I am in desperate need of nail polish remover!!! It’s a lot more difficult than you’d think to find a supermarket over here (“supermercado”) and it seems like every one I’ve been into is out of nail polish remover….and my nails look pretty bad at this point. I did, however, make my first big purchase yesterday: a beautiful wool coat from my new favourite European store Zara– the coat was relatively inexpensive for something in a store like this and will be perfect for when it gets cold here and then back in Hillsdale. I am quite pleased with myself   The only other thing I really want to purchase for myself is a good pair of Italian leather boots…. Still doing lots of shopping though, and keeping an eye out for Christmas presents and souveniers to distribute when I get back.

This afternoon we depart Florence for Cortona! I am so excited and ready to get there and get settled in and not have to live out of a suitcase anymore. I also was able to complete final registration for my classes the other day and this is how my schedule looks:

Monday & Thursday (all classes are 2.5 hrs)

8am Photography

11am Painting

2pm Drawing

5pm Art History

Wednesday

Demo/Critique Day for all classes

Tuesday & Friday

NO CLASSES!

Saturday

Art History Field Trips

I am thrilled about classes and very ready to get started. I have lots of goals for the semester and really would like to improve my technique and abilities and what better place to do it than Italy!  I wish that all of you could be here to share this with me…. keep checking back for PHOTOS, hopefully they will be up by tonight.