The Uffizi

The Uffizi Museum building used to be the offices of the Medici family, it took 20+ years to build in the mid 1500's.Uffizi means "offices" in Italian. Over time, the top floor became a family gallery for artwork they'd collected. 

In the mid 1700's, the very last person in the Medici family (a wise woman named Anna Maria) bequeathed the family art collection and buildings to the Tuscan State. It was no small gift, one Stradivarius violin in the collection is worth 1.5 million euros. In her infinite wisdom she stipulated that the art never be moved out of the area and that it was to be "for the utility of the public and to attract the curiosity of foreigners."

She nailed it. 

This was the line for ppl who pre purchased tickets so they wouldn't have to wait in line.

This is the bitch is looking down at us peons standing on one foot and then the other in lines that seem to never end.

We'd done a little prep work prior to visiting the museum so we'd know at least a little about what we were going ot see. I was into it, checking out the difference between oils and temperas, looking at the lack of brush strokes, seeing who got perspective and who was still working on it. I looked over at Tata about two hours in and his eyes were glazed over. He admitted to being a bit bored, "it seems like we're just seeing the same things over and over again."

Dude! No we're not!

You got your peaceful bebe Jesus.

Bebe Jesus' first Halloween.

Distracted bebe Jesus.

Bebe Jesus sees his first bird and nearly faints.

I don't even know what to say about this bebe Jesus.

Bebe Jesus ate a strobere and wants more.

Innovative Mary props chubby bebe Jesus up on a wheat pillow.

Bebe Jesus destroys his first book.

We made our way down the steps soon after Ev confessed and chose a book about the museum in the gift shop. A used copy is on order from Abe's books and is on its way to our home. 

I've always been a big fan of Mary, I'm hoping the book explains why she's always depicted staring off into space completely dissociated from what is happening around her. I love the characters in the paintings that are looking right at me or are at least engaged with each other.

Bebe Jesus eats a pomegranate.

Bebe Jesus wondering what he did to make his mom pass out.

Before we headed back to the hotel, we ducked into a little teensy restaurant and had another unnaturally orange drink and this delicious snack. Then steak for him, goat cheese pasta for me.

Another great day.