Dream, Create, Inspire

We drove to Radicondoli and did a farm stay. So serene and quiet with indeed a red Tuscany sun. We shared dinners and stories with the owners of the farm and other guests. Can’t describe the magic of this place.

The beginning of our time in Tuscany. Starting with Florence… Michaelangelo’s David was impressive. The Cathedral and all the Renaissance paintings and statues reminded me how rich in art this area is. So awesome to walk the same cobbled streets that the Medici (bankers and politicians) and artisians did. It is a beautiful city indeed.

What an interesting place. 5 small villages that you can hike to. Some paths were closed, but we did 2 of them First one was difficult… lots of rocky steps. Took over 2 hours. But beautiful views.

Took the train back to Vernazza where we were staying (thank goodness).

Next day tried a different trail from Vernazza to Corniglia. This was an easier hike. It took us 2 hours, of course with stops for pictures and a drink at the halfway cafe.

All these are very small villages with 350 to 500 or so people each. The villages are on the coast and are built on the cliffs of mountains. The people work hard, but love to play soccer, eat, drink wine, swim, fish and farm. Gotta love them.

The Picasso Museum in Madrid showed how his artistry evolved from a youngster to adulthood. At 13 years of age Picasso was drawing portraits.

Then he drew scenery and objects.

You could see how he started painting more abstract.

One of his most famous is Guernica.

And this one of his friend and colleague.

This also shows an evolution of his paintings starting from his portraits to his friend.

I think Picasso’s abstract paintings make you see more than meets the eye. Symbolism and metamorphosis come into play giving deeper meaning.

He was born the same day as me (Oct.25), so I feel a special connection to him… though I can only bask in the shade of his glory.

Wow… such a traumatic experience going to Guernica Museum. It left me wondering what lessons we can take away from them. I think the hard truth is that men can be truely evil and they also can be good. We have choices on how to live our lives. Martin Luther King chose his path as did Hitler. No matter what kind of circumstances we encounter we always have a choice. To me kindness is the better way. Even in our seemingly uneventful lives we can make a difference in our choices. Speak kind… soften your tone and realize that in the scope of things those little irratants don’t really matter. What does is how we deal with them and how we choose to relate to the people and things around us. An anonymous wise Indo-American saying from the museum is:
Only when the last tree is dead, when the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will you realize that you cannot eat money. May we realize these things before it is too late.