Ballet, Bailey's, Paris and David
Since the last time I updated, things in Italy have been going much better. I went to the ballet on Thursday night in the Boboli gardens (a Medici legacy in Florence among many others), where they were performing Serenade, one of my long-time favorites, and The Rite of Spring, which I had never seen before. Needless to say, the two acts were as different as could be: Serenade is a Balanchine classic and The Rite of Spring is a modern piece choreographed to Stravinsky. I enjoyed them both very much, but Serenade especially. I'd seen it before but not for years and years, and it made me want to take ballet again.
After the ballet I went to a bar on the Arno, right by the Ponte Vecchio, where I had one delicious White Russian and would have had more if it hadn't been so expensive, which probably worked out for the best in the end. I was amazed how many people from the program were there, hanging out at the tables outside or across the street by the river. It was sort of a nice reminder of the fact that even if these people aren't my people, I can still have a good time with them. I think I'll last for two more weeks.
Oh, and that's the other thing! On a whim, incredibly, insanely, I booked a flight to Paris for this weekend. You should see the way these other kids have been travelling -- London, Venice, Madrid, Paris, Nice, every single weekend. So I thought -- why not? Flights within Europe can be found for pretty good prices, and I have family friends I can stay with and rilan will be there then, so I won't be all alone.
The time is flying by. I'll be heading home before I know it and there are still so many things I want to do in Florence. Whatever happens, I must see the David before I leave. Maybe the real thing will make up for all the ridiculous boxer shorts you find at sidewalk vendors that display, shall we say, a thumbnail of David very prominently on the front. Oh, what exploitation of great art. :p
After the ballet I went to a bar on the Arno, right by the Ponte Vecchio, where I had one delicious White Russian and would have had more if it hadn't been so expensive, which probably worked out for the best in the end. I was amazed how many people from the program were there, hanging out at the tables outside or across the street by the river. It was sort of a nice reminder of the fact that even if these people aren't my people, I can still have a good time with them. I think I'll last for two more weeks.
Oh, and that's the other thing! On a whim, incredibly, insanely, I booked a flight to Paris for this weekend. You should see the way these other kids have been travelling -- London, Venice, Madrid, Paris, Nice, every single weekend. So I thought -- why not? Flights within Europe can be found for pretty good prices, and I have family friends I can stay with and rilan will be there then, so I won't be all alone.
The time is flying by. I'll be heading home before I know it and there are still so many things I want to do in Florence. Whatever happens, I must see the David before I leave. Maybe the real thing will make up for all the ridiculous boxer shorts you find at sidewalk vendors that display, shall we say, a thumbnail of David very prominently on the front. Oh, what exploitation of great art. :p