Siena A lot of walking!!!!

So this morning we made our way to the cafe next door for an “ American breakfast””... neither of us was sure what this actually was and the reality was even worse than we could have expected... apparently an American breakfast consists of cold bacon and eggs which were scrambled a week ago, all washed down with cold coffee!!

The cafe itself was interesting as it doubled as a clothes shop, so, while I was forcing down the cold breakfast I was able to pick out a new outfit, handbag and all.

Breakfast over we set out to walk to Siena.... and yes this involved not only crossing, but walking along the dual carriageway, and, to add insult to flipping injury, Siena is at the top of a very big hill and we were at the bottom of it.

Moan ..... me.... yes I bloody did all the way, and I would have moaned for a lot longer had some clever Italian engineer not thought to install an escalator to raise the chronically unfit amongst us up the final, and steepest bit of the climb. If he had been anywhere nearby I would have fallen at his feet in adulation... and possibly offered to have his children there and then, such was my gratitude.

And so we arrived in Siena. As with all the famous Tuscan hilltop towns it has narrow streets, a big church and loads of bloody tourists!!!

Despite the hoards of people we loved the fact that we could wander along without a plan, just turning wherever we fancied and losing ourselves in the maze of little roads.

We walked to the square outside the huge church which was reminiscent of the Duomo in Florence, we hadn’t planned to go in as there was a charge but a woman walked up to us and asked if we would like some free tickets and so after a moments hesitation....well she could have been a crook, there are loads of dodgy people here.... we took the tickets, they worked and so we went in. I will let the photos do the talking, although they don’t really do it justice. Suffice to say we were both a bit awestruck at the magnificence of the decoration and artwork.

In need of a drink we made our way to the main square... the Piazza del Campo , famous for its Palio di Siena, a horse race for mental people who ride around the outside of the shell shaped Piazza twice a year..... for fun.

When the mental people aren’t riding their horses around it the Piazza is surrounded by cafes and bars charging an arm and a leg for drinks and food.

We sat in the very warm sun and watched the world ( a lot of Japanese people looking lost and sporting weird hats , mostly) go by.

After another wander we stopped for lunch and enjoyed bruschetta, which I have come to love and some cold meats, the view from the restaurant was amazing. And so we spent the rest of our time in Siena just walking through the pretty streets, stopping every now and then for a drink and a rest before diving down another cobbled alleyway to see where it led.

By the time we found the escalator.... yes it went down too..... that pleased me no end because by now I was exhausted!!!! We were both ready for another drink.... oh for heavens sake we’re on holiday !!! ......and as cooking had been such a trauma in the apparment, enjoyed a lovely salad.

And then thinking what a pain it was that I had to pack my case again in the morning I fell asleep.... I Was so bloody tired .... ok and a bit tipsy ...... that not even the dual carriageway could keep me from falling asleep.