1 Day..............

One more day until I embark on my trip to New Delhi, India!!!!! For those who I haven't told, I have been given an opportunity of a lifetime with the Restoration program at school, LDM, Lorenzo de Medici. My Professor Lorenzo Casamenti, is taking 7 students to Delhi to restore original frescoes (wall paintings) in a Catholic Church. 

I'll be there for 2 weeks, and return back to Florence on the 16th of March. We'll be staying in the church with the nuns. It'll be like the Sound of Music, minus the mountains, musical numbers, and war......but nonetheless maybe there's a Sister Maria.......The main purpose of the trip is to finish the cleaning and restoration of the frescoes. Hopefully if all goes well and we finish up early, we'll have a few days to explore the city! Once I get back, I'll have plenty of stories to tell and pictures to show. Ciao!!!

The boot of Italy

So this last weekend I went with my professor, Lorenzo Casamenti, to the southern tip of Italy in the region of Calabria. We went to the town of Nocara, situated high up in the mountains, literally at the peak looking down upon a huge valley. Worked on restoring La Chiesa di Madre, from the 15th C. I gilded for the first time, laying gold leaf over wooden moldings and figures to look like full golden figures, but they're not really, just a touch of gold. It was an amazing experience and the town was beautiful. Went to the seaside and collected rocks, ate plenty of oranges, and saw where all the lemons come from in Italy. Pictures soon to come.

My apartment is freezing in Florence, because the heat doesn't work. Now I have a cold, and so does my roommate Selena. About to head to the Mercato San Ambrogio to go buy my fruits and vegetables, hope all is well! Ciao!

Back in Florence

So....it's been a long, long time since my last post. Returned back home to Seattle, for the holidays and had an amazing time seeing family and friends. After a long day of traveling arrived safely back in Florence. It seems to be more of a culture shock the second time around. Moved into my new apartment with my roomie, Selena. Just wanted to say, I'm back, and I will try my best and hardest to keep up to date on my posts and blog. Boy scouts honor. School starts again on Monday, trying to get over my jet lag and get back into the swing of things. Promise.  

Yo-Yo Ma

It's been a long time. About a month. Slacking a lot. So many great things have happened in Italy and beyond. Went to Milano to go see the Black Keys play and had an amazing weekend in Amsterdam two weeks ago. Unforgettable. Finishing up with classes and getting everything in order to head back home for the holidays.

Tonight was a memorable evening at Il Teatro Pergola. Went and saw Yo Yo Ma play with Katherine Scott playing the piano. Unbelievable. An amazing Cellist and Pianist all in one room full of emotion and beautiful music. Plus, three encores! The icing on the cake to the evening was an angry elderly Italian woman telling off a rude young Italian man, because his disrespectful behavior during the concert. Talking...not allowed during the performance. "Maleducati!!!!!" The intensity of the fight was Great! Loved it and loved the concert. So many great things all in one night. Yo Yo Ma is rocks the cello.  

Check out his 2nd Encore of the evening, The Swans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgRAA-ew0H4

OBAMA PRESIDENT!!!!!!!!!!

Most exciting news of the morning! Staying up in Italy to watch the incoming returns. The moment the West Coast took over, cheers and champagne! A  breakthrough in history, so ecstatic about the future of America!!!!!!!!!!! 

Free?!

This weekend in Florence at the Fortezza di Basso, literally, used to be an old Fort, there is a Creative Arts Festival going on. I ventured over there last night to find that the whole festival this weekend is entirely FREE! It came as a shock and a surprise, because it was such a large festival with capoeira dancers, art galleries, live djs and a huge stage with bands....best of all it was free.

Today, I'm taking the train to Roma, to meet up with the parental-units! It will be great to see them and show them around. 

A Porcini and A Fresco

Hey! So everything is beginning to calm down in Florence. The tourists are tapering off and it's such a relief. During the fall, Porcini mushrooms come into season and take a look at this huge GUY I bought at the Mercato San Ambrogio. It's like a small tree, granted it's a funghi. Delicious.....

Just wanted to let everyone take a look at one of the frescoes I'm working on in my Fresco Painting course. Still currently working on him, but here's a 

quick peek! It's the face of God, by Michelangelo.