PHOTOS: Festa del Redentore

Redentore is a Venetian holiday that commemorates the end of a plague in the 16th century. The city builds a bridge from the main island to the Redentore church on Isola Giudecca and puts on a fantastic fireworks show. It was such a good time.

PHOTOS: Castello Miramare, Trieste

Here are a few photos (in no particular order) from our intern trip this month. We went way up north of Italy to a city called Trieste and visited Castello Miramare. It was one of the most beautiful places I have ever been.

PROFILE: My favorite (only) Aussies

Australians are such lovely people. They are also they reason I just used the word "lovely". From left to right: Jilly, Rebecca, Cam and Kelly.

Jilly: Jilly is a rising junior at Wheaton College in Massachusetts. Like the other three in this picture, she is originally from Sydney, Australia. Jilly has a serious appreciation for food and is forever poring over guide books and reviews to find the best of everything. She is also a fabulous hostess. She and Marianna, another intern, have had two parties so far, and they have both been beautiful and tons of fun. For their most recent party, Jilly made a heirloom tomato and watermelon salad with feta and arugula. Yummm.

Rebecca: Rebecca is the big sister I never had. I am inspired by and in awe of her. She is absolutely wonderful, full of life and infectious energy. Adults love her, children love her, and she is the most enjoyable of friend to have. Rebecca has her Master's in art history and curatorial studies from the University of Sydney, and she is currently working in a contemporary Asian art gallery in New York. I miss her desperately.

Cam: Cam is the most mature, interesting and well-traveled 18-year-old I have ever met. He has model good looks and a heart of gold. A hug or smile from Cam will cheer you up in a split-second and conversations with him are delightful. He always wears acid-washed jeans, and his mother is a famous sex therapist. Those two things are not related. He is exceptionally intelligent and thoughtful, especially considering that he just graduated from high school. I look forward to seeing how his life unfolds.

Kelly: Kelly, like Rebecca, also has her Master's in art history and curatorial studies from Sydney University. She moved to Berlin after her stint at the Guggenheim ended last month. Kelly was such a huge help to me when I first arrived in Venice. As an assistant to my supervisors, her job was to make sure that all of us newbies were settling in nicely. She is an extremely warm and kind person, a great friend to have.

Well, that's a brief introduction to my favorite Aussies. My only Aussies, actually, hahaha. I hope you have enjoyed "meeting" them.

Love,

L

View from the PGC's roof terrace

Sigh.

Yoko Ono is following me around

First at JFK, then at the PGC. I can't shake her.























Yoko at the PGC in front of the tree she gave Peggy, June 2009

And the settling continues

Hello all,

As I reported a week or so ago, things have really settled down here in Venice. I get more and more used to living here every day. My greatest 'I live here' moment was last week, when I sought out, purchased and assembled a fan for my room. It became too sticky and hot to sleep without one. Whilst navigating the alleys, consulting salespeople and following assembly directions in Italian, I felt quite independent.

Everything is going swimmingly over at the PGC. I have my first paid tour July 19. I will be guiding 30 college students around the entire collection for an hour. This is a pretty big step for me as an intern; it signifies my veteran status, if you will. Another exciting thing is that I have a meeting next week with our publications department. Hopefully I will become an assistant up in the offices and my days guarding the galleries will end. I would rather spend four hours designing rather than standing around. In conclusion, I am doing what always do: making my skills known and making things happen.

It is strange to think that I am almost halfway done with this internship. In some ways time has flown, but mostly it has passed at a modest pace. The first two weeks of July have not been as action-packed as the first weeks in June, and the new interns are not as fun as the old ones. I think all of these things have slowed the days down a bit, which is OK, I guess. I don't want to return to the States and start my adult life yet, but I do miss all of you at home.

Well, everyone, I have to go. I am at work right now, and I have to give a break to one of my fellow interns. I hope all of you are having fabulous summers where ever you are. Ciao for now.

Love,

L

LIST: Interns and their Countries

INTERNS (New ones in bold)

Australia: Jilly
Canada: Nico
France: Anna and Santiago (who is Peggy's great-grandson)
Great Britian: Rachel
Greece: Kelley
Holland: Stefanie
Italy: Marta, Anita, Cecilia, Barbara, Antonio, 2 Giulias
Malta: Matthew
Mexico: Angie
Serbia: Nevena
Spain: Angela
Switzerland: Brigitte
Turkey: Sena
USA: Lila, Marianna, Whitney, John, Maud, Caroline, Renee, Me!