Long week

These are images from the group project that we did this weekend. Me and a roommate, two canadian students, and 4 italian students collaborated with 4 Italian architects to create this project. They offered the main idea, and we developed it. Its been a very long, frusterating week, but the end result was good, and i'm proud of it.

Slowed down, but speeding up

Had a pretty chill weekend this weekend. I finally got my digital Camera back. I forgot to take it with me on the excursion to Hadrians villa, which was really fun, so I don't have any photos of that.

I did take some of Rome today though while i was out and about, so thought I'd share them here.

also, I had an experience that really illustrated to me just how much my Italian has improved this weekend. I was having lunch at a pizza place in Tivoli, before we went to villa d'este (A very gorgeous place, that I also don't have photos of.) The guy behind the counter started asking me some things about what we were doing, who we were, and was talking about the things to see in the area. It wasn't a very difficult conversation, but what really struck me was that I didn't have to think/translate into english while having the conversation. I couldn't pick up every single word that he said, but I wasn't struggling to try and translate or come up with a response at all, I just took in what I could of Italian and responded back. I'm slowly getting towards fluency, and its pretty awesome.

Bianca e Nera

Heres some of the black and white photos that Ive been taking.
Some are from Rome, most are from Ireland.
I might take some more soon.
Definitely when I goto London and Athens Ill take a lot.
Life is still good here. I have a very relaxed weekend
lined up right now, which I am estatic about.
Maybe Ill make a big post.
Or maybe Ill just lie around and do nothing,
we will see.

All Spaced Out

Its saturday in Florence right now. Just got back from some touring with our art history professor, Emilio, who is probably the most knowledgeable person that I've ever met.

Last night we went out to some dance club called Space; it was pretty fun. Got to be shoved around on the dance floor for a couple of hours listening to american pop music - Apparently its pretty popular here. I'm taking it easy now, i've been worn out over the course of the past week. We've got our midterm review coming up thursday, and I still don't have a solid design down, so i've been busting my butt in studio, plus with all the trips we've been on it doesnt' feel like i've had much time to just sit and relax.

The other day I had an experience which I thought captured the image of Italy that I really enjoy. Me and Addison were walking through the streets in trastevere, and this one shop caught my attention out of the corner of my eye. There was a guy on the steps, gluing on pieces to an unfinished base of a mandolin. We looked in his shop and he had a ton of instruments that he had made himself, and since Addison needed a string for his violin, I asked him if he had it. He said he did but he needed to finish the base first. So we stepped inside and looked around at all the beautifully handcrafted instruments this guy had. It was a very tiny shop filled to the brim with every type of instrument. after being there for 5 minutes in awe, I turned around and realized a cat had been sitting on a pedestal behind us the whole time. It jumped off and brushed past me going out into the street. Apparently the guy feeds the stray cats in the area. It was the unique character of this place and this guy that really seemed to reveal some great character of Italy that I hadn't noticed before. There are still tons of shops where things are still done hand crafted. I really enjoy walking into the meat and cheese speciality shops and getting meat and cheese cut right in front of me, and its so fresh. Sometimes it makes finding things harder, but also makes it that much more rewarding. But if your not really looking for anything in particular, you'll find so much more.

Still Alive

So I'm still here, just being extremely busy. Been trying to juggle studio homework and trips, which is pretty tough. Two weekends ago we went to Naples and Sorrento. This last weekend we went to Orvieto. This weekend we're going to Florence. Meanwhile I've got to design my project.

My Digital Camera is still missing, maybe it'll show up, maybe not, who knows. If I get some time I'll scan some of the black and whites I took, they're pretty cool. I think I'll take that camera to Florence this weekend as well.

Also planning a trip to London during Thanksgiving break with some of my roommates. That should be fun.

Midterm review next week, Maybe I can do a big post after that. Pretty busy though.