Thursday in Siena

Thursday morning we slept in late (until 7 a.m. at any rate).

After showering and getting dressed we strolled downstairs for breakfast -- but the first thing I had to do was get us set up with the hotel's Wi-fi system. For 3 euros I got an hour of time which I had three days to use, inexpensive to be sure, and very handy.

After coffee and cornetto, after checking emails and figuring out our day -- which would have its own way with us in any event -- off we went for the city of Siena. (photo of Siena from the hills of Le Crete.)

Our hotel, the Arcobaleno is located north of the Porta Camollia, the northern entrance into the city center ("centro storico"), about a 25-30 minute walk. And walk we did and before long we were inside the security and safety of the city walls. We strolled down Via Camollia to our favorite haunts -- stopping along the way to pick up a universal (Italy) adapter for our various electrical components -- and then around and around ("fare un giro") just taking in those places we have come to know so well.

Along the way we checked out the new facade on the Duomo (very nice to be sure and lots of euros I should think) but did not go inside. We also stopped by the English Bookshop and visited with owner Lisa. (Nice to see some things don't change.)

We stopped and said "ciao" to our favorite barrista at Cafe Fiorella (3 Via di Citta). She has one of the nicest smiles in the city (you can see her on my video of a stroll around Siena in 2005) and of course had to have a cafe macchiato!

From Cafe Fiorella we strolled across the Piazza del Campo into the APT, the tourist office at no. 56 on the Piazza, and found ourselves jammed in with a large group of Germans (more accurately a group of large Germans) to see if the urban trek brochures were still available (they were out of them at the moment) and back across the piazza to Cassato del Sotto and the Cantina in Piazza.

We had stopped there earlier that morning and Laura, Aimone's daughter said that Aimone and Alessandre were out and about. Using a clutch of mobile phones Laura tracked them all down and, using the Italian version of "teleconferencing" ( each person using two phones to call the other person who was in turn calling the other person, well you get the idea) we all planned to meet back at the Cantina at 1 p.m. for lunch.

We got there right on time, met Alessandre and a few minutes later Aimone waltzed in. For the next four hours or so we ate, drank and talked about the past, the present and of course the future -- theirs as uncertain as ours, although chances are good they will still be in Siena while it's anyone's guess where will be this time next year.

After saying arrivaderci and a presto we walked back to the hotel -- dodging traffic during the last 100 meters or so. After a short time refreshing ourselves we got into the car and headed off to Asciano and dinner with Patti and Roberto Bechi.

We got into town a little early and strolled around the quiet streets until Roberto and two little ones arrived -- Patti was still hung up in a meeting about Michele's nursery school but she soon joined us.

The evening was spent catching up on the details of our lives -- and just enjoying the evening inside where it was warm.

The night was clear and very chilly as we drove through the clay hills ("Le Crete"), along the twisitng and turning road running along the series of spines of ridges dominating the countryside between Asciano and Siena. What a wonderful evening to be out in the Tuscan countryside: with a crescent moon hanging overhead, the surrounding land dark and quiet and so very peaceful.

Soon we came into view of Siena, drawing ever closer to the Torre del Mangia and our hotel, to a peaceful night's sleep and hopes for an equally peaceful day tomorrow.