Stranded in Siena
A quick update whilst we have our (ever spotty) internet connection in our apt...
*Class is going great! The kids are super bright and friendly, and I got an extra student in my class for a total of 7 students. I enjoy sharing my knowledge of flash with them, although it's hard trying to share both the real world industry experience while teaching them tools for making an ind short. (like, there -
DEAR LORD, OUR WASHING MACHINE JUST WENT INSANE... ok, back. Our washing machine tried to escape it's marble confines of the kitchen counter. Slightly horrifying. Not sure what went on there, but crisis diverted. For now.
Ok, anyway, class is fun, but it's a little hard trying to teach both actual real-world flash info (i.e. you're always given finished audio to work with) vs. techniques as an independent filmmaker (creating your own audio track), but in short, I feel like I'm a consultant to seven independent shorts, which is fun.
*Damon and I went to Siena, Pisa and Lucca this weekend and had many adventures. Siena is AWESOME! We had heard that it was a bit touristy, but we went later in the day, so most of the day trippers had left by then. I found european G3 My Little Ponies (yay!), got some actual ground pigment of Burnt Sienna (which comes from here!), and the whole town is pony themed, since there's a huge horse race that happens twice a year in the main square. It's insane!! They ride bareback around hairbend corners in a medieval town center. AMAZING. A horse can win even without a rider! ha ha!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palio_di_Siena
they also have 17 different neighborhoods that compete in the horse races that all have their own animal theme. I got a banner from the Unicorn neighborhood and the dolphin one...
There's also a beautiful cathedral and gorgeously tiny alleys and stairs and buildings- it's all a very medieval hill town... it was quite a blast!
Damon and I had a wonderful time exploring the town, and grabbed the most delicious dinner we've had so far... I had homemade pasta, lamb, potatoes and some local cookies for desert which were super tasty. Seriously, in the top ten of best meals I've ever had (and I cheated on the wheat thing, obviously). We then went to grab another .5 L of wine on the del Campo, and then started the 20 minute walk down the hill to the train station where.. we had missed the last train back! Oops! Take note kids; when traveling, know your time tables. We had actually joked about missing the last train and spending the night in Siena, because it was such a great town and we felt like we wanted more time, so.. it kinda of worked out!
We then walked back -up- the hill, and pulled out my handy rick steves guidebook, and after walking around being turned away from hotel by hotel (they were all full), we got smart and started calling places with my cell phone. We FINALLY found a place at 11pm that had a last minute cancellation, and bunked down for the night.
The next day, we checked out the Franciscan church where they had the head (the head!) of St Catherine, along with her thumb, out on display, and wandered around the backstreets until we finally felt like we were finished with the town. We meandered down to the train station, and decided to go to Pisa (as was our original Saturday plan, but we had figured on leaving from Florence, or course).
Saw the tower, made the "holding up the tower!" pre-requisite pose, and meandered leisurely back through the town to the train station. Pisa is quite a lovely town if you make it past the Field of Miracles, actually. Very much a college town with lots of young kids and fun stores juxtaposed with some very lovely architecture.
Made it back to Florence for the night, had some Chinese food (damon was craving a change of pace), and headed out to Lucca on Sunday. Lucca was pleasant enough- there was a very large antique market going on (once every month, one of the largest in europe apparently), and it was very fun browsing through the wares. Definately a different experience from flea-marketing here in the states.. lots more statuary, persian rugs, and very old oil paintings. Unfortunately, I didn't find anything that was either 1. affordable, 2. small enough to bring back, or 3. that I wanted... we did come across a comic book store, where I discovered this guy, who is a pretty amazingly funny artist
Wandered around the city walls, got a little lost, got stuck in some rain, found a lovely little restaurant tucked away off the main drag and had a wonderful meal while we waited for the evening train...
All in all, much adventuring was had! Although, I got a blister on the bottom of my heel.. that's def a new one for me.. very painful, to be sure..
anyway, spent today doing lesson plan for this week and shopping around for some clothes and shoes with damon- very laid back and casual like.. will try to update my blog as much as I can before damon chases me offline...
ciao!
*Class is going great! The kids are super bright and friendly, and I got an extra student in my class for a total of 7 students. I enjoy sharing my knowledge of flash with them, although it's hard trying to share both the real world industry experience while teaching them tools for making an ind short. (like, there -
DEAR LORD, OUR WASHING MACHINE JUST WENT INSANE... ok, back. Our washing machine tried to escape it's marble confines of the kitchen counter. Slightly horrifying. Not sure what went on there, but crisis diverted. For now.
Ok, anyway, class is fun, but it's a little hard trying to teach both actual real-world flash info (i.e. you're always given finished audio to work with) vs. techniques as an independent filmmaker (creating your own audio track), but in short, I feel like I'm a consultant to seven independent shorts, which is fun.
*Damon and I went to Siena, Pisa and Lucca this weekend and had many adventures. Siena is AWESOME! We had heard that it was a bit touristy, but we went later in the day, so most of the day trippers had left by then. I found european G3 My Little Ponies (yay!), got some actual ground pigment of Burnt Sienna (which comes from here!), and the whole town is pony themed, since there's a huge horse race that happens twice a year in the main square. It's insane!! They ride bareback around hairbend corners in a medieval town center. AMAZING. A horse can win even without a rider! ha ha!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palio_di_Siena
they also have 17 different neighborhoods that compete in the horse races that all have their own animal theme. I got a banner from the Unicorn neighborhood and the dolphin one...
There's also a beautiful cathedral and gorgeously tiny alleys and stairs and buildings- it's all a very medieval hill town... it was quite a blast!
Damon and I had a wonderful time exploring the town, and grabbed the most delicious dinner we've had so far... I had homemade pasta, lamb, potatoes and some local cookies for desert which were super tasty. Seriously, in the top ten of best meals I've ever had (and I cheated on the wheat thing, obviously). We then went to grab another .5 L of wine on the del Campo, and then started the 20 minute walk down the hill to the train station where.. we had missed the last train back! Oops! Take note kids; when traveling, know your time tables. We had actually joked about missing the last train and spending the night in Siena, because it was such a great town and we felt like we wanted more time, so.. it kinda of worked out!
We then walked back -up- the hill, and pulled out my handy rick steves guidebook, and after walking around being turned away from hotel by hotel (they were all full), we got smart and started calling places with my cell phone. We FINALLY found a place at 11pm that had a last minute cancellation, and bunked down for the night.
The next day, we checked out the Franciscan church where they had the head (the head!) of St Catherine, along with her thumb, out on display, and wandered around the backstreets until we finally felt like we were finished with the town. We meandered down to the train station, and decided to go to Pisa (as was our original Saturday plan, but we had figured on leaving from Florence, or course).
Saw the tower, made the "holding up the tower!" pre-requisite pose, and meandered leisurely back through the town to the train station. Pisa is quite a lovely town if you make it past the Field of Miracles, actually. Very much a college town with lots of young kids and fun stores juxtaposed with some very lovely architecture.
Made it back to Florence for the night, had some Chinese food (damon was craving a change of pace), and headed out to Lucca on Sunday. Lucca was pleasant enough- there was a very large antique market going on (once every month, one of the largest in europe apparently), and it was very fun browsing through the wares. Definately a different experience from flea-marketing here in the states.. lots more statuary, persian rugs, and very old oil paintings. Unfortunately, I didn't find anything that was either 1. affordable, 2. small enough to bring back, or 3. that I wanted... we did come across a comic book store, where I discovered this guy, who is a pretty amazingly funny artist
Wandered around the city walls, got a little lost, got stuck in some rain, found a lovely little restaurant tucked away off the main drag and had a wonderful meal while we waited for the evening train...
All in all, much adventuring was had! Although, I got a blister on the bottom of my heel.. that's def a new one for me.. very painful, to be sure..
anyway, spent today doing lesson plan for this week and shopping around for some clothes and shoes with damon- very laid back and casual like.. will try to update my blog as much as I can before damon chases me offline...
ciao!