I could've layed forever in Monet's Garden

Isn't it just great!

Oh, Beautiful, Wonderful, Fantastic PARIS

Finally!! We made it to the dream land. Its the first day and here Nat, Rita, Molly, Kaitlin and I are just turning the corner and then whoa! There, unexpectedly, it is! The massive, but so gentle, beautiful, symbol of the place we've always longed for, THE EIFFEL TOWER!!


We giggled, skipped, and photographed to and all around the tower in reassurance we were finally there!

Then so innocently we are trying to ride the elevator up to the top when all the sexy, french police officers push us out of the limits of the Eiffel Tower. They knew this love was too unnatural but they told everyone it was a "bomb threat."

But undefeated we were; There were so many other great Parisian symbols we had to tackle our first night.

We went to the Arc de Triomphe and climbed up to the 250 something stairs to the best view in Paris. All of the lit up streets of the city lead to the circle surrounding the Arc; surrounding us. The sparkling city was surrounding us and of course the wonderful view of the glowing Eiffel Tower at night. Here we all called our mom's and teared up out of happiness and thankfulness that we were finally here!!!

We love being tourists, so we couldn't stop there.
We then strolled down the "Ooooh, Chaaammppss Elyseeesss!" to fill up on some crepes.

And just saying, it's no big deal or anything but the waiter told me "You speak very good french."

OOOhhh Yeeaaahhh! Dream Day!!

The rest of the week was full of endless greatness and of course fashion!

We visited all of these wonderful places I never though would be possible at this point in my life.

Our class visited Premier Vision; the world's largest fabric trade show. It was absolutely massive and full of the most outstanding selection of fabrics, trims, and trend forecasting.

We the met the most talented, kind Madame Picot. One of only five women in the world who knows how to create the tedious, beautiful, unique pleating done in the dresses to the left. She is between us.

She gave a wonderful history of the inventor of the technique; Madame Gres. Madame Picot worked for her and learned this fantastic technique and gave a demo to our class. I was very fortunate to put on one of Madame Picot's amazing designs of silk jersey!

We visited endless wonderful shops and fashion forward places while being surrounded by the well-dressed Parisians too.

We also visited Versailles which is alone always wonderful but there was also an exhibit throughout the castle from the Japanese artist Takashi Murakami. He made all these cute, fun, and fantastic manga sculptures that were placed throughout.

From the Louvre to the Parisian gay clubs we did just about everything. Oooh, what a fantastic week of my life long dream of finally going to Paris.

Paris, je t'aime!!

Festa della Rificolona, Festival of the Paper Lantern

On the 7th we went to the Festa della Rificolona. It is a great annual parade around Florence. Everyone carries around decorative lanterns; homemade and store bought.

Throughout the parade there are different bands and musicians walking with everyone playing jolly music with choreographed dancing. Just mini marching bands of tons of fun keeping everyone moving!

The funnest part of this parade is amongst all of the paper lanterns are little boys running around shooting them with spit wads. The lanterns become full of little spit wads and I was hit plenty
of times too!

The walking with the lanterns and the spit wad war are somewhat like a reenactment of a long ago tradition celebrating the birth of the Virgin Mary.

This link has the story behind the festival. Its an odd story creating this fun parade.

http://www.visitflorence.com/florence-events/rificolona-festival.html

It was great following the parade to find out it leads to a party at the the end of my street! The parade marches until the Piazza Santissima Annunziata, a block from my apartment. It is a big square which was filled with candy stands, balloons, and more lanterns. There were several speakers and more performers.

Spit wads in my hair, running around giggling children, floating happy lanterns, and the funnest music I guess sums up the parade. It wasn't anything like the U.S.; an entire town marching, dancing, and laughing together at night to celebrate a long ago tradition. It was so great!

Sienna

Oh, just getting more class credit for visiting amazing places in Italy.

All of the Italian men always want to "take you to Sienna." We were wondering what possibly this place must be like; romance capital of the world? or rape capital? Luckily, I found it to be the most beautiful town, built from the most fantastic morals and beliefs. It is a gorgeous place of sacred background. Perhaps next time I will let the next offering man take me to Sienna ;-).


These first three pictures are of the main Cathedral in Sienna. They don't do a 100th of the justice to the true beauty the building deserves.

From the entrance to the alter on both sides are bust sculptures of all past popes with scorning faces to remind you of your sins and to cleanse yourself as reaching the alter. Every pope extremely intricate and labeled.

The dark marble all inside was unexpected from the sparkling white outside, but it was magnificent. The pillars surely remind me of beetlejuice. Even the floors were intricately decorated of marble designs.

To say the least it was truly the most immaculate place I have ever of visited. The intricacy and beauty of everything was so unreal, so intense that I cried.

The stairs leading to this area are believed to be a sacred ground where a miracle was taken place. There is a small cross on the step believed to be left there after the miracle. People rub it in wishes of their own little miracles to happen. I think its working for me. I have been very fortunate. =)


These are just some other pictures of the glorious Sienna. So when an Italian says "Let me take you to Sienna!" Definitely say yes!

Sienna also has two major horse races every year called the Palio. To be the winner is an extreme honor! The town is separated into many different groups (contradas) who build themselves up all year for this battle. Its an incredibly aggressive, wild race. The racers and viewers become brutal to each other for the sake of winning and supporting their contradas.

One year an opposing team poisoned the winning
teams celebration dinner, sending everyone to the hospital!

After that we went to the Sienna Designer Outlet Stores. Designer clothes at 70% discount but still hitting prices of 800 euro for a skirt. So... I didn't find much. I bought a pair of Alexander Mcqueen tights for 25 euro. I felt a beautiful pair from the magnificent, passed away designer of so much inspiration was allowed.

What a magnificent day!

Next week is Paris for 5 days including trade shows, designer presentations, and everything
else France offers!

Dream Dream Dream Dream Dream Dream!

Last Summer Vacation Weekend

The past couple of days have been full of so much exploring, learning, fun, and as always beauty.

Friday morning we visited the Medici Villa. Its a gorgeous royal summer home and garden. It has an absolutely amazing view of the city. The inside is full of original frescoes, sculptures, and ancient furniture. We weren't aloud to photograph the inside.

It was so fantastic touring the villa. Everything was so elaborate and fine. It had billiard tables, the first pinball games, ancient pianos, and beautiful decorations inspired from Egypt at the time it was built.

Being there really brought you back to the time of it all. Seeing the gardens, wanting to be in a massive elaborate gown with a parasol; then going to a ball at night with renaissance men courting you. Oh totally magical.








The next day Natalie and I went to the Forte Dei Lago Beach in Viareggio. We conquered the train station and bus to get there. We laid on this little sliver of the free beach and napped in the sun all day! The rest of the beach was 20 euro an hour to sit on =O!

It was a fantastic sliver though. The gorgeous ocean was in front of us and then the view of the mountains behind us. It was an absolutely dreamlike view.

The ocean was also giving off the perfect breeze and the water was the perfect temperature. Beyond all of that being great we were surrounded
by gorgeous men in speedos.

We ended our night with a glass of wine and dancing with some great Italian dancers to live Italian music. My date was a 70 year old man who was five inches shorter than me. He could pick me up, spin me around, and twirl himself without ever getting tired. Natalie of course wins again with the gorgeous five inches taller, suave Italian twenty-something. I didn't know a man could move like that ;). It was all so great.

It was a fantastic weekend to end the summer and start off the school year. On Monday classes begin. I can't wait start sewing and drawing regularly again.

Foto! Foto! Foto!

< - - - Outside the window of our school.

< - - - Nice butt.

< - - - View from Ponte Vecchio

Gypsy Natalie. Literal translation of how we were seeing it ;-)

Our dance club outfits and Natalie's flower from the Italian=D

Florence Florence Florence

A nice little picture of the Duomo from me below. Note how the sky is perfect blue with no clouds . . . all of the time!

All of the buildings look so beautiful off of the blue sky.

We've been doing tons of walking around visiting lots of beautiful places and trying to learn Italian.

We stumbled upon our first Italian (but mostly american) dance club. Natalie picked up the men and I danced around with a Philippine mama. Woohoo!

We've dined out twice and oh hooooow delicious! The market food is soo great too! Fruiti! Fruiti! Fruiti!

We made a few Italian friends too so far. So, so great! So helpful in teaching us Italian and Italian ways. and incredibly kind too.

My cellphone won't work to call the U.S. so far and I have quite the soar throat but that's all of the little wrong.

Florence is fantastic, can't wait to see the wonderful difference of the rest of Italy!