With sketchbook work encouraged, and me having propensity for such anyway, I filled a 116 page book with 150 drawings, covering many subjects, using many styles. Here’s a pen and ink (ballpoint) of one section of majestic Florence.
We were three weeks in Italy and I didn’t blog but once, and that wasn’t about the trip. There was too much else to do.
We were part of a group, most of which were students and a few faculty from the Laguna College of Art and Design. Every day was planned, mostly around art, which included occasional lectures. There was also an emphasis on sketching and a little bit of painting when there was time, which there pretty much wasn’t.
Even now, two days after returning, I can’t put together in words all we saw and did. Anne kept a journal, complete with bits of collected ephemera, to which we can return and remind ourselves of details. She also posted occasional photos on Facebook. See here.
Back home, taking in some air around my neighborhood, I got to thinking about the differences between here and the three cities we visited—Rome, Florence and Venice. There I carried two pocket cameras, sometimes a third, and took hundreds of photos—per day! On my little stroll, I didn’t carry a camera. Why would I?
And I got to wondering where the art museums are. They’re around, I know, somewhere; but there we visited two per day, sometimes three if you include massive churches, also overflowing with notable work in paint and stone and marble.
Of art we saw some ten thousand pieces, inside buildings, outside buildings, and right on the streets. Here, on my little walk, I didn’t see any . . . nor do think I would if I walked a very long ways.
There we often did walk a very long ways. And so, it seemed, did everybody else, filling the sidewalks. On my little contemplative stroll at home I didn’t see anyone at all.
Of course, I don’t mind not being among throngs of tourists. The day were we in the Vatican Museum there were 50,000 others, slowly plodding, sometimes bottle-necking in very narrow passages, often looking up. In the central square in Florence, I had to hold onto Anne lest we get separated permanently in the crowd. In Venice, the same, but with the threat of falling in. (Not really.)
And everything was so charmingly old. Driving home from the airport we stopped at a grocery for milk and I noted a single antique picture on the wall. It was of the store’s early days, probably in the 1930’s. In Venice and Florence it all dates back over 800 years; and parts of Rome, a couple of thousand.
It was all wonderful, even with the crowds. These are like theme parks without the rides . . . unless you include the gondolas.
It’s no wonder so many go see these sights; they’re like no place on earth.
But there’s another there’s no place like . . . where I returned and took my little walk.
Home.
We’re grateful for it all.
Our Lives Together
Its About Life
9:15 am
So glad you got to go!
We enjoyed a one-day visit to Venice about 18 years ago. It was interesting, as we had one child in a stroller and one child who walked as much as his 3-y-o energy would allow. Crossing the canals over those heavily-sloped bridges was challenging.
I shot some video of the little things I noticed – door knobs, signage, etc.
9:17 am
Agreed
9:29 am
Beautiful contrasts. You took me there with just a few words–also beautiful. Thank you for beginning my day in beauty.
9:36 am
Outstanding Hyatt, and especially appreciated because we also so recently traveled Italy where we walked and walked, ate and ate, and took pictures of awesome art, architecture, artifacts and sometimes one another. Your contrasts truly hit “home.”
9:44 am
Welcome Home….to culture shock for certain. After living in Europe I know what you are feeling……even Russia had museums….great ones! I loved living in Vienna where you could take the bus out side your door for a 15 min ride to a museum or Park with beautiful work of art. My eyes and heart thirst for those pictures, colors and hidden things….but I do visit Balboa Park often…. Looking forward to some awesome paintings from you.
Cindy
10:57 am
Art seems to place me “in the moment.” It seems that here in the OC people simply do not think that way. Everything is all about busy, active, and successful, etc. with little time to pause and be in a contemplative place. You were blessed to stop and appreciate the sculpture, the paintings, the history, which appears so well respected and preserved where you visited. Glad you two had this experience, as rushed as it may have felt at times. Even better to have you back home!
11:41 am
I love Italy, too. Its language – like music. Florence and the dome – unforgettable. Your writing – just as artistic. I especially like the little chuckle for an ending.
And thank you too for sharing the link to your daughter’s blog. Very moving indeed.