17: Being a Jew, Rain, David, and Wine

My parents arrived yesterday for the week to visit! And while I am ecstatic that I get to show Florence to them, I'm overwhelmed by the stress of the situation; not only are they here, but it's midterms week and I find that I have a lot of studying to do (something I'm not used to being a design major and consequently having project due at the midterm rather than examinations). But this is a one-time deal, I think, and I'm going to make the most of it :)

Today the rain started off soft and sparse only to collect heavier around noon, then it kind of lingered for a bit. During this time we walked to the Great Synagog of Florence, something I'd been meaning to see but never got around to beforehand. For starters, the synagog is impressive and a description plaque outside explains that instead of hiding that the building is a place for Jewish worship, the architect, designer, and commissioner wanted to showcase the Judaism of it. It's also pink and white striped, which is always dig-able in my book. Inside there is moorish geometric painted walls, with Stars of David placed in the windows and floors. Once inside the place of worship men have to wear a kippah. My brother looks ridiculous in his yellow leather one, while I looked pretty snazzy in my crimson checkered one. I hadn't been in a synagog in a very long time, not since middle school when I stopped attending Sunday School at Temple Shalom. With the constant and ever present Jesus and the Virgin, Christian art on top of more Christian art, it was kind of a relief to find some notable place that wasn't devoted to the Cross.

We then lunched at Ruth's Kosher and Vegetarian Restaurant. This is the place to go for the best falafel in Florence!

Afterwards I got us a little lost and over-shot my way to the Galleria d'Academia, where there are so many astounding paintings and sculptures, but the only real reason anybody visits this gallery is because of Michaelangelo's David. He's a big guy and a sculptural triumph. While most people were trying to sneak photographs or staring intently at his well-formed musculature (especially his incredibly executed legs), I was captivated by the realism of his hands. There are indications of tendons working to grasp the strap he is holding, the veining is sublet and controlled, the composition of both hands is anatomically flooring. And I got in for free with my student museum pass.

So after all that fun, I returned home to my apartment to study for my Exploration of Wine Culture in Italy, which I will do not so well on. 13 short answers, 2 essays, 1 wine-tasting. We have to know all facts and dates about Valle d'Aosta, Piedmont, Lombardy, Veneto, Trentino-Alto Adige, Friuli Venezia Giulia, and Tuscany. Not to mention the general history of Italian viticulture.

Just thinking about it makes me need a glass!