Siena

Breakfast at the hostel here was dry bread, nutella, butter and jam. I grabbed the leftover antipasto and cheese from our room to supplement.
Another hosteler sat across from us and started up a conversation. A school teacher, Alfredo was on a short holiday and didn't have anything planned for the next couple days. He caught us trying to figure out how to get to the center of Siena via the man behind the desk and offered to show us the way. Apparently, he liked our company - he gave us a tour of the whole town and walked us back to the hostel to get our bags. Very nice of him, but I've decided that I'm not too fond of local, off the street tour guides. They cramp my style. :P

Another long (and sort of awkward :)) walk to the historic Siena. Once again, beautiful stone roads and buildings.


Local on a bike.

Siena is divided into 14 different "families", all of whom are enemies with each other. Twice a year they have a horse race in the center of the village to see which quadrant walks away the victor. It's a huge thing and animosities don't end with the race. Fourteen churches, 14 flags, 14 emblems throughout the village mark who's on who's side.

The porcupine was the last winner and a very good bet, so I hear.

And the flag...


The race takes place here.





Alfredo didn't know who these heads represent. They don't look very happy up there...
This is the Music School. The art work on the ceilings was fabulous!



One of the 14 churches. This one was incredible! They were having a service, so we weren't able to go inside.





Intricate detail! And centuries old! Can you imagine how they made this?


Here is where the horses are brought before the race. I could almost hear the stomping hooves and neighing of impatient steeds.



The bell tower, and yes, we climbed it! This one was the most narrow of all the climbs we did. Trying to pass people was impossible... until one reached a corner.




That church we were just at? You can see the marble tower and dome from here.




Alfredo.

Looking down on the village. Cafe tables below. The grey stones are the race track and the center is packed with people during the event. They haul in tons of sand for the track each race...and then remove it all afterwards. Wow!

It was about noon before we got back to the hostel, grabbed our backpacks, and headed to the bus stop. Oh yeah, the buses don't stop...so once again we walked to the train station and bought tickets to our final destination - Roma.

I'll let Anna tell you about that.

~Sarah