Europa, Europa

Europe was full of Europeans--and alot of Americans--so I guess you're all going to Italy? Nice choice. I wonder where all the Italians live though...

The Ufizzi is truly everything it claims to be--every piece in there is a masterpiece. So nothing in particular is highlighted. Basically every piece you saw in your Renaissance art course is there. If you are a hyper-sensitive art-lover and plan to go, bring tissue--and make a reservation ahead of time. I waited an hour and a half with a reservation then sobbed with joy for about 4 to 5 hours. Also if you want to see the David at the Acadamie of art--make a reservation--probably the same situation but I didn't have one and the line was wrapped around the block and not moving one bit. So I didn't get to see the David but I did get to see two of the three Michangelo Pietas (including the most famous located in the Vatican) and they were so amazing. Basically I cried everyday for three weeks straight but for joy over art rather than sorrow over my pathetic life for a change which is, in my humble opinion, a more than acceptable/welcome substitution.

Saw the Louvre yet again but didn't have much time there. Just enough to cry over the Vermeers'--don't know why but that is the one thing that always really floors me. I can deal with almost anything in a museum but Vermeer just shreds me to bits. The best part was is that, finally, after five years, Le Sennelier was finally open when I walked by and I got to go into debt over a really gorgeous brush (haven't used it yet cuz I'm not done admiring it) and picked up a few other small items. Spent about 45 minutes just touching brushes there until my completely bored travel companion dragged me back to earth and begged me to "just pick one and buy it [dammit, Jen!]". Think I picked the wrong one; I'll have to go back. Its still soft and pretty so I guess I'll live--for now.

I bought a new fancy digital SLR before I left--clung to it with my life the whole time, took about 500 pics--some of them really great--then proceeded to leave it in the loo at Stanstead airport a day before I came home. Of course no one could have possibly been kind enough to turn it in. That would have been too much to ask. So no pics. More sick about the camara than the pics but everyone is consoling me about losing the pictures not the camera...weird...mais c'est la vie...

Gone on long enough...More to come...