4/25/16

Hello Paris! Eiffel! Mona!

My first stop in Europe is Paris, France. I settled into my evening flight and when I woke up we were landing in Paris, a very beautiful city. The bread is delicious from any cafe. But I had to be quick to grab a crumb before I was swatted away! So I headed over to the Eiffel Tower, my first stop for a spectacular view of the city. But my main reason for coming here was to visit the Louvre Museum. And today I finally got as close as I could to crawling across the ambiguous smile of the mysterious woman, Mona Lisa. Then security escorted me out. She is behind glass, so I don't know why they were so grumpy! Anyways, The Mona Lisa is Leonardo Da Vinci's most famous work of art. She is a masterfully painted portrait. The world has been fascinated with her because her identity has been a mystery.
Do you think her portrait demonstrates symmetry? Look at me, I am a perfect example of symmetry. But I'm not bragging!

Mona Who?
To find out more read this!

Mona Lisa is property of the Louvre Museum, Paris

For four centuries historians have debated the identity of the artist's subject. New research has supported a claim first made in 1550: that she was Lisa Gherardini, the wife of a wealthy silk merchant Francesco del Giocondo, who had five children.

Giuseppe Pallanti, a teacher from Florence, who has spent 25 years researching the city's archives, has discovered the first clear evidence that Da Vinci's family was closely connected to the silk trader, Ser Francesco del Giocondo, who married Lisa Gherardini in 1495.

Leonardo Da Vinci's Mona Lisa, will remain the world's most enduring symbol of feminine mystique.

2/4/16

Year of the Monkey!

Hey everyone! Charlie here, still in China. The tradition of the New Year in China is something I am excited to learn about. I have flown to Beijing now to see a Chinese New Year parade. 2016 is the year of the Monkey. On our calendar the first day of Chinese New Year is February 8. Please enjoy the videos about how this holiday came to be! Remember to find where I visit on my map at the bottom of the page!

Beijing Facts

Th population is over 11 million people. Beijing is the capital of China.

It has a history that dates back 3,000 years! The 2008 Summer Olympics were hosted by Beijing.

Charlie's Beginnings

It all started in a school art room during the 2014-15 school year when a stinkbug distracted students from working on their art projects. The art teacher revealed to the students that this stinkbug was his friend named Charlie. He also assured his students that Charlie just liked to be around the creative process; he loved art. Also, it was best to not worry about Charlie and yell out about him because this scared him and if he came close, they might smell his cheap and stinky cologne. The students that saw Charlie quickly got used to him.

One day after the weather grew cold and it was winter in Pittsburgh, some students noticed that Charlie was not around any more. One student asked the art teacher where Charlie was, because they could not see him anywhere in the art room. The art teacher told them that Charlie had left and gone to Florida for the winter, of course.

Later in the school year, when the snow was gone, baseball season had started, and students and teachers started thinking more and more about summer, Charlie the Stink Bug returned to the art room. Most of the students were happy to see him, as long as he did not fly around the room and let them smell his bad cologne. To the surprise of the art teacher, Charlie had not just spent the winter in Florida. Charlie, who is an artist and art lover, had spent those months traveling to see important works of art.

And this was only the beginning.

Charlie the (Traveling Artist) Stink Bug

Charlie's Trips