I wake up this morning about 9 am, hoping to be in Roma… I quickly say to myself, BASTA! I am Siena, ITALY and I am very lucky for this, everything is beautiful, the weather is hot but amazing, the wine is best in the world… I get into the shower to wash the negativity off and go downstairs to see what my hotel is serving for breakfast. Considering I have not eaten breakfast, well, for practically my entire life… I was pleasantly surprised with the variety. I eat some yogurt and muesli, sipped my caffé and planned my day.
Although Siena is not a big city, there is plenty to see and wine to drink. I decide to just start walking and chose where I want to go when I get there. I end up at Il Campo, go to the Civic Museum and climb the tower. As my video shows, there are a lot of steps, do not get me wrong… however, this one man came out sweating as if he had just finished the Boston marathon. I am telling you it was crazy… not even little Julius complained during his climb and completed it on his own two little feet.
The view from the tower was incredible; it overlooked the entire city and then some. The lush landscaping of Tuscany was absolutely incredible. I know I start to sound like a broken record but it is the truth. I breathe in the air and just look out around me… the beauty, the history. After about 20 minutes, I walk down to the museum and it is fabulous, smaller than any in Roma but no less stunning. Unlike the Massimo museum or the Vatican, the Civic Museo only took me about an hour and a half to get through.
There were two special exhibits going on, fairly modern… you can see the colors and forms are more vibrant and “loud”… very different form the historical masterpieces I have been seeing, yet, I cannot help but like the change a bit.
When I am “museum-ed out”, I explore the city, look at the shops, pass through the historical sites, stop for wine tastings and embrace my surroundings. I decide not to go into anymore basilicas or museums today and take the rest of the day to roam around and get lost inside the walls. Basically, I listened to Siena, it was amazing. I returned to my room and changed for my run. My runs in Siena, although at times force me to weave in between people, are always peaceful. The only thing is that Siena is ALL hills, unpaved hills, so not a very easy course for me. However, I love the challenge. After my run, I shower and get dressed to hit the town, okay, to stroll the Siena streets, but in Siena, that is hitting the town.
I walk and walk trying to learn the streets that I will be calling my stomping ground for the week. I learn the one thing Siena does not lack is couples… it is a very romantic and very sweet, but of can be a bit dispiriting for a single girl. However, to lift me up I do what I do best: shop, eat gelato and drink wine, Perfetto!
I walk around trying to find somewhere I can enjoy a glass of wine and write… I settle on a place that looks “hip” and Ayman and Juan Paulo welcome me with wine and songs; they are adorable, friendly and infectious. Apparently this place serves much more than food and drinks. I find out JP is the singer and entertainer of the group, he is one of the owners, who always wearing a boyish smile and on drink duty. Ayman is sweet, smart and very quiet; he is a student from Toronto getting his master’s degree in political science in Siena.
When I arrive, I am the only person at the restaurant. When I leave, the small patio is occupied with locals and loyal drinkers. Ayman tells me this is not the typical Siena eatery, with the Heineken umbrellas and laid back approach, it obviously has the vibe of a new age.
When I leave the boys I walk the streets at night… I come across a street blocked off, sort of like you see in the movies. Rows of tables filled with wine, food, and people line the street, I can only describe it as something you would see in the middle ages… hello, photo opt! As I am taking a picture, I am approached by one of the guys, Kiko, who selflessly invites me to come and join them… he doesn’t speak much English, I don’t speak much Italian… it is perfect. I accept his offer and what I learn is astonishing.
This night is the night when the Contrada finds out if they will be chosen to participate in the famous Palio. There are 17 Contradas and only 10 are chosen. Their Contrada, the Civetta (the Owl) has not won the Palio in 30 years, so this was a very big year for them. Their leader gave speeches, they sang their anthem, and drank… a lot! It was one of the coolest things I have ever seen, they were like one big happy family. They fed me, poured endless wine, told me stories, and made me laugh… I later find out being invited to this is a very big deal, so THANK YOU! Simone, the ring leader wanted to tell me the popular things they do in Siena… he was a character… amazing. The best part was when I tell them my family is from Bagheria, Sicily; they quickly whisper and joke about how they worry about my dad… I didn’t quite understand, yet…
After dinner a video was being shown, I watched for a bit and said endless amount of “Grazies” before saying goodnight. When I got back to my hotel I received a text from Simone saying they had a small present for me… what? A present, they had already done so much, I couldn’t think of anything else they could give me. Boy was I wrong.
Simone and Duccio with guitar in hand, serenaded me. Yes, one knee at the hotel window, singing Italian and English songs to me, it was something I cannot even describe, I was breathless. That was when I fell in love with Lucio Battisti… BELLISSIMO. We walked for a bit talking and when I could barely keep my eyes open, they walked me to my hotel where I said goodnight and drifted off to sleep.
A simply wonderful end to the day that started so rocky. Brava.
Baci a voi,
Me
Although Siena is not a big city, there is plenty to see and wine to drink. I decide to just start walking and chose where I want to go when I get there. I end up at Il Campo, go to the Civic Museum and climb the tower. As my video shows, there are a lot of steps, do not get me wrong… however, this one man came out sweating as if he had just finished the Boston marathon. I am telling you it was crazy… not even little Julius complained during his climb and completed it on his own two little feet.
The view from the tower was incredible; it overlooked the entire city and then some. The lush landscaping of Tuscany was absolutely incredible. I know I start to sound like a broken record but it is the truth. I breathe in the air and just look out around me… the beauty, the history. After about 20 minutes, I walk down to the museum and it is fabulous, smaller than any in Roma but no less stunning. Unlike the Massimo museum or the Vatican, the Civic Museo only took me about an hour and a half to get through.
There were two special exhibits going on, fairly modern… you can see the colors and forms are more vibrant and “loud”… very different form the historical masterpieces I have been seeing, yet, I cannot help but like the change a bit.
When I am “museum-ed out”, I explore the city, look at the shops, pass through the historical sites, stop for wine tastings and embrace my surroundings. I decide not to go into anymore basilicas or museums today and take the rest of the day to roam around and get lost inside the walls. Basically, I listened to Siena, it was amazing. I returned to my room and changed for my run. My runs in Siena, although at times force me to weave in between people, are always peaceful. The only thing is that Siena is ALL hills, unpaved hills, so not a very easy course for me. However, I love the challenge. After my run, I shower and get dressed to hit the town, okay, to stroll the Siena streets, but in Siena, that is hitting the town.
I walk and walk trying to learn the streets that I will be calling my stomping ground for the week. I learn the one thing Siena does not lack is couples… it is a very romantic and very sweet, but of can be a bit dispiriting for a single girl. However, to lift me up I do what I do best: shop, eat gelato and drink wine, Perfetto!
I walk around trying to find somewhere I can enjoy a glass of wine and write… I settle on a place that looks “hip” and Ayman and Juan Paulo welcome me with wine and songs; they are adorable, friendly and infectious. Apparently this place serves much more than food and drinks. I find out JP is the singer and entertainer of the group, he is one of the owners, who always wearing a boyish smile and on drink duty. Ayman is sweet, smart and very quiet; he is a student from Toronto getting his master’s degree in political science in Siena.
When I arrive, I am the only person at the restaurant. When I leave, the small patio is occupied with locals and loyal drinkers. Ayman tells me this is not the typical Siena eatery, with the Heineken umbrellas and laid back approach, it obviously has the vibe of a new age.
When I leave the boys I walk the streets at night… I come across a street blocked off, sort of like you see in the movies. Rows of tables filled with wine, food, and people line the street, I can only describe it as something you would see in the middle ages… hello, photo opt! As I am taking a picture, I am approached by one of the guys, Kiko, who selflessly invites me to come and join them… he doesn’t speak much English, I don’t speak much Italian… it is perfect. I accept his offer and what I learn is astonishing.
This night is the night when the Contrada finds out if they will be chosen to participate in the famous Palio. There are 17 Contradas and only 10 are chosen. Their Contrada, the Civetta (the Owl) has not won the Palio in 30 years, so this was a very big year for them. Their leader gave speeches, they sang their anthem, and drank… a lot! It was one of the coolest things I have ever seen, they were like one big happy family. They fed me, poured endless wine, told me stories, and made me laugh… I later find out being invited to this is a very big deal, so THANK YOU! Simone, the ring leader wanted to tell me the popular things they do in Siena… he was a character… amazing. The best part was when I tell them my family is from Bagheria, Sicily; they quickly whisper and joke about how they worry about my dad… I didn’t quite understand, yet…
After dinner a video was being shown, I watched for a bit and said endless amount of “Grazies” before saying goodnight. When I got back to my hotel I received a text from Simone saying they had a small present for me… what? A present, they had already done so much, I couldn’t think of anything else they could give me. Boy was I wrong.
Simone and Duccio with guitar in hand, serenaded me. Yes, one knee at the hotel window, singing Italian and English songs to me, it was something I cannot even describe, I was breathless. That was when I fell in love with Lucio Battisti… BELLISSIMO. We walked for a bit talking and when I could barely keep my eyes open, they walked me to my hotel where I said goodnight and drifted off to sleep.
A simply wonderful end to the day that started so rocky. Brava.
Baci a voi,
Me
