Flirting with Leo

September 1, 2015

Do you know why many people travel? I think it is for the adventure, the opportunity to explore and learn more about life itself. I know that is a huge motivator for me. I want to know. Sono curiosa. I am curious. My mother used to say, “Marilyn remember, curiosity killed the cat!” HUH?

I didn’t listen. In fact, I love curious people. I believe people who have unbridled curiosity are sexy. And the most curious, inquisitive mind I have ever come across is that of Leonardo Da Vinci.

Family in Canada

Leonardo Da Vinci has been called the ultimate Renaissance Man. He had his talented fingers in everything: Art, architecture, magic, science, engineering, autopsy, you name it and he wanted to understand it. His handwriting was backwards—he wrote in mirror image of what we use. Interesting.

This week I visited the Minneapolis Institute of Art to explore the special exhibition of the Codex Leicester by Leo. (Yes I call him that in my head!) It was fantastic. This codex is an 18 page exploration of water, light, wind, mountains, dirt. I love his mind! This was mostly the experimental, engineering genius part of Leonardo. He postulated several theories about how water can shoot out of the top of a mountain. He theorized that the blue sky was caused by water vapor. He knew it was not blue—his idea was only slightly off the mark—that was over 400 years before the first human flight. He was brilliant.

Family in Canada

Leonardo Da Vinci is everywhere in Italy. He worked on the flow of the Arno River through Florence. He created water channels and drained swampland in Milan. He built tools of war, such as an armored vehicle, scuba gear, huge guns, and more. His artwork is in The Uffizi gallery, in Milan and everywhere else. The Medici family of Florence adored and supported him. His home town of Vinci has a museum celebrating their favorite son. His artwork, his writings, are all over the world.

Leo influenced his contemporaries and everyone who came after him. His study of human anatomy was unrivaled. Medical institutions today still use his work. Renaissance artists often compared themselves to him. Michelangelo and Leonardo had a not so friendly competition during the Renaissance. Who was greater? Both were better artists for it. But Leo was so much more. If he were alive today I would be a Da Vinci groupie.

Family in Canada

Since we live in different centuries, I honor Leonardo by doing my best to feed my own curiosity. Travel anywhere feeds curiosity. It opens my mind to new ideas. And I read, write, theorize and attempt to figure things out with my limited brain power and intuition.

With my work at Take Me Home Italy, I assist others to experience the wonder of Italy and to stoke their curiosity. I hope each of my clients discovers just how curious they can be and what joy they will find when they follow the urge to be curious. And I tell them non c’e problema, no problem. Don’t worry. Curiosity only kills cats.

Ciao for now!

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