travel

Studio 365: Day 152

Day 152

Basilica San Marco Mosaic Variations 1.6.15

Day 152 iv

…in follow up to yesterday’s Day 151 Journal entry.

Studio 365: Day 151

venice

Venetian Canal – 2006

Away from the studio today but still in Italy as you can see with this painting from 2006 and another Journal entry for Venezia from 1999.

Journal 9.VII

Journal 9.VII.99

Studio 365: Day 149

Day 149 iii

Vatican Marble Floor Study I 29.5.15

Vatican i

Journal 20.VII.99

One of the great memories of our Italian travels is standing in the Sistine Chapel and looking up to the ceiling in total awe at one of the greatest artistic achievements in the world.

Studio 365: Day 148

Day 148

San Gimignano Study 28.5.15

Journal 15.VII

Journal  15.VII.99

Ah yes! I remember. Lost again on the way back to Siena, but we made it in time to do the laundry at the lavanderia in the Plaza del Campo before returning to the Ostello Guidoriccio and a late supper at the superb Ristoranti Fontebecci next door. I had a spectacular grilled whole fish and when we returned to the restaurant one year later on our second visit to Siena, the same waiter looked at me for a moment and then said, “Whole fish“. Amazing!

Day 148 ii

Studio 365: Day 147

Day 147 Iv

Verona Study I     27.5.15

View of Verona looking across the Adige River from the Teatro Romano.

Day 147 iii

Verona ii

Journal    11.VII.99

We travelled from Venice on the Andrea Dorea train, checked into the Verona Youth Hostel, the beautiful sixteenth century Villa Francescatti, and spent the day exploring this great city. The day ended at the Arena Opera Festival and an unforgettable performance of Carmen in the historic Roman Amphitheatre, the Arena Di Verona. What a day! I see from the Festival website Carmen is playing again this year on July 24th. If you are anywhere near Verona in July order your tickets today for a night to remember.

Studio 365: Day 146

Day 146 ii

Florence Study I 26.5.15

Firenze

Journal 9.IV.2000

So many treasures visited on this memorable day. To explain the last entry, we often had dinner in the stations of many Italian cities. As I recall Florence station was one of the best.  No need for reservation…”our usual table” was always available.

Studio 365: Day 145

Day 145

 Finale Ligure reflection 25.5.15

After Manarola we stayed in the Youth Hostel in Finale Ligure, the magnificent Castello Vuillerman. We’ll never forget climbing the more than three hundred steps, with packs on our backs, to the Castello where the view of the city, seen in this window reflection, was well worth the climb.

Final Ligure

Journal  2.VII.99

Studio 365: Day 142

Day 142 iv

Venice study I 22.5.15

Painting this watercolour and ink sketch in the studio this afternoon allowed me to re-visit our magical trip to Venice in July 1999, a visit documented in a precious journal that I kept throughout our Italian travels that year.

Venice ii

Over the next few days I think I’ll continue with the Italian theme that I’ve started as it is reviving such happy memories, and re-visit a few more special places together with their associated journal entries. I hope you’ll come with me.

Journal

Ciao!