Life has been somewhat busy recently and now I find myself with a week to go until I officially return to university for my (ugh... I don't want to say it...) 3RD YEAR... Where did my carefree youth go?! You know what's equally scary? I'm 21 in a month exactly. 2-freaking-1!!! I can feel myself crumbling already. Strap me to my zimmer-frame and get it over with. This can't be seen on a blog but I'm pouting now... I think I'll just spend my return to university and 21st birthday in denial. Yes. Hiding in a corner somewhere with a nice art history book and endless supply of coffee to ease my pain. I'm not American, I don't have drinking to look forward to - just a reflection upon how I'm really not that close to being a teenager anymore. What on earth am I going to blame my bouts of stupidity on now?! Good God, the world may truly know - it's not hormones, she's just an idiot.
Still, onwards, to happier things! I thought I should probably write a little summary of my summer excursions. When I say little I think anyone who keeps up with my blog will know by now that I use that term loosely - we'll see how small I can keep this on the word front...
Croatia
My first trip abroad this summer (I was lucky enough to make quite a couple of these) was to Rovinj in Croatia. My father befriended a Croatian woman through work and now I have come to be close with her, her sister and her mother. They are all wonderfully strong but empathic women. There are certain people in the world who you talk to, and when you talk to them you feel like life is logical and sorted - they are so certain in everything they say - these women are these sorts of people. To be around them is to be reassured. On top of their great company, Croatia is a beautiful place. The trip was a soul vacation for me - I swam in the sea, cycled along the coast, explored back streets, caught up with some personal writing - essentially took some time to myself in an extraordinary location.
Following my relaxed getaway (nothing clears your mind like lying on a boat in the middle of the sea in the baking sun) I returned to London for a week at The Courtauld Institute. I'm one of those people who needs to feed my mind - I actively enjoy lectures (I can imagine what's going across some people's minds now - "KILL IT! KILL IT WITH FIRE!") Agh, I'm a self-confessed nerd - I love to think and learn. So, yes, in my summer 'break' I signed up for a course about German art, ranging from Romanticism to Expressionism. I adored it. When people think of famous art, who are the greats that come in to conversation? Michelangelo, Van Gogh, Monet, Picasso etc. etc. Do any Germans spring to mind? Not really. Perhaps Albrecht Durer - but many people really aren't familiar with him. German art has an incredibly complicated and neglected history. There is a sense of insecurity that has run through their practice for hundreds of years. Yes, in the sphere of music they have paved the way (practically dominated it), but in visual art they have been in a constant fight to define themselves. I strongly recommend that people become closer acquainted with their culture and work - it is fascinating.
The Olympics
How could I discuss this summer without mentioning the olympics? It has been my everyday and obsession nearly all summer. I think with fondness about the buzz leading up to the opening ceremony, the pride and thrill of the games and now our new excitement over the Paralympics. Hmmm, how to put this? British people... We're renowned for our self-deprecation. The key difference I notice between myself and my American friends is confidence. I'm part of a culture that really doesn't expect to do well and loves the underdog. In the build up to the olympics we were all wondering if Britain could pull off hosting the games (Mitt Romney had the nerve to voice this - yes, we may be worrying about it but if anyone else strides in here and claims we're not ready we'll turn on them like a pack of hyenas!) To actually rank third in the games was unreal. We're a small, odd, anxious country (we don't charge in loaded with confidence like the Americans, or have the cool skill of the Chinese) and to perform like this made us turn around and think "Okay. We've got something to be proud of." Honestly, to just walk in the streets and see other Brits gave you such a sense of pride - everyone came together in this excited buzz and thought "Yes, this tiny nation has some fight in it". I managed to attend a morning of swimming heats (my favourite olympic sport to watch) and an evening of athletics (things like pole vaulting, hurdles, shot put, the steeple chase). My time at the olympic park was just extraordinary. The joy in those venues was overwhelming - the whole time I thought "This can't be real. I can't be at the olympics. I must soak up every second, every detail". Britain is going to have such terrible Olympic withdrawal by the end of this summer.
Florence
I returned to Florence in early August. Last year I travelled to Florence with the company Art History Abroad and this summer I got to share one of my favourite places with my family. I dragged the poor things around so many museums, churches, streets etc. - they were very patient with me. We began to joke that I should hold up an umbrella like the other tour guides and get a handheld microphone for my talks - I did subject them to mini lectures in front of numerous pieces of art (I did say that they were very patient). You could probably worry about returning to a place so soon after visiting it and becoming bored, but for me Florence could never be boring - I was still overwhelmed when standing in front of the Duomo, somewhat teary again in front of Donatello's Magdalene and at peace before Pontormo's Gabriel. Such sensational work could never be dull however many times I stand before it. Plus, given that I had my family with me, they would draw me to new discoveries and experiences. It was such a pleasure to be back and I know it won't be the last time.
Portugal
To end my travelling this summer I had a small break this weekend in Porto - a large city in Portugal (a world heritage site). Once again, I was travelling thanks to one of my father's work connections. He recently befriended a Portuguese woman so we visited her and her family. She has two young daughters (aged five and nine) - they are exactly like my younger sister and I were when we were young. The elder is very serious, quieter and academic, whilst the younger is a loud, funny, bubble of energy. To spend time with these girls was to really revisit my childhood - I kept looking at that serious little girl thinking "Oh yes, that was me alright. She really isn't going to change that much." Porto itself is beautiful - as you would expect from a world heritage site... Sadly we only had two days to explore so time was limited to wonderful old bookshops, cafes, churches, an art gallery and a palace. One thing that really struck me about the magnificent architecture was the use of tiles - lots of buildings, instead of having a plain facade, are covered in patterned tiles - so so lovely. Being English I must mention the weather! It was spectacularly sunny - I soaked up my last rays and basked in the heat, knowing I'll need to live off these memories in Scotland!
So, that's my summer in a nutshell. Plenty more happened but I won't bore everyone with all the minute details. Perhaps a catch-up over a pot of tea will be required for a greater reflection upon my summer? Honestly, that's what I'm really looking forward to soon. I have so many dear university friends to reunite with.
I promise I'll try to be more vigilant on the blog front from now on! I've got a post about films that I've been working on for an age - fingers crossed I'll move faster with it. Plus, when I'm back to university with urgent work to be done, naturally hundreds of blog ideas will fly in to my head and I'll put my degree at risk to indulge in writing my usual nonsense!
No comments:
Post a Comment