Francesco Giocondo ordered Leonardo Da Vinci to paint his wife, Lisa Gherardini (the picture is called Gioconda because she was the wife of Giocondo, Giocondo/Gioconda). Francesco Giocondo was a merchant friend of Leonardo's father. Others said that was the father of Leonardo, Sir Piero Da Vinci, who ordered the portrait to Leonardo. This way, Francesco Giocondo, who was a wealthy man, could become a good patron for Leonardo. Leonardo spent much of his time doing strange gadgets and needed to finance them. Leonardo painted Lisa Guerardini when she was 24 years old. He liked so much the result of the picture, that never gave it (always found an excuse to not giving it). In all his travels he took the picture in his suitcase and never separated from it. Her strange smile... Lisa was from a rich family. It's not strange that rich people had bad eating habits, because vegetables and fruit were for poor people. So many wealthy people had nutrition problems, and it's not strange that they haven't all their teeth. Some say she was probably pregnant when Leonardo painted her. Her hands are swollen, and is wearing no rings. You can also note that she has no eyebrows. To remove the eyebrows was a trend in her times. They said that Francesco Giocondo was deeply in love with Lisa. Someone said that Lisa was sweet and guileless. If you order a portrait of you wife and the painter never gives it to you, and takes it always with him... What could Francesco feel? What had Lisa to make men go so crazy? The picture is enigmatic, everybody is captivated by its atmosphere. She is always staring at you. No matter where you stand, she keeps staring directly at you. How influenced Lisa Gherardini to Leonardo? Here you are a video with other women painted by Da Vinci.... All them are a little Gioconda. Because love has a face and many names.

I begin this section "the life of" with a surprising woman: Mary Kingsley, born in the claustrophobic Victorian society. She changed the direction of her life, and decided to make her dreams come true. Mary Kingsley (1862-1900) was born in Islington (London). Her father was a doctor, and fell in love with his maid. Four days before Mary was born, they married. Mary Kingsley's uncle was the famous novelist Charles Kingsley. Mary's mother was disabled. So Mary spent a long part of her life looking after her. Her only entertainment was reading the many books her father had in his library. She was a great self-taught woman. And without academic studies, she became one of the XIX century biggest authorities about Occidental Africa. She did what was expected from her until the death of her parents. But when she was 30 years old, she started a new life. Her destination: Africa. She travels to Africa with the excuse of finishing one of his father's book about rituals and fetishes. She lives with tribes of Congo, Zaire... to get information about their religious beliefs. And she travels. Travels so much... And writes abouts her travels showing a great sense of humor, so her stories became very famous in the London society. In her travels she collects insects and plants that were sent to the British Museum and were very appreciated. With an umbrella in her hand and wearing heavy Victorian robes, she went through swamps full of crocodiles. Trying to get away from a tornado, she climbed a 4085 meters high mountain. She also encountered cannibal tribes. When an hippopotamus was trying to sink her boat, Mary stroked its ear with the umbrella. The hippopotamus turned away. Mary said in one of her writings that at last, that stupid umbrella had an use. When she was 37 years old, she died of fever when she was working as volunteer nurse. Her remains were thrown to the sea. Both her life and her writings were the incentive for many woman to try the same things. Mary was an enterprising and fearless woman. Thank you Mary Kingsley for being this way. If you wonder what made Mary Kingsley exchange the comfortable London society for Africa, this video gives you some clues.

Dear Elvis, They say that 30 years ago you went, one day like today, a 16th of August. But I don't believe it. I met you through these movies in black and white that nobody sees, beside my grandfather. One day I asked my grandfather "who is him?" and he told me about you. And I asked too "and he appears on TV?", and he answered me : "No Emma, he died many years ago". But I don't believed him. Sometimes when I'm worried and sad I listen your music and I feel better. How can someone tell that you are gone when sometimes your music brings happiness to my soul? Kings never die. They stay in History forever. Do you know why I feel that you stay here? because, as in you song, You are always on my mind.