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This morning, Jeff and I wrapped up our Saturday morning drawing class today. Although I am certainly not good at drawing figures, I will say that I am a thousand times better than that first class. (We compared before and after shots today, but I can’t bring myself to post the before shot here.) We really enjoyed our instructor Linda, and hope to continue with her soon.

For now, here are a couple of shots from this week and last. These are typically 15-minute poses, so please don’t expect portraits…although I do believe these look like a man and a woman…so that’s a good sign 🙂

Please pardon the interruption while I order another Mai Tai.

1. I woke up in a bland hotel room in San Diego…staring at the all-too-familiar sprawl before me.

2. In spite of leaving early for my meeting, I arrived 10 minutes late because each detour I tried to avoid traffic turned out to be worst that the original route.

3. After two years, I was able to try the hole-in-the-wall Boll Weevil restaurant for a greasy lunch…I needed comfort food. (I first spotted this dive on a business trip in 2006.) Out of insane curiosity, I ordered the peanut butter and bacon burger…it was wonderful.

4. Noticed that my Blackberry is possessed. Somehow, it thinks that I have 23 THOUSAND email messages. It may need to be taken out back and shot…or at least sprinkled with holy water.

5. Flew home in time to watch the snoozer presidential debate. I’m sure I’m not the only person who wanted Sarah Palin to run across the rear of the stage in a moose costume screaming “Maverick”!!

Oh, I bet some of you thought I was DONE with Italy photos. Never fear…I’m just slow…we still have a week to go!! On Day 11, we set out from our base in Siena to drive around Tuscany. The writing from this date was a bit abbreviated, because I got some sort of food poisoning and lost the will to write 🙂 Enjoy.

Awoke to a white noise of street sounds on the old cobbled streets below our room: Vespas and small trucks transporting locals and their deliveries; pedestrians in search of capuccini; a rollie bag coming or going; a swarm of swallows feasting above.

Off into the Tuscan hills today. First stop was hilly Volterra…famous for its alabaster. Parking was scarce (but free), so we ended up at a dusty lot down the hill a bit. Turns out our lot was near an old town fountain and one of the old city gates. Steep stairway to start our visit. 80 degree temps and sun. A rooster was crowing along the city wall.

In spite of it’s must-see status, Volterra was a bit on the unimpressive side…but we made the most of it. The ancient Roman theatre and an ancient Etruscan site were the towns crown jewels. The imposing fortress was so…imposing…it was made into a prison…so it is off limits including signs to not photograph it! We did anyway. Its a fortress. A Palazzo, a variety of churches, and alabaster shops rounded out the visit. Lunch was pizza on a breezy terrace looking out over Tuscany below.

Drove to Impruneta via San Gimignano…famous for its tower-filled skyline. We had been in SG before with Cheryl and Curt, so we didn’t stop on this visit, but the vista as we passed around the town. Wound our way back to Impruneta to find the elusive terra cotta products the town is known. Still nothing open in the sleepy city center, but we found success on the way out of town. An artisan terra cotta maker with an enormous array. Found a terra cotta lion head we liked.

Returned to Siena for dinner. Discovered that on Monday night…lots closed. Tried to eat at Osteria Nonna Gina (thanks for the recommendation, Sarah)…but it was closed 🙁 Tried another favorite…also closed. Took a chance at an outdoor spot on the Piazza del Mercato: Cafe Finistra. Jeff had dishes he raved about (ravioli al ragu, chicken with rosemary, and Tuscan beans ‘faigoli bianche’). Unfortunately, I had to eat lite due to the onset of something icky. Either food poisoning or a 24-hour virus. A cold shower followed by restless sleep. I will live 🙂

Simply catching up from my trips this week. Here are two more shots in my hotel window series. The first from the Hilton Checkers in LA, and the second from the Grand Hyatt in Seattle. In all, I estimate that I have assembled and printed about 50 of these window shots. The series has far exceeded my expectations, and is turning into a nice tight collection. Who knew 🙂