#Italian Pavillion

[notbecauseofvictories]

obssessed with Mark Pavillion XIII being paranoid and also correct. The Cassandra of gazebo researchers!! This is the peril of being annoying at local government meetings! (anyway I now need this novel too, please write it thank you in advance)

The worst part---or the second worst part, since the first worst part is obviously the fact that the gazebos will rise up once more and demand a bloody toll for all the years of peace they bestowed on their less-than-grateful adherents---is that Mark Jr. has to eventually come down off the stage. He has to stick his poster-board charts under his arm, and catch the bus, take that to the train, and then wait for his cousin Sam to pick him up at the station.

He has to go to family dinner. That's definitely the second worst part, after the probable large-scale slaughter.

There's nothing Mark hates more than the sight of the whole Pavillion clan, gathered around the table. Boasting about their recent schemes to coax garage bands out from basements, charm puppeteers into taking a gig that's long past any child's bedtime. They are the Pavillions, after all! Marcus Pavillion the First was there, he worked with President Washington himself to create the first American gazebo; he corresponded with the Italian masters of the casina, married a woman from the Bavarian Schöns ("The Dianatempel was ours, did you know?" Mark's mother liked to say at parties, then smile coyly.) The Pavillions have been keepers almost as long as there have been structures to keep, theirs is a rich and storied history.

........Mark does not appreciate this. Mark spends most of his time at the kid's table, trying to avoid conversation about whether gazebos prefer to eat in solitary dignity, or to tear into a visiting chamber ensemble with a full audience. It makes him uncomfortable when Kimmy, his youngest cousin, starts scrawling red lines around her smiling clown---"He's being eaten!" she says cheerfully.

Mark does not ask follow up questions.

The problem---after problems one and two, already mentioned---is that he doesn't know if there's any stopping this. With the odd exception (e.g., the 2004 incident that resulted in Hurridge, Minnesota being carefully removed from US maps) gazebos seem content these days to snack on the occasional piano player, with a couple rambunctious kids as an digestif. But Mark has been tracking these things. He knows that the incidents are gathering closer together, both in time and in location. He knows they're getting less easy to predict, less easy to hide, less easy to excuse. His family might sit around the table and complain about keeping 4-5 gazebos happy, but Marcus Pavillion died trying to appease just one. Those times will come again---are coming. Are here. Mark's got the numbers to prove it.

Walking back from the bus stop, Mark finds himself looking up and---suddenly stops dead outside a lot that's been vacant almost as long as he's lived in this neighborhood. There's a safety fence around the property now, and silhouetted in the light is a brand new sign. UNDER CONSTRUCTION, the sign states, above a sketchy outline of a park. COMING SOON!

In the center of the picture sits a gazebo.

[gattmammon]

The Biennale di Venezia is letting Israel set up their pavillion as usual but have refused to sponsor the Palestine Museum! I have been going for almost a decade but I guess this year i will miss it. The only article i found discussing this is in italian, but i am at least certain that the Israel exhibit will go on as usual as its listed and described on the website itself.

Since the Biennale didn't have Russia partecipate and assigned the Lion to Ukraine as a political gesture in 2022 i was hoping they would be vaguely gesturing in the direction of justice here as well but nope.

[zurich-snows]

Roberto Cuoghi, Imitazione di Cristo (The Imitation of Christ), fragment from the figures of Christ recomposed on a dark wall; photos © Tanya Rusnak

info

[semioticapocalypse]

John Phillips. Italian Pavillion at the New York world's fair. New York. 1940

[::SemAp Twitter || SemAp::]

[justneedsalittlework]

Beautiful little Rally Car Alfa Romeo spotted at the Pavillions cruise night, Scottsdale, Arizona.

[ccollova]

#CannesFilmFestival #FestivalduFilm 71ème Festival Du Film #Italian #Pavillion #Italy #Cinema #film #financing #production #distribution #business #meetings #work #deals #ilovemyjob (at Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic Cannes)

[sciderman]

it's the expo in the emirates? if so plz visit the italian pavillion for me :')

the queue for Italy is MASSIVE but I will try my best for you @casual-asexual my beloved,, I have a pass until the end of the season so none of the countries are safe from me

[archidose]

Proposal for the italian pavillion at the Universal Exhibition, 1969

by Archizoom

[carmesine]

Huge prints from Giacomo Costa at the italian pavillion.

[scandinaviancollectors]

ETTORE SOTTSASS, The Ettore Sottsass Pavillion at the Museo dell’Arredo Contemporaneo, Ravenna, Italy 1988. / Musei Italiani

[gabiwnomagic]

I’ll help some more! I see you speak Italian. Are you a native speaker? If not, when did you learn and why did you want to learn?

🥺🥺🥺

I am not a native speaker but I started taking Italian during my sophomore year of college. I totally had no desire to learn it but I had to fill my college's language requirements. It slowly grew on me and I then proceeded in 2017 to study abroad in Florence for the summer and then Rome for the rest of the semester. (About 6months total) and during this time I took Italian immersion courses. It was amazing and I miss Italy all the time. Unfortunately, I've forgotten alot of my Italian because I don't have anyone to practice with ): most Italians I've met speak English really well and prefer to use it instead of hearing someone stumble over their words- it's understandable😂

I had one chance to go back to Rome in 2018 but I opted to do the Disney College Program instead. They put me in Epcot World Showcase so I did get to eavesdrop a bit on the Italian castmembers from the Italy Pavillion on the bus to the parking lot 😂😂😂 I remember once after working at one of the food stalls that served scallops, one of the Italian castmembers proclaimed loudly to their friends that they didn't think I had taken a shower in 100 years, in reference to me and how the scallops' smell must've lingered on my clothes. They had no idea I could understand them 😂😂😂

[spidxysense]

Back to You | 05

Summary: He broke your heart, but you’d always love him. Two souls that not even the universe could tear apart, even if you wanted it to at times.

Pairing: Tom Holland x Reader

A/N: Am I late on the friday to sunday update??? Hope you guys enjoy this one. I'm trying to find a common ground of making the new character likeable, but not too attachable, right now all i've accomplished is neither of those two lol. ENJOY!!!!!!!

Word count: 3,782

Prologue | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

You pull on your hood as you already felt the knots in your hair getting  caught in the wind as you ran. Your phone was stuffed in your pocket but you already felt it vibrating. Once you run past the curb, you finally see it, the small Italian bistro. Rushing inside, there’s just a single table in the middle occupied by people and they all turn to look at you.

One of the men stand up, “Oh, Y/N, darling, hello.” He gives you a cheek to cheek kiss as you stared at them in confusion, “I thought you weren’t going to make it so I had Armie calling you for a while now.” He nods towards Armie, “My name is Luca, and I have wanted to meet you for a LONG time now.” His accent was thick but endearing.

You nod, bringing your hands down on your thighs, “Are we gonna do a readthrough today?” You shook your head, “Sorry, my assistant and I have just been very confused since we got in last night and the cab I rode dropped me off like 5 blocks away from here and they don’t have lyft-”

Luca laughs out loud, “This girl.” He gestured towards you while looking at his assistant, “She is in the every place! I love her. Get her number.” He pulls you to the table to sit down.

“For now, we eat.” He calls over a waiter, “I don’t believe in read throughs, the emotions we go for here are raw.” He does this strange opening and closing movement with his hand near his chest, “For it to be raw, you must feel it in the moment.” Waiters bring in the food already pre-ordered, “Nothing but the best for my beautiful cast. Later, you audition, and I decide if I keep you.”

You put down your fork, “Oh, wait, I’m sorry, I thought I was already cast?”

Luca wags his finger, “No no dear, there is no such sure thing in this world. We gave you option, you choose the option and now we decide if we choose you. You already take the leap,what more can you lose now?”

You look across the table, a boy you’ve never met but you recognize catches your eye, his head is dow,only every now and then lifting it up to laugh with Armie or Luca, “Absolutely nothing.” You offer Luca a tight smile right as Timothee looks up from his plate to look at you.

Armie reaches his arm out, “The audition is no big deal,Y/N. Just the fact that Luca chose you to be here in Italy with us, is already a big deal,he’ll probably just have you do a scene with one of us to test if the chemistry is there.”

You nod in understanding,”I’m in one of the most beautiful places in the world, what do I even have to complain about?”

Luca slams his hand on the table, making everyone else jump in surprise, “Exactly!” He points at Timothee, “What does your New York have on this beautiful place? Pollution and rats and baseball of the socks and are red and these yan-keys what even is that about?! We have art and classical beauty here!” the whole table bursts out in laughter.

Timothee chuckles nervously, “Oh, it’s beautiful alright.”

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You’re all gathered in Luca’s villa,a couple of streets away from the villa that Armie and his wife were living in for the meantime, “Okay! Here’s how it  goes! I want Y/N and Timothee in a room with me, I want to see the sparks between the two, if there are any.”

Timothee leads the way to the small pavillion in the middle of Luca’s villa, just outside the door by the kitchen while everyone else relaxes and chats amongst themselves, including Tina, your manager who’s already talking excitedly with Armie and his wife. Luca pulls you by the wrist while Timothee’s already sat in front of the fountain.

Luca claps happily, “Very good Timothee.” He looks at you, “He understands the importance of the setting. If you two were on chairs in front of a table, it is less captivating than in front of say a fountain or pond. We give you all the range to choose where you want to shoot. Okay? Okay.”

You sit next to Timothee who’s already sitting comfortably, one leg up on the brick walls while the other was stretched out, showcasing just how tall he was and his arm was drawn back, lifting up his weight as it settled on the area behind him, as opposed to you who was sat stiffly, your hands in your lap, but no matter how comfortable he looked you already felt the tension he was feeling as he looked anywhere and everywhere but your direction. Luca pulls up a seat directly in front of you two, and gives a satisfied clap, he holds his index finger and thumb on both hands in a rectangle and captures the two of you in it.

“Exactly how I pictured Celia and Elio.” He sighs, “Elio is more laid back, having years of love and attraction on his plate while Celia is doe eyed and nervous as she explores this new place. It is not her first romace, but as you know there are so many kinds of love in this world.” He taps his chin, “I give you no lines. I give you context.” You look over at Timothee who was focused on Luca, nodding so you nod as well,he wanted the two of you improvise a scene.

“I want a scene that will break my heart for both Celia and Elio, but I want them to want different people.” He thinks, “I want especially to feel with Celia because we already know Elio from the first movie. Okay? Start when ready.” He crosses one of his legs over the other, and presses the record button on the camera on the tripod next to him and brings his notebook up while his pen lingers on the page.

You take a deep breath, Timothee was probably already in character as he stared out into the orange skies.

“I love you.” Your breath is shakey, nervous and quiet, afraid to be rejected by this boy.

He sighs, letting his head fall and then peaks at you from that anga, “You love the idea of me.” He’s talking so casually yet his words are filled with a wisdom, he shrugs, an air of arrogance aroumd him, “I know. I’ve been there.” He chuckled up at the sky, “A few years ago, I was you. You’re just some wide’eyed girl who believes this could be more than what it really is and when I give you what you want and eventually leave you, you end up like me.”

You stare down at your lap and shake your head, “No. This isn’t that.” You look back up at him, “Whatever that was, whoever that was that hurt you, I know…” You clutch your hands near your head, “I know you wouldn’t, you couldn’t hurt me. Not like that.” You shook your head.

You turn your body towards him as you catch him hitch his breath a quick second before he’s back in the scene, “But I will.” His voice cracks in tears.

“I don’t care.” You try to reason, “I’ll take it. However many times over you break my heart.” Your voice gets caught in your throat as the scene became more and more real by the second, you feel the tears prick your eyes, “Because I know this love, to allow soeone to hurt you like this, I know this is worth fighting for. I know, I felt it in the kiss yesterday-”

“That was nothing.” He snaps, “That meant nothing.” He runs a hand throgh his hair, "That kiss was just a kiss and I gave it to you because you were just there and in that moment, you were the most beautiful girl I had ever seen.” his voice softens.

Your voice goes quiet, “You’re a coward.” You accuse him, “You’re so scared of being hurt again that you’ve closed this off.” You point an accusing finger at his chest, “To everyone and anyone who cold ever love you.” The tears start falling from your eyes, down your cheeks, “When you kissed me yesterday, I felt everything in my being of who I was and who I could be, who I wanted to be with you and I never want to let go of that. Not when you’re with me, and I know. I know you felt it too.”the tears kept flowing down your cheeks as you stared at him intently.

He leans down, holding your neck in his hand and connects his lips with yours. He licks your bottom lip as you open your mouth letting him in, you bring your hands to his hair, tangling your fingers in his locks, pulling him closer as you both deepen the kiss, and then it happens. You remember Tom, you remember the phone call with him before the plane left as he comforted you because he knew you were a nervous flyer, how he just kept telling you to keep breathing, you remember telling him about how you didn’t feel like you should even go through with this role and him reassuring you that you were made for the role and you would do so great because he knew in his heart you’d made the right choice, and that has you pulling away. Timothee opens his eyes slowly, suddenly turning into a nervous wreck, his ears down to his collar bones turning tomato red.

“L-luca, hey Luca, how was that?” He turns his head in Luca’s direction only to find him with his back turned to the two of you as he talked on his phone.

Luca looks behind him, “That was magnificent.” He claps his hands, “I felt for Celia, less for Elio, so you work on that.” He hums, “I like the kiss at the end, but the moment you two connected lips I had to take a call, what made you do that, Timmy?”

Timothee bites his bottom lip, red and plump and just fresh from a makeout, courtesy of you, “I don’t know, man.” He messes up his hair, “She just looked so sad, and it was like, all I remember was that it hurt, seeing her hurt."

“You two.” He points at the both of you, “Are like magnets. Attracting each other. It is captivating to watch you two together. So much so that I have half mind to change the ending.” He starts walking back inside as Timothee wordlessly follows him, “I see you on Monday, we look at places to film and get to know the cast and crew. Tomorrow, you rest or do whatever it is you want.” Luca waves behind him at you.

They leave you behind by that fountain as you rubbed your lips, “Wow.”

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You’re sat in the bath when your phone rings, and without looking at it, you answer it, “Hello?”

“Y/N, hey.” The voice on the other end is deep and groggy so to make sure who you thought called actually called, you looked at the  caller ID.

“Tom? Have you just gotten up? It’s like 11 am there.”

He yawns, “No, no I had to go to LA yesterday for a meeting I had with the Russos, so it’s around 3 in the morning here.”

Your eyes widen in shock, “Tom, you should be in bed.” You splash here and there, “Why are you still up? Jetlag?”

He sighs, “I AM in bed, I slept at 8 earlier, I just woke up, so no jetlag. I just wanted to hear your voice. Make sure you were fine over there.” He pauses, “Are you in the bath?”

“Oh, yeah. I was gonna go out, go biking maybe.”

He hums, “You guys haven’t started filming yet?”

“No, not yet. I think it’s a month of preparation and we start shooting next month, for now we’re all getting to know each other and explore Italy.”

His line was quiet, like he was thinking of what he was going to say next, “That sounds like that completing that movie with Timothee is gonna take long time.” You didn't like the way he said Timothee, like he didn't want to, like there was insinuation in his tone, a hidden message he couldn't or didn't want to tell you.

You shrug, realizing he couldn’t see you, “Maybe, but I kind of feel good about this now.” You smile into the phone, “Go to bed, Thomas.” You laugh.

He chuckles as well, “Yeah, yeah. Fine, fine. Have a great day, Y/N.”

You and your assistant currently stayed at a small hotel, that only allowed guests to stay for a couple of days so come Monday, you would need to find somehwhere else to stay which is what you were planning on doing today. You walk down the stairs only to find Armie and Timothee sat at the cafe only turning in your direction when they feel they were being watched.

“Ah,Y/N. We were just waiting for you, we wanted to go around Italy, would you like to join us?” Armie grins over at you.

You look over at Timothee who quickly moves his gaze when you meet his eyes, you nod slowly as you walk towards the door, and they instantly get up, following you, Timothee leaves first, and right when you’re about to step out the door, Armie moves in closer to you, “Timothee specifically asked me if we could take you along today.” He gives you a wink, giving you an enthusiastic slap to the shoulder as you look out the door at Timothee who was leaning against the car with his hands in his pockets as he waited for you.

“Are you guys taking a car?” You unlock the chain on the bike you bought yesterday, “I was going to take my bike to ride around since some of the streets are too small for a car.”

Timothee looks at you, sighs and goes to the driver side of the car to talk with Armie before Armie comes out, “That’s actually such a great idea.” Armie points out, “Luca would love that for monday. I think there’s a bike shop around the corner here.”

“Yeah, that’s where I bought this one.” You put your bag in the basket,dragging your bike next to you as you followed them tothe store.

-----------------

The three of you biked around the small village you all were currently occupying for the main location of the film where every so often you’d stop and ask about apartments or hotels, none of them really appealing to you while the boys would stop with you to take pictures or to get something to eat here and there throughout the day, you’d notice strange quirks about Timothee who barely talked around you, these  quirks, you decided, would be called Timothee Trivia.

You walk back to the boys, they were sat on a bench where Timothee was adjusting his socks.

Timothee Trivia #1: He usually wore mismatched socks, preferably worn at uneven lengths.

Armie finises his water bottle in one gulp, breathing heavy, “Guys, I’m fit, but I don’t think I can keep up with you kids for much longer.” He takes a deep inhale, “Did you find what you were looking for?”

You shook your head, “These apartments are just too far from the set or are only available for weeks at a time.” You sigh.

Armie reaches out and grabs you by the wrist, “Wait, you were looking for a place to stay this whole time?”

You nod, “The hotel Tina and I are in right now only let us stay up to Monday morning, we have to find somewhere else to stay.”

He grabs his hair, chuckling breathlessly, “Y/N! You can stay with us! My wife and I have a villa here, even Timmy lives there.” He pats you on the head.

You lift your head, “Seriously? Oh my god, are you serious?”

He shrugs, “Of course I am, in fact, I’ll call Tina and tell er to check the two of you out now and move your things to the villa.” He laughs, “We have so many open rooms. Right, Timmy?” He nudges Timothee.

Timothee just gives you a glance then gets on his bike, leading the way.

Timothee Trivia # 2: Timothee probably hates me.

You get on, following Timothee as Armie tries to reason with you, “He’s not like this. Not normally.”

You shrug, “Yeah, because he hates me.”

He laughs out loud, “Trust me, Timmy doesn’t hate you.” He moves ahead a little, “Timmy wanted us to look at this location we found for the movie last year but never ended up using.”

After 15 minutes of biking along a lumpy road away from the main streets, they’ve abandoned their clothes and bikes on the ground as they climbed a somewhat high ledge. Looking at this sight, it made you want to just stay here for hours, just sitting by the water and talking about whatever. You think about a certain English boy who you would love to do that with, the same one who would be swinging off the rope tied to the tree branch and into the water. Tom would love it here.

Your phone dings, a notification from instagram, Tom's alerts on your phone were still on and his notification on you probably were? You didn't actually know.

tomholland2013 has recently posted a new photo

You bite your lip, would this be counterproductive to look at this? Your finger hovers over the notification, but you pull it away, maybe going on social media isn't the best idea right now, not when you've got this beautiful view in front of you with two attractive boys who are about to jump from a ledge and swim towards you, but looking at a picture never hurt anyone anyway. You press the notification and instantly, your heart drops.

The picture was of Tom in bed, the caption reading:

"I miss your everything."

You gulp, over the heart button, maybe letting him know that you saw and understood his picture and caption would help your case a little?-

“Y/N!!!!” You look up at the ledge, Armie was already waving at you and calling you over.

You shrug, “I’ll just take your picture!” You yell back, raising your phone.

But he isn’t having it, as he keeps calling you over, making loud hoots and hollars, "Leave the damn phone!" You look at your opened instagram, right before dropping it onto the patch of grass and making your way up the ledge.

“We jump, you jump.” Armie jumps off without another word from you.

You look over at Timothee, who was just sitting on the ledge, shirt off and in his boxers, “Do I have to jump?”

He gives you a strange look, “Do you not want to?”

You felt strange, like he was judging you, “I get nervous.” You shrug, “Not that I don’t want to, I just can’t.”

“But you can.” He states noncholantly, “I mean…” He fully turns towards you, leaning his weight on his hands placed on the rocks behind him, “If you really wanted something, you ‘d never let anything get in the way. Nothing’s stopping you from jumping off this ledge. And honestly, if you do, that’s just one more second you’ve lived more than if you don’t.” You blink at him, as he stands up, you approach him and stop in front of him, your arms crossed in front of your chest.

“Why do I feel like you're judging me?” You take his silence as a cue to continue, "You look at me like I don't belong here.

He shrugs, “You don't." He shakes his head, realizing he's been misunderstood, "I mean you don't belong anywhere, and you most definitely don't belong to anyone, but here you are acting like someone's pulling on a leash around your neck the moment you get to make your own decisions.” He chuckles, “What are you so afraid of wen it’s literally just you and me up here?” He reaches up to hold his reddening ears for a few seconds before letting go, "Point is, you're missing more from just watcjing us live life instead of actually living life."

Timothee Trivia # 3: His ears turn red when he gets embarrassed.

“If you’re done flirting, my wife texted me that Luca wants us to be at dinner in an hour, so let’s urry it up.” Armie’s already fully dressed, his shorts soaking wet.”

You suddenly get defensive, “I wasn’t flirting with him.”

Timothee blinks, “Wish you had been, though.” he shrugs sheekily, walking bacjward to the ledgr and then he’s gone off and jumped.

Timothee Trivia # 4: Timothee might actually be a flirt.

You take a peak below, Timothee wasn’t getting out the water, maybe not until you jumped. You sigh, untying your converse and siging as you retreat from te edge and begin running, only to jump out when you reach the end. You try not to tink about the panic you were feeling inside, and then you were falling only to be enveloped by the cool summer water of Italy.

You’re pulling yourself out of the ;ale when e suddenly speaks out, “I told you it wan’t that bad.”

You offer him a kind smile right as Armie emerges, your converse in hand, he places your shoes in your basket as the three of you continue your trek home, with you remaining barefoot, something Timothee snorts at while also laughing at the same time.

Timothee Trivia # 5: Timothee was seriously cute when he stares in your direction and grins.

Y/N Trivia # 1: You really like the sound and sight of Timothee Chalamet laughing at you.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

You’re sitting at a restaurant with Tina, trying to come up with a plan to get all your things out and into the villa from here when your phone starts buzzing, when you look at it, you realize it was a message from Armie.

“For your reference.” Is all that it says with a link to a video.

You watch the video of Timothee, and by the end of it, your eyes are widened in surprise and your mouth is agape, something so unsuspecting that it rendered you speechless. This can't be real, can it?

Timothee Trivia # 6: Timothee definitely did not hate you.

[ff-chizuruleech]

Today i went to this extremely big fair who had a pavillon for every part of the world (east Asia, west Asia, europe, Africa, America, USA, etc) + 2 big fat ones just for Italian stuff.

Obviously as the big weeb that I am i went totally go crazy go stupid whenever I saw Food that was in the game (wow. It really ruined my life uh?)

[[MORE]]

Now. I didn't do pictures of them all (because there were like 90% of the food on the game) also there were ALOT of people so taking pics was really difficult buut *circus theme starts playing*

But the most honorable mention goes to

Nearly an entire pavillon just for Sicily. Damn.

My friends wanted to go there to eat some Arancini so we went there and the moment we entered we were welcomed by nearly every stall offering pistachio sauce tastings??? Sicilians really do love pistachio. (There were also some sweet ricotta tastings that were more my cup of tea ٩(●ᴗ●)۶)

THEY ALSO HAD A PISTACHIO SAUCE FOUNTAIN OH MY GOD

BUT WHATEVER, we all know what I really went doing in the Sicilian pavillion *careless whisper starts playing*

⇧ This is actually the one I ate, was like "yooo i'm gonna eat Cassatas the whole dayy, no one can stop mee (๑•̀ㅂ•́)و✧"

But my weak low-blood pressured ass ended up really fucking high on sugar after the first one (idk maybe it was the combination 3hours of sleep+wild anxiety for the immense number of people+eating it at 11am+the fact that this was an actual sicilian one with actual almond paste, not the ripoffs i get at the supermarket usually). So as I felt really fucking high to the point of dissociating I decided that getting even a second one wasn't really a good idea (you don't know how sweet that cake is. You can't imagine.) so it was short, but really damn delicious ԅ(¯﹃¯ԅ))

Ending this shitpost with this pretty paper statue in the japanese section

[roundtheworldrambles]

Sydney, Australia

Day 103 – Melbourne to Sydney

Hannah and I went to visit the Melbourne Zoo in the morning before my flight to Sydney that afternoon. As Hannah was working in marketing in their head office, she was able to get us in for free, and acted as my complimentary tour guide! Although I had already see a number of Australian animals in the wild, the zoo was a terrific place to see the rarer specifies - including a platypus!

Melbourne Zoo Reunions with Hannah

Catching an Uber up to the Airport, I boarded my afternoon flight to Sydney – getting in just on time to celebrate New Years Eve! I arrived at my friend Emma’s home in Double Bay around 7pm – with just enough time to get ready before people began to arrive for their New Years party. I had a great time meeting all of Emma’s Australian friends, playing games, and celebrating the final hours of 2017. As the suburb of Double Bay is located on the south side of Sydney’s impressive harbour, we all left the party shortly before midnight to walk down the water, finding the perfect spot to catch Sydney’s world-famous NYE fireworks display.  The streets were packed with other people, the entire city coming together to celebrate! This will always be a memorable New Years Eve for me – the fireworks were more impressive than I could have possibly imagined, and the festive spirit in the city was absolutely contagious! We returned to the party after the ball dropped, continuing our party – in true Aussie style – into the wee hours of the morning!

NYE in Sydney!

Day 104 - Sydney

After much revelry the night before, we were slow to get moving in the morning! After cleaning up from the party, we headed out to Bondi Beach with Emma, her boyfriend Ryan, and their friends Allie, Sarah, Rhys, Andrea and Damien. We tucked into a delicious brunch on the leafy courtyard of Bondi Hardware, before heading down to the beach to enjoy the sunshine. Walking along the boardwalk, it seemed as though all of Sydney had the same idea. Thousands of people were gathered along the sweeping white-sand beach, splashing in the waves and surfing offshore. It was a perfect, picturesque new years day!

Bondi Beach

In the evening, we grabbed Thai food back in Double Bay and watched multiple episodes of Bondi Surf Rescue – the reality show featuring the famous lifeguards from Bondi Beach!

Day 105 - Sydney

Emma and I hopped on a small harbor ferry in the morning in Double Bay, heading into the CBD of Sydney. Nearing Circular Quay, the Sydney Harbour bridge and the white sails of the iconic Opera House were just as striking as I remembered. We spent the day enjoying the sunshine, walking around the Botanical Gardens and the Opera House, before sharing a pitcher of Aperol Spritz at the famous Opera Bar. Catching the ferry back to Double Bay, we joined Ryan and a group of friends for drinks and dinner at The Golden Sheaf, a picturesque music pub and garden bar near Emma’s apartment.

Sydney Opera House

Day 106 – Sydney

As Emma returned to work, her friend Andrea – a fellow Canadian and UWO grad – met up with me to complete the Spit Bridge to Manly walk. A spectacular 10 km coastal walk weaving through the bays of Northern Sydney, we spent a terrific day walking along inner harbor beaches and through native bushland, taking in the panoramic ocean views, complete with countless white sailboats bobbing in the sheltered turquoise waters.

Spit to Manly Hike

Arriving at Manly in the late afternoon, we wandered along the Manly Corso before grabbing a bite to eat and drink to share on the beach.  Manly had a terrific number of galleries with Aboriginal Art, where I was lucky to find a piece of art I loved! The complex symbology and icons depicted in the dot work of Aboriginal Art is truly fascinating, with the styles varying dramatically from region to region. The black and white piece of art I selected was representative of birthing circles, and the support that women provide to each other.

Double Bay

In the early evening, we boarded the Manly Ferry to return to Sydney. This famous green and yellow ferry has been operating for over 100 years between Manly and Circular Quay, sailing for 30 minutes with spectacular harbor and ocean views.  We sat above deck, taking in the breathtaking scenery – a perfect, relaxing end to the day.

Day 107 – Sydney

Emma had to return to work this morning, so I headed out to complete another urban coastal hike, the famous Bondi to Coogee surfside walk. Winding around the clifftops south of Bondi Beach, I walked past the iconic Icebergs pool, and the surf breaks around Tamarama and Bronte. The cliffs along the walk were chiseled into intricate patterns by the powerful surf below. Rounding the bends along the trail into more sheltered coves, I came across several sandy beaches, packed with sun-seekers, beach towels and umbrellas. The natural beauty of the coastline was stunning, and I could easily see the appeal of living in this incredible city.

Icebergs Pool

I reached the end of the trail at Coogee mid day, and enjoyed a patio drink at Coogee Pavillion before heading back into the city. My wonderful friend Emma had booked me in for a haircut that afternoon in Paddington – knowing that I was long overdue after months of backpacking! With my fresh chop – I headed out to meet her and Ryan at Charlie Parker’s, a speakeasy bar in Merivale, before tucking into dinner at a nearby Italian restaurant.

Bondi to Coogee Hike

Day 108 – Sydney

I spent this day relaxing and working on trip planning for the next legs of my trip - in Byron Bay and New Zealand! I returned to Bondi Beach and holed up in a coffee shop for most of the day, taking a break to wander along the boardwalk and pop into seaside galleries and shops. Not a bad place to get some life-admin done!

After Emma was off work, I met up with her near Circular Quay for a drink in the Rocks before we hopped on another harbor ferry over to Balmain, to meet my friend Nat, who had moved back to Sydney from Vancouver. We enjoyed a drink (or several…) at the Balmain Hotel, a quirky neighbourhood pub, and spent the evening catching up.

Day 109 – Sydney

My final day in Sydney did not disappoint! Emma and I shook off our mini hangovers with a morning yoga class in Bondi Beach, before gathering our bathing suits and beverages to head down to the Double Bay Marina. It was the birthday of Emma’s friend Nikki, and she had rented out a catamaran sailboat for the day. We spent the rest of the afternoon cruising along the shoreline of Sydney Harbour, swimming in the brilliant blue water, and enjoying drinks, music and good company in the sunshine. It was the perfect way to end my final day in Sydney.

Sailing the Sydney Harbour

[ccollova]

The Italian Pavillion at the #Marché du #Film #Cannes #Cannes2019 #Cannes72 #Italian #pavillion #cinema #financing #production #distribution #international #film #festival #business #meetings #work #deals #lawfirm #ip #intellectualproperty (at Marché du Film) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bxxdh8pCv00/?igshid=ufu3jpwdvtbj

[theheartofpenelope]

Simple Things : Chapter Thirteen

Excerpt - Yet here she was, strolling through the Schönbrunn Palace Gardens, her hand safely tucked in the palm of the man who had promised to come whisk her away for the evening. Tom had informed her that he had planned on wooing her that night. Tag list: @winterisakiller, @devikafernando, @scorpionchild81, @messy-insomniac-bookgirl, @smutsausage, @hiddlesbitch1 @noplacelikehome77 @wolfsmom1 @meh1217 @dina-bln @lilaeye39 @tinchentitri @fairlightswiftly @nonsensicalobsessions @wolfsmom1 @stmeiou @ink-and-starlight @givemecocoaa @profkmoriarty13 @nikkalia @massivelemon @lotus-eyedindiangoddess @argo-shila @emoietmoi @redfoxwritesstuff @sweetkingdomstarlight-blog @raining-litter @theoneanna @coppercorn-and-cauldron @turniptitaness @shadyskit @memoriesat30 @antyc67 @just-the-hiddles @sheris532 @marggot4 Author’s Notes/Warnings: tags will follow later on Anyway thank you in advance for feedback - would love to know what you think…Also on AO3 through this link Masterlist available through here Bonus: click here for the pinterest moodboard (always updated)

Chapter Thirteen : Vienna 

1. Charlotte did her best to keep her facial features under control. She took a deep breath and tried to keep her mind focused on something else, anything else, fearing she just might break out in a besotted smile if she didn’t. And this was not the time nor the place to do just that. 

From inside the hotel lobby Charlotte had a clearly view of see Tom waiting on her. As she neared the sliding doors she noticed him standing tall next to a taxi. A taxi?  

To her delight he’d caught her walking up to him and his lips curved into a content smile, his one eyebrow slowly lifted disclosing his (though slightly anxious) excitement. Well, that didn’t help things at all. And Charlotte was surprised at the amount of willpower she needed to prevent herself from just running up to him and falling apart in his arms. 

No, no, she would be cool about this, she reminded herself as she walked through the hotel’s entrance and steady on closer to Tom. So very sophisticated and ladida, acting as if nothing could ever knock her of her feet. Not his admiring gaze (there goes my heart), not the smile that reached up into his eyes (hello good sir) and certainly not the softest kiss on her cheek that might have lingered on a tad bit too long.

Charlotte pressed her fingertips into his arms as Tom’s cologne dizzied her. Oh how badly did she want to slightly tilt her head and brush her lips up against his. But she shouldn’t, she couldn't. They needed to be discreet. 

She gladly allowed him to escort her into the awaiting taxi. And when he’d urged the driver to head on, she wanted to remark in all honesty how completely silly and unnecessary this was. Her hotel was smackdown in the center of Vienna. Everything was within walking range….

But then it dawned on her. Just a ride around the block. Just enough time to put his lips on hers. 

“Good heavens darling, this day went on for too long....”

2. It felt a bit strange to her, strange it that funky out-of-your-body-type of experience. Was this her life? Was this her reality? Wasn't she supposed to be networking, making connection for future endeavours, mingling with the in-crowd? Stretching her mind in academic discussion about legal competence and end-of-life care? 

Yet here she was, strolling through the Schönbrunn Palace Gardens, her hand safely tucked in the palm of the man who had promised to come whisk her away for the evening. Tom had informed her that he had planned on wooing her that night. She'd chuckled in absolute delight as he laid out his plans. Things had evolved so fast up until that point he now solemnly believed he needed to slow down the process. More than that really; he wanted to go back a few steps and make a start the way things he found should start. He wanted to pull back from the hussle and bussle of everything and just take his (and her) time. Together. But discreetly. Always so very discreet.

The Palace Gardens were a great place to start. The courtyard was mind blowingly big, enormously outstretched. It held so many types of flowers, and all shrubberies were tweaked to perfection. It was simply perfect and with the maze and all, nothing short of a fairy tale. The crown of it all however was the Gloriette, a pavillion type of building with grand windows. It had been designed to glorify Habsburg power and the “Just War” (a war that would be carried out of "necessity" and lead to peace). 

These days the Gloriette houses a café and an observation deck which provides panoramic views of the city but unfortunately it was already closed by the time Tom and Charlotte passed through.

Charlotte sighed at the sight of so much splendour and, without realising, held on tighter to Tom’s arm. He chuckled warmly and shared his admiration with Charlotte before urging her to tell him more about her current plans… There were so many questions, so many things he wanted to learn about her. 

He led her to a cosy little Italian place near the river. Highly recommended by Ben and Sophie, who described it as a nice and quite yet authentic restaurant where they would surely be able to enjoy a ridiculously good pasta in all privacy. Tom didn’t need to hear about this place twice and made reservations - himself - as soon as possible.

Ben and Sophie were clearly very reliable advisors. That became quite clear when Tom sat down on the patio of said restaurant. With Charlotte across the table, toasting with a glass of red wine, the evening was already all he had hoped it to be. They wined and dined, they talked so easily, with a fair amount of flirt that was steady on growing stronger through the course of their meal. His hand searched out hers at the table and squeezed it gently while he quietly proposed they would take their dessert elsewhere. Charlotte lifted a brow under a playful chuckle and flirtily added he’d made her quite curious now… about that dessert...

3. Never in a million years would Charlotte have guessed there would be some last minute running involved after that incredibly delicious meal. She’d spontaneously declared Tom insane, loudly questioning what he was up to as she rushed after him towards to some sort of house by the river.  

But Tom would not be Tom if he hadn’t prepared the evening. He was enamoured with her and he felt happier than he had felt in a long time. But he hadn’t walked the parcours to all of this like he usually would and he nervously and desperately wanted to make up for that. He want a night of perfection, a night of romance, an evening out in which we could prove to her that he - personally - made an effort. Just for her. And that he had gladly ruled out any other intrusions beyond themselves. That part was a tricky bit though. But he happily went for it. For her.  

And that’s why he felt they needed to catch the very last riverboat that night. The absolute last one that was to depart that evening in fact; because the summer sun was about to set. With this last boat ride

Charlotte had giggled and merely shook her head as they boarded. Yet she couldn’t resist but to quietly and playfully reprimand Tom with, “I’m here. With you. That is all that matters. To me, that is.”

He’d nodded in understanding, but under a bashful smile, gladly guided her to the back of the pleasure boat; out on the terrace on those wooden benches. Tom mindfully draped one of the fleece blankets over Charlotte’s legs as dusk had now started to set in. Charlotte exhaled blissfully at his thoughtful gesture. And when Tom put his arm around her shoulders, she allowed herself to relax and lean closer to him. There were absolutely no paparazzi here. Nor other spying eyes. Everybody’s attention was clearly turning on the scenery outside of the boat, not inside. 

“I know darling,” he finally replied to her, “and I apologise for rushing you, but… I want, or I need, tonight to be perfect. I just want this to be ‘us’. Nobody else.”

“Us... ,” Charlotte’s lips curved into a smile, “I like the sound of that.”

She chuckled some more as she flicked her fingers against the baseball cap he’s put on during their mad dash for the boat. It was an nice attempt for anonymity, but she hated the thing. Tom looked back at her sternly, but his eyes twinkled with mischief. 

“Steady now, love…” 

Charlotte tittered before setting her sights back onto the beautiful scenery as the boat glided across the Danube river. It was quite here, serene even. No crowds, no traffic, only the sound of water lapping the hull of the boat. She admired the Austrian architecture, but her breath got caught when she could very clearly now see the sun setting against the horizon. And Vienna’s city lights came to life. 

A small shiver ran across her back and she felt his arm pull her in closer. Charlotte slid out her seat a bit and allowed herself to shamelessly lean against his strong chest. His familiar cologne immediately soothed her and she sighed while admitting to him the scenery was simply beautiful. 

Tom smiled to himself and looked down at her lovingly before he ever-so-sweetly placed a longing kiss on her lips which she most definitely did not reject. Charlotte gladly molded herself to his position and gratefully returned the kiss she did expect to be receiving in public.

Two days ago, they had spent their afternoon in London talking in earnest over lunch, and then lounging in his living room afterwards. They had taken their time with discovering the other, with kissing and feeling, with lounging and talking. But they hadn’t slept together again since Edinburgh, and right now this somehow - and very acutely - only added to the longing. 

A small whimper escaped from her Charlotte’s mouth and Tom pulled back with a slight curse under his breath when he realised the boat tour wouldn’t be over for another 20 minutes…

While their kiss softly but surely deepened, his hand snuck lower and under the blanket where it caressed one of her legs and the upwards before softly bit surely clasping her inner thigh. Charlotte squirmed in her seat uneasily, locking her eyes with him surprised. 

“I thought you were all about discreet,” she mumbled with an eyebrow raised in delight. 

“Oh but I am darling,” he whispered into her ear while he adoringly massaged her thigh. 

“B-b-beg to differ…” she stuttered, a slight blush rising to her cheeks..

His crystal blue eyes met her chocolate brown ones. 

“So happy. Here. With you,” 

4. Charlotte wasn’t entirely sure how they had managed to make it safely from the boat back to the hotel room and franky at that time she couldn’t care less about it. Because Tom’s lips were leaving a deliciously enthralling trail of kisses down her neck. Leaving a path of gentle nips from the column of her neck down to her clavicle, Charlotte dropped her head back in surrender and blissfully gasped his namen.”

Tom groaned appreciatively as he sweetly pressed his lips onto her almost bare shoulder. Charlotte’s hands ran over his shoulders and then over his neck and up into his hair. She curled her fingers and softly tugged at his curls in an implicit attempt for him to place his lips onto hers. Words were a bit of a struggle for her now that arousal had started to cloud her mind.

Their mouths very quickly came crashing back together again. The word frantic came to mind. When they pulled back their gasps for air were slightly mingled with idiotic chuckles. 

“It’s been too long,” Tom whispered, resting his forehead against hers.

“Mmm, I agree,” Charlotte breathed. 

“Give me a second, will you,” he chuckled, “else I fear I won’t last long…” 

She loved how he gently stroked her long hair while seemingly grounding himself for a moment. His eyes were closed and she distinctly heard him taking a deep breath in and out. And while she contemplated on following his example but failed to do so as her heart was still savagely beating within her chest. She did manage to close her eyes while he slid his hands over her body, carefully tracing her curves. But slowly this time. He wanted to take his time. That was obvious. 

She felt his hands slid down over her waist, over the swell of her hips and down her thighs. While his mouth slowly claimed hers again. His tongue slowly gliding against hers, tasting of wine of the promise of a wonderful night. His fingertips rimmed the seam of her dress and trailed upwards over her thighs while Charlotte’s agile fingers patiently yet deftly unbuttoned his shirt. Her hands slid under the light fabric, firmly splayed out against his toned chest, up to his shoulders where she proceeded to push the piece of clothing off. 

And in return she gladly lifted her hands over her head so he could lift her summery dress up over her head as well. 

He murmurs something she couldn’t hear and probably wasn’t meant to hear. She would ask in normal circumstances ask but then his hands reached out the the curves of her breasts where they stroked and teased and readied the path his lips and tongue were so eager to follow. 

Words not important now.

It was only a matter of seconds before the last pieces of clothing found their way to the floor and Charlotte slowly laid down on the luxurious hotel bed. Desperate for any kind of friction now, she was ever so delighted when Tom skilfully undulated his toned body over hers. A slight moan got caught in her throat when his teeth softly sank into her lower lip and she raked her fingernails playfully over his lower back in retaliation. He shivered in response, muttering she was a “bad girl,” before ravenously continuing his teasings. 

When his fingers trailed down to her apex of her legs, she flinched and her head lulled back. A muffled whimper escaped her lips, much to Tom’s pleasure … And with even more adoration for her then before he bent down lower and decidedly ran his tongue over her little bundle of nerves. 

Charlotte proceeded to gasp, this time not so slightly anymore. Her hands clutched onto the sheets in all her might while Tom teased on, adding pressure with his thumb before steadily spoiling her on. A little peak disclosed to him how beautiful she truly was, all pretences stripped away, blushing feverishly and moaning delightful things in response to him. 

He took pride into bringing her to a climax and enjoyed witnessing her fall to pieces, knowing it was his doing.. Truth be told, it wasn’t a moment too soon for him though. With a speed and ease he anxiously chased after his own release that came much to soon to his liking. He needed to learn to pace himself again, he reprimanded himself jokingly. 

They rolled into each other’s embrace easily, lovingly, catching their breaths in unison. 

“Good heavens,” Tom joked, “you’ve ruined me!”

“How’s that?’’ Charlotte frowned under a laugh. 

“I don’t last that long with you. Christ” 

Charlotte lost herself in a fit of giggles. 

“Seriously,” he continued, “I want a rematch later on.”

“Later on?” she teased, “oh my, do you think you can manage that?”

“Hey!” he shot back, “why did you think I insisted on picking up these?” he winked devilishly to the cake boxes he’d picked up at Café Prückel on their hasty flee from the boat to the hotel. 

But Charlotte happily delved in though. Both skimpily covered with a hotel sheet, they savoured the stupendous cakes with vigour, and stealing a morsel from the other’s cake with their plastic forks. 

“Could get used to this,” Charlotte confessed with a smile.

“Mmmm, yeah,” Tom blissfully agreed, “I admit,” he added while munching on, “this one is the best ever though.”

He fed her another piece of his Sachertorte and jokingly pulled away when she wanted to take a bite. Charlotte cursed him under a loud giggle. 

But it was true. The cake was extremely good. And it was also true that Charlotte could get used to this just as well. Easily so...