Day one of my course dawned fine. When I got up at 6am Roberto was already up and he went out while I was having breakfast.
Walked to Enrica Barozzi's Atelier (and house) starting at about 8:30 so I would the there in plenty of time - even if I got lost. The street was easy enough to find but finding the house was a challenge as they have two numbering systems. Eventually I tried what I thought was the right number but was told that the red numbers are for shops and the black numbers for houses. Easy enough to find after that but what a strange system.
I arrived at the studio at just on 9am and started work with Enrica straight away. The first project is a carved frieze with leaf decorations and it was in at the deep end with Enrica demonstrating and explaining and then handing the tools over to me. Enrica speaks about as much English as I do Italian but we get by ok. A little while later the other student - Daria - arrived and started in on here project. Daria, who is Turkish, started a week ago so is more advanced than I am.
We worked solidly until about 1pm and then broke for a welcome lunch break. So long on the feet - worse than a 5 hour walk! Lunch was a pizza at a nearby pizzeria so dinner will be very light - probably toast from the loaf I bought last evening.
I am not terribly happy with the accommodation they lined up for me. Roberto smokes some ghastly cigarillos which stinks the place out and I don't like passive smoking. Also there is no wifi so I can't easily find out what is on so I can get out of the place. I may try to find a hotel tomorrow and to hell with the expense.
Florence is fine, sunny, warm, and already full of people. Don't know what it will be like in high season.
Update on accommodation. I have bitten the bullet and spent more of the kid's inheritance and moved into The Hotel Lungarno for the remainder of my stay here.
