DenmarkDays

For those who wish to know what I'm up to this summer as I travel through Europe with my dear friend, Julia.

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That time I had a flat white every day in London, and found beautiful spots like this one #landjgrandtour #letsgoback

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A myriad of postcards later, Laurel & Julia Grand Tour comes to an end #landjgrandtour #longlivethequeen #vivelafrance #bellaitalia

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Fending away dementors #landjgrandtour #expectopatronum #uptonogood #myscarhurts

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Tube travel #landjgrandtour

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Last day of the grand tour spent in London Town #landjgrandtour #libertylondon #eyecandy #textileheaven (at Liberty London)

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Accademia, Duomo, Villa Olmi

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Lovely #landjgrandtour #villaliving #rosie

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To those who appreciate wisteria & sunshine

If London was grand and Paris noble, Florence is humble. That may seem like a letdown against two such adjectives, but I really can't think of another way to describe this city. It has a quiet beauty, with few architecturally notable buildings. Yet the antique facades and statues found together make for a rich, warm city, where small cobblestone streets lead to wide open piazzas either bustling with tourists or quiet with only a low and steady string of Italian. It has an unassuming air about it, even though it is the city of the Renaissance. One would think it'd make a bigger deal out of the fact that greats like Michelangelo and Botticelli walked these streets, but no. Florence had no airs about it whatsoever. Regarding the David, because I have to talk about him. How could I not? We found ourselves having to wake up at 6:45am to wait in the inevitable line. Sometimes, sacrifices must be made for the sake of art. We waiting in line for an hour and a half in the hot sun. All for Dave. Of course, it was worth it. Too magnanimous? Hardly. A lot of his glory has to do with the way he is displayed. You enter the Accademia, walk through a doorway, turn right, and there he is at the end of a long hall. He stands beneath an arched atrium bathed in natural light, Wedgwood blue walls with white trim accents make the David gleam in his white Carrara glory. It is a work of art anyone can appreciate, especially when one knows of the thought put into the design. Michelangelo created David with the viewer in mind. David's hand may appear huge, but it is because he was originally meant to be atop a building, so the viewer's perspective below would be more accurate to the human form. The same goes for his head. Dave's got a big cranium. Also large so that he is more lifelike from street level. He looks over his shoulder with a hint of uncertainty in his eyes, yet at the same time there is definitely an air of confidence. He knows that God is on his side. It's a scary business I'm sure when asked to defeat a giant of a man, yet when the one who has hand crafted the universe and overcome death gives you such an opportunity, how could David ignore such a call? Off to London tomorrow for one last night. Can it already be coming to an end?

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The finest example of iPad documentation I've seen thus far #landjgrandtour #worktheangle #steady

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"I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read in the train" #landjgrandtour (at Florence, Italy)

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Beautiful friend #landjgrandtour (at Florence, Italy)

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Five star sinks #landjgrandtour #villaolmi #ohmymarble

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An email home

Dear family, HOTEL DAVID IS AMAZING. Let me paint the scene: Laurel and I arrive dripping in sweat. This was no faint glow, but a torrent of moisture upon our brows. We leave the bustling street and wander into an Eden-like oasis. The receptionist greets us, welcomes us, and proceeds to tell us about all our free amenities. Free snacks and drinks in the room replenished daily, free breakfast, free appetizers and drinks in the evening, free printing access, free 10 minute phone call to the United States daily (don't get your hopes up). Basically lots of awesome free stuff. Then we go upstairs, enter our room and see a donut enshrined in a glass case in our small entryway. We walk thru and behold! A balcony! With fresh strawberries growing in the flower pots. Ripe for the picking. The view is charmingly filled with terra cotta roofs and Cyprus trees piercing the diamond blue sky, as an Italian flag blows in the gentle breeze. What bliss is this?? This, this new found paradise is Hotel David, aptly named after our own David. Dave Policano. Not only are my feet wrapped in the luxury of the free slippers, but I can enjoy the rapidity of speedy wifi. This is a first since landing on the continent. I had forgotten the power of 3 bars. Alas, we must be off to partake in the joys of shopping. Let us not say farewell, but as the French have it 'au revoir!' (Or in this case as the Italians have it 'arrivederci!') Much love, Jules

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Yesterday, we switched clothes and personalities. Why haven't we tried this sooner?

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Florence: Uffitzi Gallery, Ponte Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, Pitti Palace & Bardini Gardens

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Julia takes over the blog

We've been tearin' up Florence. Shopping. Hitting up the stores. Trying on chic designer clothing. Looking fabulous in European array. Wolfing down gelato. Livin' it up. Today Laurel and I decided to switch not only clothes, but personalities. Thus I am writing this blog post while Laurel lounges about the room eating bon bons. She insists upon wearing a sleeping mask that says 'Diva at Rest.' To help myself mentally prepare for a Laurel Brooks outlook I donned her chic black dress and necklace. It was an immediate transformation into ladylike behavior. Laurel has certainly been the most dignified member of this trip, and today I tried to emulate her poise, dignity, and witty comments, along with the careful use of wet wipes. And so we left out hostel to stroll across the River Arno to the Pitti Palace. The palace is composed of several museums, and we went to the Costume Museum, Porcelain Museum, and Silver Museum. Velvet, pearls, beading, and silk taffeta galore. Oh boy, do those corsets look uncomfortable. We loved the porcelain museum. There was also the Silver Museum. I have never seen so many bedazzled bones in reliquaries. Creepy. By far the highlight of the day was wandering into the Bandolini Gardens and feeding Laurel a bunch of grapes. She lounged, she gobbled, she indulged. All while wearing the 'Diva at Rest' sleeping mask. We immensely enjoyed the Pitti Palace filled with romantic vistas and wisteria covered paths for strolling. Tune in next time, for a letter home describing our new abode, Hotel David. Until then, Julia

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A very accurate montage of our experience so far in Florence