This weekend our group took its first trip into the rolling countryside of Toscana to explore and enjoy that beautiful little medieval gem called Firenze (Florence). We took the city by storm, going on a handful of tours, seeing more artistic masterpieces than most can hope to see in a life-time, and (of course) scourging the street markets and shops for leather goods. I had a great time myself, wandering and shopping, being an adventurer and seeing the sites. So here are some snap shots of the wonderful things I saw and did on this marvelous adventure...
Granted, on a trip like this, it is required that we wake up at the crack of dawn. Here's a view of the street I live on in the early morning light. What a beautiful start to the day!
And here I am, looking wildly incredulous that I, Margaret Graham, am actually standing in the presence of Brunelleschi's beautiful dome (better known as Il Duomo) in Santa Maria del Fiore. While a bit cartoonish (the figures are all lined up in concentric circles as in a comic strip), the overall effect was stunning. Hence the facial expression.
Here is the glorious statue showing the famous Roman story of "The Rape of the Sabine Women" (rape in this sense meaning kidnapping). The story is a very emotional one, and I personally feel that Giambologna did a gorgeous and dynamic job of depicting it.
The view from the top floor of the Uffizi Museum... you can actually see my camera and hand in the reflection. I love how even among such revered works of art one can simply look out the window and still be in awe.
The arch and carousel in the Piazza della Repubblica. So lovely without even trying.
A sneaky shot of Michelangelo's David, one of the most beautiful and canonical works in all of Western Art. While this picture does not do justice to it's massive size and metaphysical weight, it will have to serve as proof that I was there... seeing as I'm nearly convinced it was all a dream.
And here I am, leaning on the ledge of the Ponte Vecchio. This was at the end of our trip, and it served as the perfect end to what could not have been a more wonderful day... well, perhaps it could've been if I'd been rich enough to afford some of the incredible jewelry we saw, but oh well. One can't have everything.
Comments (1)
that picture of the arch and carousel is stupendous. i wanna get a 8x11 print of it when you come home.
Posted by lizzard | February 13, 2008 12:00 PM
Posted on February 13, 2008 12:00