Venice, Veneto

September 2-5th, 2008
Artistic niches in Venice

In the evening I continued traveling and from Padova went via train to Venice. Despite my exhaustion, the moment the train entered the Grand Canal, Venice seduced me with its irresistible charm and poetic beauty. I stayed in a gorgeous hostel in San Marco. That night the gentle movement of the canal lulled me to sleep and in the morning I awoke and saw high ceilings decorated with frescoes, white plaster reliefs of cherubs, rustic mirrors, and vintage chandeliers.. as I sipped my morning cafe my spirit soared.

During the day I enjoyed getting lost through the mirage of streets as I walked from traditional museums to contemporary galleries. I visited: Galleria dell' Accademia to view the traditional Venetian masters works of art; saw selected works by Picasso, Kandinsky, Chagall, Pollock, Dali, Rothko at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection and the house where she lived; and Ca Pesaro’ Museum of Modern Art. The museums were beautiful and I was enjoyed admiring the works of great masters new and old.

In Venice, I found inspiration & beauty everywhere I looked...

...even the gondaliers on the Grand Canal and street scenes were poetic.

I made friends with some international girls at the hostel. Together we took some gondola rides from San Marco to Lido to attend the 65th Venice Film Festival. The atmosphere in Lido was electric and the streets surrounding the red carpet area were filled with elegantly dressed Italians, limousines and the paparazzi.

65th Venice Film Festival.
September, 2008.

Padova, Veneto

September 2nd, 2008
Basilica di San Antonio, Padova.

Then in the afternoon I traveled to Padova in Veneto specifically to visit the Basilica di San Antonio and the saint’s tomb. As with the Basilica di San Francesco in Assisi, I found the experience spiritual and emotional.

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Basilica San Antonio, Padova, Veneto.

Bologna, Emilia-Romagna

September 2nd, 2008
Intriguing Bologna

This morning dressed in black linen pants, a silk blouse, jeweled sandals, soft curls, sparkling lip gloss and a 38litre back pack (thoughtfully packed in with everything I'd need for a solo expedition & to look good in Venice), I grabbed my traditional 'departure breakfast' (Italian pastry and caffelatte) and boarded the first train at santa Maria Novelle, Firenze and traveled to Bologna in Emilia-Romagna.

The main reason I wanted to go to Bologna was to visit the impressive museums which exhibit the natural human skeletons and wax studies by Ercole Lelli and created by Morandi and Manzolini. This wax studies were originally intended to enable medical students to study anatomy, physiology, pathology and obsterics.

I thoroughly enjoyed the galleries and found the studies professionally and artistically inspiring. Whilst in Bologna I also visited: Archeology museum - I felt most patriotic when I saw a sculpture of an Aboriginal man; Biblioteca Communale Archiginnasio which conatins an anatomy theatre (1647) which is carved entirely from wood; Basilica San Domenico to view a small marble sculpture supposedly created by Michelangelo when he was 19years old; The Bologna University; and the Contemporary Art Museum - where I saw some brilliant, insightful and refreshing works of contemporary art. The most memorable was a video footage taken in the 1960's. The black and white video showed a narrow doorway flanked by a two completely naked individuals; a male and female. The doorway was positioned at the entry to an exhibit and the video depicted with raw clarity and commedy the reaction of the guests as their bodies awkwardly and stragetically past by these naked forms. Brilliant!

Architecture details & street scenes in Bologna

Acheology museum, Anatomy museum, Biblioteca dell' Archiginnaso & Basilica San Domenico, Bologna.

Misplaced happiness

Feeling sad and directionless. I believe its because I'm heartbroken. Actually more than heartbroken I don't know what to do with myself anymore. I have decided not to love Marco anymore and I don't want to see him or to hear from him again.. so now what do I do with this empty well inside me?

I've misplaced something called happiness have you seen it?

I miss Marco and I wish he knew how much I genuinely cared about him...

Accademia Europea di Firenze

International students sharing their experiences & love of Italy, whilst studying Italian language.

at the Accademia Europea di Firenze.

Some of the teachers from the Accademia. In August I was taught Italian Language level IV by Alessandra (orange top) (Milan), Italian Grammar by Stefana (short balck hair and top) (Piombino); in September I was taught Italian Language level V by Giuseppe (male in back row) (Perugia). Edy (in the middle) (Firenze) is the director of the Accademia and a charmsimatic, inspirational and passionate opera consessiur.

Verena in conversation class.

Concerto di cantante

Iconography of Madonna

Images from the top: Masoleum at Asissi, Chiesa at Arezzo, chiesa di Santa Croce

Verona, Veneto

House of Juliette, Verona.

New and old acclaimations of love

It's now 4.45am and I’ve just arrived home from Verona… It’s been a big weekend.

Today I went to Verona with the other students from the Accademia to see Verdi‘s opera Nabucca at the famous open amphitheatre.

As a city, I didn't instantly 'love' Verona, as I found it too crowded with expensive or well known chain stores and people. Summer in Europe equals constant crowds and although ths is stimulating etc it can get tiresome and sometimes it’s nice to just venture somewhere charming and beautiful without the sensory overload.

I visited Juilette's house. Interestingly, alongside the famous balcony there is a stone plaque inscribed with the immortal words of Shakespeare and juxtaposing this there are modern day affirmations and proclamations of love covering the walls of the entrance to the courtyard.

Although I’m more a Puccini fan than Verdi, the opera music and orchestra were wonderful. The atmosphere within the amphitheatre was amazing and my appreciation for the choreography and artistic direction of the stage design, costumes and lighting expanded as the opera unfolded. In the end, I didn't want the experience to end. I think that Verona amphitheatre has also cast its spell on me.

Verona amphitheratre.

Details from Opera Nabucca, Amphitheatre, Verona.

Luca Battista

Emozioni (1970)

Seguir con gli occhi un'airone sopra il fiume e poi
ritrovarsi a volare
e sdraiarsi felice sopra l'erba ad ascoltare
un sottile dispiacere
E di notte passare con lo sguardo la collina per scoprire
dove il sole va a dormire
Domandarsi perché quando cade la tristezza in fondo al cuore
come la neve non fa rumore
e guidare come un pazzo a fari spenti nella notte
per vedere
se poi e tanto difficile morire
E stringere le mani per fermare
qualcosa che
e dentro me
ma nella mente tura non c'e
Capire tu non puoi
tu chiamale se vuoi
emozioni
Uscir dalla brughieria di mattina
dove non si vede ad un passo
per ritrovar se teso
Parlar del più e del meno con un pescatore
per ore ed ore
per non sentir che dentro qualcosa muore
E ricoprir di terra una piantina verde
sperando possa
nascere un giorno una rosa rossa
E prendere a pugni un uomo solo
perché e stato un po scortese
sapendo che quel che brucia non son le offese
e chiudere gli occhi per fermare
qualcosa che
e dentro me
ma nella mente tura non c'e
Capire tu non puoi
tu chiamale se vuoi
emozioni
tu chiamale se vuoi
emozioni.

Ferroagosto

Today I celebrated Ferroagosto or Florence’s National Day with Marco, Ettore, Lorenzo, his mother Bianca, Andrea, Diane and their 7 yr old daughter Katherine in the Tuscan countryside.

After leaving Florence we drove through scenic Fiesole and Borgo San Lorenzo towards Figliano. Along the way we stopped for morning coffees and chatted with the locals.

At Lorenzo family estate in Figliano we ate home made pasta and marinated eggplants prepared by Bianca, drank red wine and tasted rich desert wines, laughed, talked & relaxed in the garden under the warm sun, played a form of Bridge and used pieces of pasta to bet with, threw darts towards a board monted on an oak tree; and followed rainbows to find pots of gold with Katherine and Ettore.

As I sat on the grass tracing clouds that were nearing, I felt calm and happy. Although I missed the company of Lorenzo's gorgeous girlfriend Claudia, and Mario; we shared a lovely day together.

These friends are very open, generous and spiritied. Their companionship is very special and eventhough we have shared few moments together, those sahred have been very memorable and loving.

Calcio, Florentina vs Slavia

Tonight we went to the Calcio to watch Florentina versus Slavia, to celebrate Verena's birthday.

It was so hot and humid..and that's before we even sited the Italian soccer players! It was wonderful to be amongst the energetic & passionate atmosphere and to watch them play. What physiques, what aglity, what fun! Afterwards we went to 'Open Bar' to continue the celebrations over wine, decadent desserts and jazz. After eating the 'dolce galosso' (a calzone filled with rich dark chocolate, mascapone cream and nuts, and served with hot cholocate drizzled liberally over it), I think I need to go a few rounds with one of the soccer players.

Summer in Italy

Yadira & Erica at Turandot, Torre del Lago on the shores of Massaciuccoli Lake, in Northern Tuscany. Torre del Lago, which belongs to the Town of Viareggio, is about 80 km far from Florence. Puccini operas were first performed here in 1930 following the Maestro's wishes.


Simone hiking Cinque Terre, Liguria.


Admiring the Ligurian Coast.


Appertivo at Cinque Terre, Liguria.


Time to relax...

Dinner at Porta Romana

As everyone knows Jules loves to cook & host dinner parties. Well in Australia, its her dear friends that normally finish cooking the meal, because normally I'm too busy socialising or dancing around the kitchen! Anyway.. the other night after Uni the girls: Erica, Yadria, Simone & Verena came over and we had dinner together at my little abode in Porta Romana. It was a simple Italian meal - antipasto of fresh cold meats, olives & bread, followed by pasta with fresh buffallo mozzeralla cheese, cherry tomatoes & basil from my garden, a bottle of Moscati d'Asti & a bottle of Chanti..ahhh. A nice summer night!

Adiano Celentano

L'emozione non ha voce (1999)

Io non so parlar d'amore
l'emozione non ha voce
E mi manca un po'il respiro
se ci sei c'e troppa luce
La mia anima si spande
come musica d'estate
poi la voglia sai mi prende
e si accende con i baci tuoi
lo con te aro sicnero
restero quel che sono
disonesto mai lo giuro
ma se tradisci non perdono
Ti saro per sempre amico
pur geloso come sai
io lo so mi contraddico
ma preziosa sei tu per me
Tra le mie braccia dormirai
sernea...mente
ed e importante questo sai
per sentirci pienamente noi
Un'altra vita mi darai
che io non conosco
la mia compagna tu sarai
fino a quando so che lo vorrai
Due caratteri diversi
prendon fuoco facilmente
ma divisi siamo oersi
ci sentiamo quai niente
Siamo due legati dentro
da un amore che ci da
la profonda convinzione
che nessuno ci dividera
Tra le mie braccia dormirai
serenamente
ed e importante questo sai
per sentirci pienamente noi
Un'altra vita mi ari
che io non conosco
la mia compagna tu arai
fino a quando lo vorrai
poi vivremo come sai
solo di sincerita
di amore e di fiducia
poi ara quel che sara
Tra le mie braccia dormirai
serenamente
ed e importante questo sai
per sentirci pienamente noi
pienamente noi uhu uhu