i am taking lots of pictures for the caa presentation. writing seems to be impossible with my brain being absolutely exhausted still, but thank god i can walk around and document everything with the camera and fill in the information later. you can really tell which artists came from far away to participate. they have a glazed tired look in their eyes and many are saying they are sleeping 9-14 hours a day to catch up on the time change. me, i am trying to get out as much as possible and photograph all that i can. my sprained ankle is healing and i have kept walking all these days, thank god i brought some bottle of essential oils which has helped with the healing.

backtracking the Florence Biennale, an honorary award was given to a Chinese artist and he unveiled his latest art piece which was a huge ugly image of Arnold Schwarzenegger. an Italian woman spoke up and said that she was quite offended, and what would have happened to him if he had done this same image with one of the leaders from his own country. he didn’t really answer the question...
awards will be given to all categories of the arts. there are 74 American artists here i believe
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in front of the Uffuzi Museo there are incredible mimes that dress up like old statues and when a coin is put in their box they move very slowly, amazing, and a little scary! it took awhile but i finally went up to the angle mime who gently kissed my hand, he was so ethereal and beautiful! fantastic sculptures in front of museum also of famous influential artists, musicians, scientists, botanists, etc. beautiful sculptures!

i walked early morning around the city when it was still dark photographing the city, very quiet after the big weekend which brings in thousands of tourists. the Christmas decorations are modest but adds additional charm to the already beautiful city.

its an exciting day here as the president was attacked yesterday, an Italian threw a milan duamo statue at him and hit him in the face. it was all over the news last night on the television and today in the news papers.

they love American music, movies and jeans here, they love Abbott and Costello movies, the never ending story and the matrix. those movies keep being played over and over on the television late at night.

well, i must get out of the city to a small village Fiesole before it gets dark, i hear there are Etruscan ruins.

caio caio, kim