After 3 hours of sleep, you could say I was a real live wire this morning… Jesine and Becca were dragging ass as well, all the way to the Academia. Being “alta” (tall… see, I learned something in Italian class) leaves very few men to chose from, and that’s before they open they’re mouth, which REALLY narrows things down. SIDENOTE: I love it when people say “I know this really tall guy, you two would be perfect together!” I get so insulted they think that’s all us Jolly Green Giants care about… it doesn’t matter if he has a job, a car, a brain, both feet or a fabulous sense of humor- I’m tall, and he’s tall, so we should get married and have tall boring babies… WTF people? Slight segway, BUT I found someone that is TOO tall. Never thought I’d see the day, but… he likes to stand around in the buff, which is fine because he has a killer body, doesn’t talk much and isn’t super active but I could probably get him out on the town. His name is David and his right foot is the length of my entire arm. He could hold me like a ragdoll in his left hand and literally towers me, thrice over. Michelangelo didn’t really keep me in mind when he created this guy, but I forgive him since he is the Italian Sculpture God… this “Big White Guy” looks towards Rome with a furrowed, determined brow and because Italians are known to talk with their hands, his are emphasized (so what’s their excuse for genitalia???). Quite a phenomenon that he is able to stand freely, with only the support of a tree trunk behind his left foot- really a beautiful work of art.
Onto Museo di San Marco to check out some Angelico frescos, which I thought were by Frangelico, but I think Dance-Off 2010 was still saturating… I laughed when I saw “Saint Benihanna” doning a double beard and a catfish whisker moustache next to baby Jesus who was saluting Hitler… Ghirlandiaos “Last Supper” was amusing as well- everyone looks totally unamused and pissed off at John the “Fairy” Evangelist who must’ve thrown back one too many during cocktail hour. He is a total fem-bot- a waif with long hair and tiny hands… no wonder he keeps passing out in Jesus’ lap. Some dudes were even rolling their eyes and knocking over their Dixie wine cups, looks like a bread and grape fight will break out soon.
Two “Last Supper’s” in one day was making me hungry… Andrea Del Castagno’s was controversially housed in a convent in Sant Appollonia. Of course impressive, but I get a kick out of body language and expression. John the “pixie-lush” has his head in Jesus’ lap again, and even Jesus is over his debauchery… Peter is filing his nails while Jacob and Matthew play cards and Jerome is flabbergasted that there’s no food on the table, which looks like it’s inside a subway car. Enough starving men in robes for one day… a few of us found Ristorante Cinese and felt weird as Americans eating Chinese in Italy- what’s wrong with this picture? Steamed shrimp wontons, egg drop soup and veggie soai noodles filled me up, only to be topped off by gelato from our favorite little shop up the street from our hotel, that makes it fresh daily and claims to be the best in Florence. Almond and pistachio may have just beat out macaroons, and that is BIG. We each got a cone and no words came out for the next 10 minutes… and there are no words to explain its deliciousness when it hits your lips. I hope you’re drooling right now because I am just writing this…
After a much needed nap, some sketchbook work and research, a group of us followed “The Leader” to a small, hole in the wall place that serves cheap Tuscan food… Verdura Salta (cooked spinach) and Osso Bucco (lamb shank) was the perfect pair- simple, great flavors and a great atmosphere. The owner walked around with legs on meat hooks, after the chef cut off huge pieces while his souse chefs made flirty eyes at me through the shelves in the open kitchen. Early to bed, need to catch up a bit… the heater doesn’t turn off in our room, so we sleep with our two large windows wide open. Drifting off to sleep with the sound of rain is so tranquil… ah Florence….
Surprise day tomorrow, stay tuned to see what’s in store J Ciao ciao ciao!
Oh my God... your description of Gelato just killed me... actually, you didn't really describe it, you just mentioned how great it was and my mind went crazy - I thought you described it in great detail because I was literally having a salivation problem and had to go back to that part of your blog, only to find that you hadn't really described it at all, in fact you had a loss of words entirely - so, it was my mind that had kicked in and filled in the "loss for words" with my own torturous memories.
ReplyDeleteEat some tomorrow too so that I can have some vicariously through you. I seem to be into this whole sadistic suffering martyrdom thing, cuz half the time that is what I experience reading these blogs... maybe it is because I am a Christian and we are getting closer and closer to the Roman Colosseum? ;-)