Saturday, December 5, 2009

Fast and joyful



The Duomo in the sunlight from our bedroom window today



The view from our breakfast table



At the end of the day the long climb to our apartment

The motto, you can never be too rich and or too thin could
apply in Florence, but here it would be too fast, or too thin.
I've only seen two joggers in our three days here, but
everyone walks as though they are just about to burst
into a run, and most people are extremely trim. It makes
sense because everywhere you turn there is absolutely
amazing food, pastry stores with every delicacy, wine,
lovely little restaurants set in 15th century incredible
architecture and of course coffee bars everywhere. Yum,
and then don't run walk very fast.

Today was the show opening, and it was magnificent.
A troop of men dressed in medieval Florentine costumes
juggled glorious Florentine flags to a drum beat and tossed
them high into the bright blue sky. It was a perfect warm
sunny day.

I drew some quick sketches of the view from my chair
beside my paintings -- and we got the catalogue --
a huge bound book, which must weigh at least 10
pounds. Talk about a memento!

Have an-okay-you-can-rest-now day.

8 comments:

claud-hop said...

Hey Barbara,

I decided to look at your blog while taking a rest from my art history studying, and coincidentally one of the pictures I was studying is the dome of the Florence Cathedral, which was in your first photo! Kind of neat, I thought.

Love,
Claudia

Zina Chmielowski said...

The opening ceremony sounds wonderful, Barbara.
What a gorgeous city!
P.S.
Yesterday, was the DVAC Christmas party at the Arts and Letters Club. It was really nice atmosphere. It's difficult to believe that it has been 60 years. Interesting history...
It was a really vibrant and very social Club in the past.
Zina

CHRIS MURRAY said...

I've never been to Italy so it's really fun to read your stories and look at your pics. I think I've seen that flag twirling thing in Under the Tuscan Sun.

Liza Hirst said...

Sounds very impressive, Barbara!
Thank you for sharing all this with us - it's so much fun!! I am happy for you.

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Claudia,

I see the Duomo out my window every day. The bus to the train station takes a round about route past the Duomo several times. You cannot imagine how beautiful the building is from pictures! Gorgeous.

Love you,

Barbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Zina,

Ciao to everyone at the DVAC.

Barbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Chris,

Up close it is a whole different thing.


Take care,

Barbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Liza,

You need to come next time.

xoxoxoxoxoxoBarbara

Portrait Artist

My photo
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
I paint and draw on commission and for shows. To commission a portrait, or purchase one of my paintings please contact me at: barbara.muir@sympatico.ca
A major highlight in my career? Drawing Oprah Winfrey live via Skype for her show "Where in the Skype are you? Galleries: Studio Vogue Gallery, Toronto, Canada. The Amsterdam Whitney Gallery, New York City. Gallery at the Porch Door, Kingston, Canada. Your positive comments on this blog mean the world to me. I'd love to hear from you!