Roadside Italian Hookers

On our trip to Arezzo and the other smaller towns we visited there is a strip of highway that goes along a winding path surrounded by trees where Peter told us that hookers hang out at the side of the road in their cars or trailers. It's a well known strip for this and he told us that the police can't really stop it. We saw a few cars stopped and even one student saw a woman in the trees. I took this picture because the bus had to stop for something and we could see cars stopping at the sight of these two women.

Swarming Pigeons

Walking past the Duomo a woman came out of a café and tossed on the ground some sort of food and the pigeons went crazy. I should have filmed this scene.

Priests and Nuns painting

My room mate Linda bought this painting in Lucca. I really like it and considered buying it as well but I want to watch my money right now. I'm glad someone bought it and at least I get to enjoy it hanging in our kitchen for now. It's such a simple painting but yet I could stare at it for hours. The people who sold it to Linda told her that it hung in a kitchen in a Villa and that it was painted from someone from Florenece.

Our Flat

Here are a few pictures of where we live. The place is much nicer than I was expecting. We have a great balcony and we are trying to add things to make it more homey. MY bedroom is the smallest but for me it's a good size. It's a great place and not that far from the studio.

Piazza Anfiteatro

This is a beautiful oval piazza that once was a Roman amphitheatre. The houses you see were built ontop of the stands in the Middle Ages. To get into the piazza you walk through a tunneled entrance which gives it the feeling of the old amphitheatre.

San Frediano Piazza

All of us heading to Cappella di Santa Zita in San Frediano Piazza. Inside this church lies the preserved body of Saint Zita. It is a beautiful church that also had a beautiful sculpture of a woman that Peter, our art history professor believes is the most beautiful one in all Lucca. I didn't get a picture of it since we are not supposed to take pictures while together as a class incase we get kicked out. I did buy a postcard of it.

Lucca

Yang, Yi and Peter sitting in a square in Lucca as we were waiting for everyone to show up for lunch after checking out the antique market all morning. The building in the background, Napoleon's sister once lived in.

Duomo in the Distance

Duomo

The city's main landmark, one I rely one to situate myself instead of getting lost. It's a beautiful building with some restaurations going on. We haven't gone inside yet but I am very much looking forward to when we do. Especially if we get to go to the top and see the city from up top.

Morning Run

I've been trying to go running in the mornings. Not every day but at least 3 times a week. This little stretch of water is right by where we live and its where I run. It's very pretty but I am sure it's where most of the mosquitos in our flat come from.

Rain and thunderstorms in Firenze

This picture was taken on a rainy Sunday afternoon at our professors flat. The two by the window are my room mates, Linda and Lindsay.

Spedale degli Innocenti-close up

Here is another view of this painting. Our art history class still hasn't been to this square but when we do I will add more information to this post.

Spedale degli Innocenti

The first few days here I spent walking around and trying to get my directions figured out. Florence is filled with many twisting streets the closer you get to the Arno. I spent a great deal of that time getting lost and then finding my way back. A great way to get to know a new city. The Spedale degli Innocenti I found on one of those occassions. I walked into a square and I took in the beauty found in the architecture. Looking up I saw this painting. The colours are amazing and I'm so happy that they turned out. You don't find treasures like this in Toronto.