I hope tomorrow is like today

Two weeks ago was La Settimana della Cultura, in which all state museums were free, so I took advantage of some free time during finals week to explore some new sites in town. One of them was Villa Bardini, an estate that has been turned into a museum with differnent exhibitions and a beautiful garden. The two exhibits were "The Nineteenth Century Seduced," about how artists during that period were influenced by many 16th century artists such as Caravaggio (my favorite), and a fashion exhibit of dresses by Roberto Capucci, who specialized in geometric, colorful designs.

The Villa gardens were beautiful and afforded a close-up view of the city, perhaps even better than that of Piazzale Michelangelo.

Just a goofy man wrapped in an Italian flag

The sky made for some lovely photos that day, including this one off the Ponte Vecchio...

...and this one of sunset at the villa.

And then, before I knew it, the semester was over! I had gotten to be pretty close with many of the students and was emotional (what else is new?) about them leaving. I even cried at the farewell banquet, which was held at the villa.

Students enjoying free wine...too much?

Anna Maria, the director's wife, and Giuditta,
our Business Manager, in the kiddie corner

Hilarious shot of students with Linda,
our quirky, British art history professor

The last couple days were spent clearing out the villa and enjoying what little time we all had left together in Firenze. The last night we splurged and ate at Il Latini, where we ordered the infamous Fiorentina steak (they brought practically an entire cow to the table on a platter). This is the kind of place that rolls old school, treating its costumers at every turn. While we were waiting for a table outside, they brought us small glasses of white wine and pecorino cheese. Then, after dinner, they brought us biscottini and Vin Santo, followed by Moscato wine, and finished off by Limoncello. And even after all this free treatment, they still knocked more than 50 euro off our bill! It was quite an event.

That night we stayed up almost until the break of dawn hanging out, watching people pack, and being sappy. Some of the students were so sweet-they gave me a bottle of Chianti and a beautiful leather journal in which they each wrote me a special note. They had me crying in no time. That is what this job is all about-making a difference for the students. I'm going to miss this group so much-they were my first in the villa and I have a feeling they will always be closest to my heart for that very reason! This place is so lonely now without them.

Many of the students flew out that morning, but some of the girls were still around because they were traveling after the program. We got lunch at our friend Pino's sandwich shop, climbed the Duomo's tower, and got a ridiculous caricature done by an old Italian pervert.

That's me on the bottom right, can't you tell?