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Tuscany Travel
The representative of the transfer company was right there, on time, waiting for the group to arrive from Toronto holding the sign, Valerie Kent. Ten of us listened to the sign, the baggage in hand. We had been waiting for this paint shop over the winter. A couple of artists had been in Italy before, and the rest of us were beginners.
Epworth Joanne said, "We were all so excited that I thought everyone levitate, but Actually all he did was aboard the nice minivan headed right for the mountain to reach the lookout and took first place, but no light means seen surprising. Beneath our feet lay the city of Florence and the Arno River. It took our breath away. I just could not stop looking. Wherever they thought it was so beautiful. It was amazing how beautiful she was the point of view. "
Our hotel, the Monna Lisa, was hidden in the historical center the city with its narrow streets and the cars almost touch the walls of old buildings, as per tablet. Epworth Joanne said: "The hotel had been a resident Medici family, was about 800 years. He had a romantic entry, a patio garden and a patio for breakfast when the weather was good. Some of the group painted in the courtyard in the afternoon. It was a great location because it was close to many restaurants, attractions and squares. "
We begin our journey a stroll through the neighborhood to end at the bridge, the Ponte Vecchio to see the many gold shops built along the bridge and then went to the small palace, the Palazzo Pitti. At the time we reached the long journey we reached, so it went, but sat at a sidewalk cafe and had some drinks refreshing. All walked back and the hotel restaurant we went to a local outdoors and enjoyed a lovely dinner together.
Epworth Joanne said, "Part of the time of the day, was spent doing a walking tour around the center of Florence historic area. Later that same day after wander around and get tempted with all parts of the painting, we went to see the sculptures in different places. Then we went to the Academy where we visited the original David. I bought a small notebook that the Academy had the figure of David in it. In the evening several members of the group painted a large flower pot in a column in the garden the hotel to get warm. "
The third day we left Florence and went to the hotel next door, which curiously enough was in a real tower, tall and narrow, called the Antica Torre in Siena. There was a spacious square, the Campo, built on three hills met. Siena is a city of old stone buildings, churches, outdoor cafes and we learned that recently, had even horse racing in the square. Epworth Joanne said: "I was pleasantly surprised each time he around, find an exciting new ice cream shop in Siena and one day we just had ice cream for lunch, a lot of ice cream. "
The first Nora day just painted our little street in Siena and the clothes hanging in the windows, but the next day, while the Scout Movement, found the Department of Philosophy at the local university and its library had an extraordinary garden overlooking the city and the distant hills. Nora Fischer said, "The philosopher's garden was an oasis floral green and she was beautiful and we sat on it for a while and painted with joy. "
Two days later we moved to San Gimignano, which is a walled city. I used to have 75 towers, but now 13. What an amazing city with a cistern in the center of the square and narrow streets and fabulous ancient buildings. A again our hotel was an old stone building, right in the center of the city. Several of us shared a large balcony overlooking the fields, hills and valleys spread fan-shaped panoramic surrounding the town.
"The evenings on the terrace," said Carmela Crimi, "was a civilized way to spend an afternoon with a drink before dinner, snacks, aperitifs and after a hard day as painting and tourism and the views from the terrace and had a lot of catching up with other daily adventures. "
Epworth Joanne said: "We painted the narrow cobbled streets, the arches and impressive old buildings. We also painted the towers of the city from the balcony. In reality we really got some paint in. When it was too hot to paint that shopped at many stores Small and tested several restaurants and wines. Many of us went to the Plaza de La Cisterna to outline to paint the old well. We also enjoyed seeing people, because There were people from all over the world. "
One day we went to a totally organic farm, Poggio Alloro, for lunch and to taste wines her store. We have a feast with their own fresh vegetables and fresh figs we are tempted with the right of the trees. Produced extra virgin olive oil, beef, cheese, homemade pasta and fruits such as figs and pomegranates from the farm. This was a great place to draw our picture books.
Carmela Crimi, said, "I've been ranting Poggio Alloro on everyone. I was very impressed by the way he ran in the family, how clean it was and no end-views were spectacular. It was a wonderful way spend a relaxing day. The lunch was and we had to think about anything at all. Everything was there for us. "
Almost every night there was a concert free in the center of the city practically outside our doorstep. Nora Fischer said, "In addition to the visual arts, you must also hear the other side the arts, the musical. Therefore, we want to go eat somewhere nice and then attend the concerts almost daily in the evening, stopping for gelato before heading to bed. The gelato is always the favorite every time you go to Italy. We put in fabulous full days. The young members on the trip and enjoyed the more mature alike. Cristina, my granddaughter, enjoyed the museums. My other granddaughter, Meghan, enjoyed painting as much as we did. Ryan, his friend, who had never painted before the fall it is very fast. The artist was well advanced, but enjoyed teaching beginners and shows the same extent. "
Joanne Epworth, said, "We went to bed content, having put on another exciting day with beautiful memories of the music ringing in our ears and yet frozen another. "
In Florence, on the last day did some last minute shopping and then met at the Uffizi Gallery. It was simply too vast to see everything, but we had a plan to see small pieces that interested us, like the paintings of Botticelli and Michelangelo. Sometimes we can not even imagine how big Some of these works are due to have only seen in books and prints. We saw our visions of the past Florence to this trip, but I hope that everything would return some day. We put our coins in the fountain on the market with that desire.
About the Author
Valerie Kent, B.A.,B.Ed.,M.F.A. is a visual artist who facilitates trips to France and Italy every summer. She leads artists, photographers and others who enjoy the visual arts and does demonstrations and workshops on the trips. Her work is available in a number of galleries and her sought after workshops are listed on her site: www.valeriekent.com
artistvalerie@yahoo.ca
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