Siena, Italy

Buonjournata,


Today is filled with school, and napping, and maybe laundry because I'm quickly running out of clothes.


Here are a few photos from the last couple days. They're not of far off lands or Arabic Knights, but of Siena. During the weeks I get to enjoy Tuscany, and on the weekends I tend to venture out and explore outside that region. Having a mandatory class schedule kind of requires this routine.

This is the Duomo. I've yet to go in. I'm saving that for a special day. Judging from the outside, the inside is going to be spectactular. The history...Back when Siena was at its height of wealth, independence and economic power, the people started building with plans to be the biggest Duomo in Europe. It was half way done when the Black Death came, and reduced the population to about 17 000 I think (don't quote me) which essentially killed Siena. Siena never recovered and Florence ended up being the major metropolis. This building and the Palazzo Pubblico represent religious and secular powers in Siena and both are the two tallest buildings in the city. Keeping them separate is obviously an issue unto itself.

This little boy killed me. Obviously a tourist.

Within Siena there are different 'contradas'. They are pretty much groups or divisions of people that are baptised into this group at birth. The Sienese take it very seriously: once baptised in you're there for life. Every year there is a Palio in the Piazza del Compo with each contrada competing in a horse race to be the winner. They take this stuff verrrrry serious. I'm going to be here for this years Palio, which I'm not so sure about. They drug the horses, there's no rules so each year several horses die or have to be put down. I will cry for sure. Anway...The contrada's yesterday were marching on their saints day. (Each contrada has a different day). These are photos from that march. Young boys are waving flags, and doing the drum thing. Behind the marchers the people from the contrada follow them through the city to the Compo. Interesting how different cultures put emphasis on different things. Seems bizarre and pointless to me, but to the Sienese it's a matter of life and death. Today I learned that the jockey who gets 2nd place will get beat up and will have to be taken to the emergency room. The idea is that if he got 2nd, he COULD have won so he probably threw the race.

The tower from the Palazzo Pubblico. The one that represents secular power, and is tall like the Church.

A very cool wine shop.

Hope you're all enjoying my experiences! I'm loving it so far. Thanks for all your notes and email, they keep me from getting homesick.

S

xo