Everyone was exhausted on Tuesday night, but when we got back to the hotel, we learned we would be meeting at 7:30 Wednesday morning. Dawn told us that the gallery we were scheduled to see, the Borghese is the best one we will see. She said we could not miss it. However, we also learned that we would be taking the city bus for the bulk of the trip. Excellent news for us all!
The Borghese
The Borghese gallery showcases the work of many artists, but particularly the art of Bernini. Bernini, born in 1598, lived in the period after the renaissance. He was a sculpting genius and by the age of 11 was already accepting commissions. He lived for 81 years and was an expert and prolific sculptor. The Borghese family funded a great deal of his work.
Quick Story
A fun and quick story. When we arrived at the museum, we had to check our bags and I was struggling to find my headset. I had to turn my backpack inside out to get to it and was apologizing profusely to the guy at the counter. He took my hand and enclosed it in both of his when he said, [insert heavy Italian accent here], “Here-uh we-uh have-uh many problems-uh. You-uh are-uh not one-uh of them!” What a lovely and kind thing to say!
Masterpieces Galore!
The Borghese is chocked full of masterpieces. So many amazing works. Artists I’ve read about since grade school, appeared around every corner. Rubens, Caravaggio, Bernini, and more. This was a private collection belonging to the Borghese family. We could have used 3-4 additional tours: one tour for the first floor and one for the second, one for the floors and one for the ceilings. It was just phenomenal.
Easy Afternoon
The afternoon was open from lunch until dinner. Most of us napped, a needed time of catching up on lost sleep. Some visited sites though— the da Vinci experience was one option that kids really seem to enjoy.
It is impressive how savvy these children are at getting around new places. With technology, the kids can navigate anywhere without trouble. It gives them independence and the opportunity to make choices based on their interests. This is one of the strengths of cell phones: they provide convenience and an added layer of security.
We met for dinner at 7:30 or so and the kids seems rested and rejuvenated. I can’t say it enough times: these kids are delightful. They add so much to an already amazing trip!
Tomorrow, we leave at 615 and take the train to Florence. I’ll be interested to see if there is a 615 in the morning here. As far as I know, there isn’t one back home in Asheville!
