Sheer Magic
Monday, June 08, 2009
Musicians at St. Marco
We walked through the square at St. Marco where two restaurant bands seemed to be competing for business and attention.
But can you imagine? A cooling night, that special just-evening glow, music drifting across ancient stones, people, the scents of mouth-watering food, the sound of water and cooing of pigeons -- all of it heady and fairyland quality! I probably caught more flies that night since my mouth stayed open so much!
But can you imagine? A cooling night, that special just-evening glow, music drifting across ancient stones, people, the scents of mouth-watering food, the sound of water and cooing of pigeons -- all of it heady and fairyland quality! I probably caught more flies that night since my mouth stayed open so much!
Gondileer in the Evening
After our dinner, Karlyn and Douglass took us for a 'get acquainted' walk around Venice. I am even more grateful for the quieter section of Venice when we saw just how many people were visiting Venice at the same time! LOL
Night was falling as we walked and the lamplight on the water was ever so romantic! And the gondolas! Magical
Night was falling as we walked and the lamplight on the water was ever so romantic! And the gondolas! Magical
Academica Bridge
Our hotel was located in a quieter section of Venice (VERY NICE!) and near this major bridge.
After we arrived, settled into our rooms, and all met in the gorgeous courtyard at the hotel, we walked a bit and ate on the water at a great place called Giovannis. Karlyn had arranged a fine dinner of lasagna, veal, and fabulous dessert!! ON THE WATER! I loved dining al fresco in all the 65 to 72F weather! It was heavenly!
After we arrived, settled into our rooms, and all met in the gorgeous courtyard at the hotel, we walked a bit and ate on the water at a great place called Giovannis. Karlyn had arranged a fine dinner of lasagna, veal, and fabulous dessert!! ON THE WATER! I loved dining al fresco in all the 65 to 72F weather! It was heavenly!
En route from Terni to Venice
It was difficult saying goodbye to La Romita -- I really fell in love with the place.
We boarded the van to Venice early morning and spent the better part of the day driving from Terni to Venice with a stop at an AutoGrill -- pretty darn good! for lunch. I was amazed at the change in topography - from wheat fields and olive groves to more and more vineyards, mountains, to the east coast of Italy. Fabulous!
We boarded the van to Venice early morning and spent the better part of the day driving from Terni to Venice with a stop at an AutoGrill -- pretty darn good! for lunch. I was amazed at the change in topography - from wheat fields and olive groves to more and more vineyards, mountains, to the east coast of Italy. Fabulous!
Sunday, June 07, 2009
Wine Bottles and Flowers LaRomita
Travel Sketchbook
Plein Air
La Romita, Terni, Italy
Of course, I had to try to capture that magnificent courtyard garden!! I sketched this plein air while sitting in the courtyard and painted it plein air with finishing touches in the studio. It's a little lighter in person than scanned.
I just LOVE those old wine bottles!!! I believe they were specially made for La Romita.
Charles and I went to a small jazz festival yesterday. Oxford has built an amphitheatre at its new athletic park, and we spent several hours there yesterday walking the incredibly well-maintained trails, listening to music and enjoying the coolness of an overcast day. Mighty relaxing!
Plein Air
La Romita, Terni, Italy
Of course, I had to try to capture that magnificent courtyard garden!! I sketched this plein air while sitting in the courtyard and painted it plein air with finishing touches in the studio. It's a little lighter in person than scanned.
I just LOVE those old wine bottles!!! I believe they were specially made for La Romita.
Charles and I went to a small jazz festival yesterday. Oxford has built an amphitheatre at its new athletic park, and we spent several hours there yesterday walking the incredibly well-maintained trails, listening to music and enjoying the coolness of an overcast day. Mighty relaxing!
Lamp and Overlook
For our last evening here, we each performed a little skit in the courtyard, read from a poem or story, sang. The cooks prepared an AWESOME barbeque for us, and our parting dessert was tiramisu -- OUTSTANDING!
I have to admit to crying as we left for Venice the next morning. I felt so welcomed and cared for and so at home here. From the grounds to the food to the people to the early morning birds, THIS is the Italy I think of and dream of. It was so hard to say goodbye.
On a funny note - the morning we left, the folks were picking mulberries from one of their enormous trees. When I got home to North Carolina, for the first year ever, our own young mulberry had borne sufficient mulberries for us to pick. I rendered them into jam yesterday -- Although I have picked mulberries for years and made jam while in South Carolina, THIS wee tree in Oxford, and THIS year's first bounty, will forever tie me to La Romita.
I have to admit to crying as we left for Venice the next morning. I felt so welcomed and cared for and so at home here. From the grounds to the food to the people to the early morning birds, THIS is the Italy I think of and dream of. It was so hard to say goodbye.
On a funny note - the morning we left, the folks were picking mulberries from one of their enormous trees. When I got home to North Carolina, for the first year ever, our own young mulberry had borne sufficient mulberries for us to pick. I rendered them into jam yesterday -- Although I have picked mulberries for years and made jam while in South Carolina, THIS wee tree in Oxford, and THIS year's first bounty, will forever tie me to La Romita.
Cooks
I cannot give credit enough to the INCREDIBLE cooks at La Romita. Each meal - a meat, a pasta, several vegetables, home-made bread, fruit or dessert; breakfast - shortbreads, toasts, cereal, sweet cakes and more -- was more mouth-watering and healthy than the last. They always greeted us with a cheerful smile, a new English word, and the joy they felt.
A Face We All Could Love
One of the many sheep on the farm above La Romita. The owner allowed us to pass through the gate through his olive grove to photograph and paint the sheep, roosters and cats there. The sheep were shy, however, and we spent a few evenings trying to take photos of them as they raced by!
Best Roses
To say Italy is in love with roses is an understatement! Roses and geraniums, I am convinced, MUST be the country's symbol! Here, these glorious peach colored roses enfold me with their scent and beauty. They were part of the formal garden.
Window and Shadows
Many of Karlyn's lessons focused on shadows -- and here, a fabulous window, the play of shadows is a lesson in itself.
Antique Machinery
I don't know if this is still being used, but it sat near the clothesline we used to hang our wet clothes .. wonderful addition!
Garden and Tower
Another clustering in the courtyard. The waterfountain was where we hand-washed our clothing, filled our water bottles, emptied our paint water. The towers of pots will be mimicked at the Arboretum this year -- I simply fell head over heels in love with it!
Garden and Wine Bottles
I have so many photos of this cluster of flowers in each hour of lighting. It rimmed the courtyard where we always met or sketched outdoors. Each morning the gardener was there watering. I truly could have been that gardener and loved every moment of it!
Fairyland Olive Grove
The antiquity of these olives was explained to us -- their forms and the way they were bent and grew SO reminded me of those live oaks I loved in Charleston, SC and which I studied and wrote my Masters Thesis. I felt so at home among them.
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