places in town. There are a couple places we never made it to, like San Miniato and the oldest pharmacy in Florence, but they loved this place as much as I do! We also got to go to Venice for a day and took that crazy day trip I mentioned before. We couldn’t decide which was our favorite place. They were all incredible! Mom and Rob say they’re “cashing in” and buying their own fixer-upper out in the hills of Chianti. I will be more than happy to visit you, Mom!
I met so many lovely people while Mom and Rob were here. I don’t normally go out of my way to be friendly to the waiters or the men in the marketplace, because they easily confuse simple conversation with flirting. [No boys, being nice is not an open invitation to harass the American girls.] With Rob around, though, I got to learn a lot about the people we came across. There was Sahid, one of our waiters, who moved to Italy from Pakistan and speaks three languages. He drew a map on one of our placemats to show us where he’s from and wrote out his name in Arabic. At the same restaurant, we met Igor, from Russia. He and Rob hit it off because Rob has been learning Russian from his friend Nadia, back home. Igor also drew us a map of his country and took this picture with us:
Okay, Igor! Don't get too snuggly with me! (hahaha)
Another new friend is Christian, who sold Rob this pretty sweet hat.
We found out that he is, indeed, a Christian man. We look forward to meeting him again one day.
Now that Mom and Rob are gone, it’s back to work for me! We only have a couple weeks until student exhibitions start. I’ve got a batik that is halfway finished and a ring or two left to make. My final project for photography is, so far, nothing. How can I possibly spend my time inside working when I’m in Florence and it’s so beautiful outside?! Here are a couple things I have managed to make myself work on…
Silk scarf, made using a Shibori pole-wrapping technique.
A batik after the first dye…
I waxed more and dyed it again…
This is after the third dye. Now, I’ve taken all the wax off and am going to be dying a couple more times with warm colors (it’s a long process)...
Silver ring.
I have plenty more work to show for this semester, but that's a little sample. To family and friends who actually look for my blogs, I’m so sorry I haven’t been posting and I promise to post again soon!
Until then, happy springtime!
“Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I hope in Him!”
The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
To the soul who seeks Him.”
Lamentations 3:22-25
