Another visit to Siena

After a slow weekend here in Barberino, I decided to visit Siena again, hoping that the crowds after the Palio had thinned out. This time I took the train. If you plan to visit Italy and stay in Florence, take the train to Siena. If you plan to stay in the countryside, take the bus. Otherwise, taking the train from the countryside makes for a very long day and you don’t cover that many miles. The train drops you off at the bottom of the hill so just followed all the other people with guidebooks to catch the next city bus up the hill. Plan on standing inside a city bus and adjusting your comfort zone! The bus ends up dropping you off off at the Piazza Tozzi, a short walk to the center of the city.

Instead of following the crowd into town, I took a left and entered the university district. The streets were lined with mopeds and soon I found I was in the Palio winning district as flags were being flown from every window. The thing I love about Siena is that you never know what you are going to see when you go around a corner. I literally gasped out loud when I happened upon this duomo under construction.(photo below). I had no idea it was there. Then I found this church and behind it were the university’s economic and legal study halls. It was very quiet as students were few and it seemed as though no tourists really came down this way.

I continued down some less traveled streets only to end up on the opposite end of the Piazza del Campo, where the actual Palio took place earlier this month. Still crowded, but not as crowded as the days leading up to the Palio. I could move around and see a path to the next site, whereas the first time I visited, it was wall to wall people and took effort to keep my balance.

I think yesterday, of all days, was the hottest I have experienced while here in Italy. Absolutely no breeze and just hot, hot, hot. I got home, just exhausted and downed a liter of water immediately. I am staying in today, as I think many others are as well. I must do laundry!! Nothing is open. I think it hit 90 before 8:30 am this morning.

Some of you have asked what my flat looks like. I have included photos for you as well. Oh, note for Dave, Steve and Michele--shower still has major issues. I have hot water but the sprayer fell out of the wall last night. Oh well!
Ciao for now!