Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Day 25, we are home!

A dream come true ended on day 25. After over 3000 pictures, countless miles of walking, 26 blog posts, 25 coffees, 14 water buses, 14 historic monuments, 10 world-famous museums, 9 taxis, 8 major churches, Basilicas, and cathedrals, 6 piazzas, 6 terra cotta sculptures, 6 frescoes, 5 planes, 5 cities, 3 masses, 3 gelatos, 2 intensive fine art courses, 2 Graffitos, 2 castles, and 1 grotto, we are finally home. This was truly a trip of a lifetime. Thank you Fund For Teachers, Katy Art & Frame, MGE PTA, Bonnie Holland Elementary and Griffin Elementary for your support in making this educational voyage a reality. It was breath taking, enriching, inspirational, delicious and at times, it felt like the amazing race. Every step walked on ancient cobble stone streets, up and down hills, and across historic bridges was well worth it as we know that our students will have an amazing enriching school year next year. We are happy to report that our artwork made it home safely! The following pictures are a summary of our trip, the wonderful places and people we met along the way. We often thought about posting an imaginary "alternate ending", where we stay in Europe and live artfully ever after....but as Dorothy says in the Wizzard of Oz... "There is no place like home"! If you enjoyed our blog, you may want to check back in on Monday. Mrs. Rounds and I will post some of our favorite bloopers from this trip. Thanks for following our blog!

























































 

 

 

 


Monday, July 1, 2013

Day 24, Monday July 1, Mona Mania

Today was spectacular!  We journeyed to the Louvre museum where many of the greatest works of art are housed.  "Mona Lisa" was our first major stop.  It was an interesting feeling to see hundreds of people gathered together to view one single masterpiece.  I was able to snap a picture of Mrs Orendorff and her new best friend "Mona" as the crowd circled.  We continued our day with works by Antonio Canova, Michelangelo, Donatello, Girodet, Broc, Botticelli, Fra Angelico, DaVinci, Raphael and many more famous artists.  We enjoyed the sculptures of  "Victoire de Samothrace" and Antonio Canova's "The Kiss".  I wanted to bring them home to show my students the amazing techniques that these artists mastered but the Louvre security wouldn't let me.  So I bought a poster and several postcards!  We are packing tonight to head back to Katy in the morning.  Check out tomorrows blog for the last post in our 25 day learning adventure!