"I'm completely overwhelmed by epic-ness" - Alyssa
As a pure and insatiable aesthete, obsessed with the beauty of everything, this week has turned me upside down. The people here are elegant, quirky, and sophisticated. The sculptures show every detail, muscle, and wrinkle. Every church and every inlaid marble floor is filled to the brim with pieces that artists dedicated their entire careers to creating. There is incredible patience, passion, and appreciation about everything in this city.
Then we went to Siena. Imagine "Tuscany," envision a Villa, consider your understanding of the term "Cathedral". Everything surpassed my expectations and I definitely never thought that I would be on the verge of tears over the sight of a building. After hours of Cathedrals and history paintings, frescos, sculptures and cobblestones, we walked into the Cathedral of Siena. Everything stopped. I was completely overwhelmed. There is so much beauty in this world but this Cathedral said it all. Every detail was considered, then coated in gold leaf. The workmanship was incredible. I can only hope to one day pour myself into my work like they did.
There was an older man crouched on the floor with a chisel and a miniature brush, cleaning and restoring just a few words depicted on the inlaid marble floor. He looked completely captivated and focused. This is his job: to restore the most beautiful building in the world. This is what he wakes up looking forward to every morning. When he's tired and sore from his work, he can look up and see hand painted fresco stars and mind blowing striped columns. If ever there was an argument for doing what you love...
Being here kicks me back into gear.
I was getting restless in Ann Arbor.
Bored by my surroundings, bored by the stress of things that didn't even really matter.
I haven't stopped laughing or smiling since I got here.
Escapism is under rated.
I feel like myself again.
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