Day 76

--Well, I thought yesterday was the day of museums, but in fact, it was actually today. Would you believe that Jen and I went to four museums in one day? Ya, me neither. First, we went to the museum of Auguste Rodin, who was the sculpture of The Thinker. We were able to go through his garden and see some of his favorite sculpture works. He had such a marvelous style. His work “The Gates of Hell” were absolutely amazing and fascinating. They are probably my favorite sculpture I have ever seen, being so complicated and so enticing, with forms and different stories to each form emerging from the door. The doors were so complete yet incomplete, as Rodin never truly finished them.

Second, we visited the Musee Les Arts Decoratifs, in which the exhibit I wanted to see was closed, so Jen and I took a leap into the past through the Babar, the elephant, exhibit. 

Third, we split apart so I could revisit the Louvre and Jen could explore a history museum. 

my drawing of Edgar Degas’ La Sertie du Bain

nonsense doodling in the Louvre

The fourth and final museum of the day was the Pompidou for the Musee National D’art Moderne. Some of the art was fantastic, such as some of the black and white photography, however, some of the modern art was too modern for me. After this long day, we picked Michelley up from the train station.

Day 75

--Jour de musee! (“giorno de musei!” or “day of museums!”) Today, Jen and I visited Musee D’Orsay and Musee L’Orangerie. In the D’Orsay, there is a lot of beautiful impressionist art by the masters Van Gogh, Monet, Manet, and Degas. 

my sketch of Edgar Degas’ Danseuses Bleues

another sketch of the statue “Petite Dansuse de Quatarze ans dit Aussi” by Edgar Degas

The second museum, L’Orangerie, there were two oval rooms with the series of Water Lillies by Monet. The canvases were huge, filling the full wall, and he worked on some of these pieces as he was going blind. Incredible to view them up close and then from across the room. There were other artists in the gallery such as Picasso’s old art (Picasso before Picasso) and others such as Vallotton.

In the evening, we went under the Arc de Triumph. My good friend who is studying in Paris, Elise, and her roommate came out to dinner with Jen and I on the French’s not-so-green St. Patty’s day. Today, I would have reallyy enjoyed some of Mom’s Irish soda bread! I’ll have to make some in the middle of summer instead haha. We went to a venue for a unique performance of music. And the people watching, oh the people watching! 

Day 74

--Departure for Paris, France! Or as the Italians call it: Parigi. Through planes, trains, and not quite automobiles, Michelle, Jen, and I got to France! Michelle went on her own path to Grenoble to visit a friend while Jen and I went straight for the heart of it all. We are staying in an adorable little apartment in Montmarte, an artsy little area outside of paris.

Jen and I went to the Louvre in the evening. It is hugely immense, and I still am totally lost as to any phonetics and pronunciations of the French language. We only made it through a small portion in comparison to the full size of the museum, but there was definitely a lot of great art! I am already fascinated with the beautiful and poised people, their clothing, the streets, the art, and the buildings.

Day 82

--I just had one of the best stumble upon experiences of my life, both in general and as a Florentine. Jen and I had just eaten a simple dinner, and as we walked down the street, we heard an organ. Normally, if I were by myself, I would have looked into that church and assumed that a mass was going on (or something similar). I would not have considered stopping or walking in, thinking I was interrupting something important. But Jen stopped, looked it, and we realized it was not a mass, but rather an organ concert that happens every night. Mind you, this is happening at 9:30 pm.

We went into the 16^th century church, which was lit by some candles and a few, low spotlights. It was still pretty dark in there, with a random crowd of scattered strangers across the pews. The only cost for this wonderful concert: an optional donation. The setting for this concerto was incredible: a quiet, dimly lit church with a booming, and sometimes soft, organ blaring through its many pipes and resounding through the high ceilings of the church. Eerily beautiful. 

Day 81

--As today is Michelle's last day in Florence, we had to fill her desire to shop. After some shopping, the three of us sat in my favorite caffe with some cappuccini, and we were all drawing together! I was drawing in my sketchbook and.. Michelle and Jen were drawing on their iPhones. Sketchbook vs drawsomething, good enough!

cappuccino at Volume
photograph by Michelle

After that, we filled ourselves to the brim with some delicious Gusta Pizza!

Michelle & Jen with their pizze

we are wax living amongst fire

(cannot decide which way i like it rotated best yet)

 shoot everything you see

ps - posts on Paris soon to come!

Day 73

--After the stresses of the last class before spring break (which included a finance exam unfortunately), I was able to run back to my pensione to meet Michelley! So happy and excited to have her here. And not too long after, my cousin, Jen arrived! I am far too lucky to have all these wonderful visitors. I keep saying how lucky i am, and that there is no possible way for me to get homesick --except for that stinkin' craving for a bean and cheese burrito..


The three of us had a lovely day filled with a lot of walking (oops), some sight seeing, complimentary wine, and good food! I'm so glad the girls are here.


Best news yet: we will be on our way to Paris tomorrow afternoon! I will get my fill of the beautiful french people, crepes, impressionist art, the Lourve, pastries, the fabulous miss Elise, and maybe some midnights. I cannot wait! Paris has been on my list to see, and it is still hard be believe I will be there tomorrow.
Sidenote: We will be gone until Thursday afternoon, so I won't be posting for a while between traveling, visitors, homework, and more visitors! =)

sketch from yesterday

Day 69

--In Palazzo Strozzi, there is an impressionist art exhibit entitled Americani i Firenze (Americans in Florence). The gist of the exhibit was the impressionist American painters who came to Florence as well as other parts of Europe to study and create art. Just like myself! (However, I am not putting myself at the high level of Sargent, Hassam, and Elihu Vedder! Just the idea, but I wish.) I lazily wandered and enjoyed every piece in this exhibit on a Sunday afternoon.

The art was beautiful, and the strokes that imperfectly make up the perfect face amazing me. I love that there are such incredible works that aren't realistic, which is sometimes hard for me to emulate and just let the brush glide without trying to grab every detail. Also, this exhibit was a nice break from all the Renaissance art, and the (literal) hundreds of "Madonna e bambini" paintings I have seen here. But, jesus, there are other things to paint in the world!

(Nikki, I hope you laugh at my silly joke).

sketches of the painting 

Portrait of William Merritt Chase by Frank Duveneck (1876)

notes and a sketch of a figure from Edmund Charles Tarbell's

The Breakfast Room (1902-3)