The benefits of studying abroad are seen in this short documentary. The inaugural class of the California State University program in Florence, Italy encountered enormous challenges. Yet, it was character building and created a strong group bond. More than 50 years later, the CSU "Mud Angels" are still close friends.
This short film utilizes images from Florence-flood.com that were taken by Joe Blaustein, that we helped to surface and bring to the world, and other sources, including some shots I have never seen before. It is really worth a watch, and a very nice job by Diane Guerrazzi, Professor at San Jose State University School of Journalism & Mass Communications.
Joe's book is below - you can get a copy from Amazon:
"Santa Croce was the first populated area to be overflowed by the flood. This area remained under the water longer compared to the others because it's lower with respect to the river. The Arno river completely filled the Cloister, it penetrated into the crypt, it disrupted the tombs of the Church. The works of removing the mud and the rubble took about two months. But the damages didn't finish here: the Franciscan fathers and those in charge of the Belle Arti saw the most devastating reality: the Crucifix by Cimabue, located in the Museum inside the big Franciscan refectory, was destroyed. Among great difficulties the heavy painted cross, drenched with water, was brought down and laid in a horizontal position. It took six hours to accomplish this difficult task, while the flakes of colour detached and fell in the mud. The mud was sieved and some fragments were recovered."