news from a week without internet!

I must vent in some way and so I am choosing to do it in a productive way by blogging! I can complain and let everyone know how I feel. The lack of convenient internet access has begun to make me crazy, but also made me realized how much I rely on an unreliable form of communication. I will always remember what Dr. Webb said about the internet, that “I knew they called it the curser for a reason.” Some days I think something out there wants to see how far I can go without completely losing it. I will not lose my mind; instead I will accept the fact that I am impatient and should not trust the internet. There are many books that I could use to type my English paper and find a topic for my art history term paper. I don’t REALLY need the internet. It is interesting to notice how frustrated I get when I don’t get the internet while writing about the limited communication during World War 2. These people were lucky when their lovers got a letter from them, but because I can’t check my Facebook or see if there is enough information on the web to write about architectural motifs in the 15th century I come close to tears. The steps we have made in communication are huge. Even though it currently requires leaning out the window, I can talk to someone using a camera and microphone, across the world for FREE. These forms of communication are gifts! I do hope my English paper turns out well, and I also hope I find a topic for my art history paper that could be done without internet, and perhaps only books. At least I would know it was possible to go without the internet if I completed my work well. (written the 22nd but getting on the blog now…)

On Wednesday we were able to go on yet another art history trip, this time to Urbino. I remind myself every trip we take how lucky I am to learn directly from a piece of work, versus staring at slides in an uncomfortable chair of some sort for way too long. Urbino was one of those places I think I will have to go back to before I go home. When we arrived we were able to sit on some beautiful steps to get our lesson from the Bankers. They make such a great pair, because their incredible knowledge fused together makes for an amazing class. We learned some architectural terms, which I was sure I should remember from Dr. Goode’s History of Architectural Furniture class. I decided that I will do my term paper on these terms, finding out which architectural motifs were used more in the 15th century than others and how they were used in the art work of that time. The Palazzo Ducale di Urbino has been turned into a museum, which is where our art trip was to. I loved how each room held certain art work and being that it was so well organized I took in all that there was to see. We saw many “Madonna and child” work as well as more of the “Annunciation” and Piero Della Francesco’s work. The bankers told us that a painting which is worth at the least, 50 million dollars done by Piero was just sitting on a chest the last time they had visited the museum. This time it was in a glass case with a sensor attached for when people like Dr. Banker got too close. What beautiful art I have gotten to see here in Italy! Now to tell you about the virtual library we saw after seeing the entire art museum. Wow, this technology made me feel like I was literally in a Harry Potter movie. You got to touch a book on the wall and it pulled it from the shelf. The pages of these ancient Hebrew written books covered the wall, and you could flip the pages with your hands. Urbino is a must return site, whether it be this trip or in my next adventure to Italy ;)

Now it’s time for the weekend. Tonight I will go to Cortona with Nicole, Sam, and Vi and we will have dinner and dancing with our the two Giacamos! Then tomorrow it is time to go to the MOUNTAINS and camp. Well, we will actually be in a cabin because it will be too cold to camp, which of course is sad for me to hear. I’ll be sharing my adventures again soon! CIAO