April 11, Day 7: Siena. This was definitely one of my favorite little towns. I'd love to go back and stay in Siena for a few days and just wander. The city is built up on 7 hills, so more hiking. It has a beautiful very, very old duomo that was originally intended to rival St. Peter's but only one nave was completed. It has a very famous black and white striped exterior, and a very intricate floor that is covered in mosaic of the Sienese villages, Cybils, and various Biblical stories.
A funky view of the church....
And a much more traditional one. Thank Wikipedia for this shot! It was very difficult to capture both the fascade and the striped tower.
The dome with a little lighting effect.
The cities of Italy at the time of the floor's construction...1200's. The entire floor is covered in this kind of detail.
The ceiling in Piccolini's library. The art in the Old World is just on another level.
Piccolini's library is inside the church, a small room full of old hymn books. Check out THIS sheet music ladies and gents.
After the duomo we went to the Piazza del Campo for lunch. This piazza is particularly famous for it's biannual horse racea. Every year on July 2nd and August 16th the sloping oval is filled with sand and the piazza fills with spetactors on the outside, and inside, of the space. The 17 districts of Siena are represented by horses and run the oval three times, slipping up and down the slope. It is supposed to be an epic event. We just got to see lots of sunbathers catching rays in rolled up T-shirts.
Happy Caroliney and Pamella in the sunshine!
The main building on the Campo. It's filled with ancient art, relics (my new obsession), a gorgeous gilt wood painting of the Madonna, et al.
Yummy Campo lunch.
After this we went to Saint Caterina's birthplace, which has since been converted into SIX small churches. Not growing up Catholic, I find all these saints and relics and the Madonna very interesting. Back home for risotto, wine, and a delicious Italian, rum soaked pastry I'll never find in the US. I did a lot of reading at night, and finished Julie Andrews' autobiography Home one of these days.
April 12, Day 8: San Gimignano
We started the day by going to the top of Peggy's property, the look out from the top of the hill. It is SO green and lovely, like a little secret garden path that is so untouched. Lots of Italian wildflowers, which apparently change with every coming week of spring. Mom and Peggy could talk agriculture up and down, but I did love to listen. Then we went into the village of San Gimignano, again, up on a hill. Church, piazza, shopping, delicious food. I think I might have to move...
Look! Even in Italy they have boxed wine!
Amazing market's veggie selection. Look at how fresh!
I literally squealed when I saw the tomato selection. I wanted more time to buy up the store and cook a feast.
I felt like this shot was classic old world. It was actually two windows, one black strand and one white.
Mom and Peggy in front of one of the many Annunciation scenes which they were very fond of. I do like the scene, but Botticelli's is my favorite really.
I happened to be wearing shorts the last day and they were deemed 'church inappropriate'- with a 5" inseam. Luckily they provide these paper hospital grade drapes to cover one's indecency, haha! I kind of loved it.
Mom and I at the city center fountain, a little squinty. Last day of delicious gelato at a place with the most flavor selection...including Orange Chocolate which was amazing!!
Vespas! Obviously these are all over Europe and NY, but I loved these little twins.
April 13, Day 9: Departure
This concluded our trip! We got up early and packed the little French car full of suitcases and made the drive back to Fiumicino to the airport. The flight back was relatively painless, if a very long trip- 9 1/2 hours. The plane was a bit empty, so people spread out into empty rows. Mom said it was a bit like the poop deck on the Titanic, strewn with plastic pillow bags and food trash, people wandering up and down the aisles, children loosing their patience. It was a bit comical, and very difficult to sleep.
Getting back to NYC we had been awake nearly 20 hours. Pretty sleepy kids. Had dinner with Sam and Jason and baby, so Mom got to meet Samuel. Next day we got her on a plane back to San Antonio and I slept a few more hours before returning to work. What a week!
Sorry to have drawn this little trip out so much! I originally intended to do this over the course of maybe two weeks, but time catches up with us. Now on to the present.
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