Week 3

Monday July 23 35 Celsius

HAPPY 90TH BIRTHDAY GRANDPA (TED)

I miss you but am glad you have the rest of our family to be there with you! Alles Gute zum Geburtstag, alles Gute zum Geburtstag, lieber Großvater alles Gute zum Geburtstag, alles Gute zum Geburtstag... und
viel mehr. (i hope that's right!)

Italian: Buon compleanno, buon compleanno, caro grandpa di buon compleanno,
buon compleanno... e molto.

With Love,

The Duchess

Today we visited Museo Horne and Museo Stibbert; both homes no longer used as such. Horne is a merchants palace from the 14th century. Herbert Pursey, a london architect who bought the home, said it was the most authentic example of a home from the 14th century. Inside, there are strozzi stools which are high backed chairs with three legs. The north wing was used for the family while, the south wing was used for workshops. There were smaller rooms which weren't as grand in scale, and the window shutters and doors had this "half chestnut" design on them.

In the Stibbert home, the style was gothic revival. It is viewed as a 19th century man's residence. Inside, walls are painted with a fabric style print. There were also 2-3 rooms that had embossed leather walls-something we hadn't yet seen. There was a collection of armor and chain-link protective wear. The fire places in 2 rooms were the first to be decorated inside, using tile and mosaics. There was also a collection of swords and long metal guns. And one tented ceiling, where the fabric swooped and tucked.

Tuesday July 24 34 Celsius
Yay, rain! well, barely a sprinkle, but still the first bit of wetness we've had.

Today is our last Interiors class before we move on to the gardens portion--which I've so been looking forward to!! The only place set for this afternoon is Palazzo Pucci, a home that is still in use by Pucci's brother who is 91 years old. This home is the most lived in that we've seen, with the most homey feel and even reminded me of Gramp's house at the farm.

Emilio Pucci is a fashion designer who concentrates on the 60's era of style, using bright colors. The following link will give you a taste of his work:

http://www.emiliopucci.com/

His home included 19th century silk curtains, a neo-classical ceiling of the late 1800's, a few Baroque furniture pieces, hardwood floors in herringbone pattern, a terrazzo floor, (mosaic flooring composed of chips of broken stone, usually marble, and cement, polished when in place) as well as some terra-cotta flooring. The home also featured early 20th century heating in the dinning room.

Tonight, we go to an academic crossover meal for staff and students to mark the midpoint in the semester. We will be going to Trattoria Zaza. http://www.trattoriazaza.it/

Another great dinning option!! Completely fantastic food and wonder service. For my first course I had Ravioli strascicati (ravioli with a cream sauce-only, it was actually a meat sauce). Secondi Piatti, I ordered Pollo fritto alla fiorentina con patate in pastella (fried florentine chicken with potatoes). And for dolce (dessert), I chose Vin santo con cantucci fatti in casa (desert wine with homemade cookies -actually biscotti) Desert was alright though i wished after the first taste of wine that I would have stayed with my first choice of Fragole al limone con zucchero (strawberries with lemon & sugar)!! Because, when I was moving on to my last biscottie, I found some wildlife. Not pleasant. Mom--remember your oyster at the oyster place? Ya... The waiter was very nice about it though and offered to bring another dessert, but I was so full that I declined. I would still recommend this place though b/c they have such fabulous meals. Also, I believe each night may have a different set of courses.
hopefully, mom and I will be able to come here, and I know exactly which dessert to order if we do!!

Afterward, we all came back the apartment to chill out before going to sleep on our full tummies.

Wednesday July 25

Boboli Gardens: we briskly walked past Boboli to spend our afternoon in Giardino Bardini. What a let down. And then we just sketched Mom, I'm comin' back with you to Boboli to really see it. Tickets are about 9-11 euro and there is timed entry. Can hardly wait!!


Orchestra da Camera Fiorentina Concert: This was such a moving concert! I absolutely loved it and bought the CD after. It was held at the Bargello museum which is where we visited one day for the interiors class. There was such an applause that there were 3 encores(my way, what a wonderful world, and a remix of the first song)! My favorite pieces were N.Piovani-Suite della vita e bella, Gabriel's Obe and Ballabili dal film il Gattopardo-Valzer Verdi.

Thursday July 26

We visited Villa Gamberaia. You can see the pictures on the photobucket site.