Enjoy the Gypsy Kings while you join us in Siena.
Newsy notes:
- We reached our final fifteen on Sunday when Kevin and Allsion arrived, "fresh" off the Toronto/Rome express. They are comfortably ensconced in a private house on the hill which we have dubbed Clarence House for the duration of our stay.
- We have been greatly enjoying Joy and Paul's company. They head home to Scotland tomorrow, but have added their kind selves - and enviable accents - to the tribe! Safe travels home to them.
- I have neglected to comment on Podere Ciona itself. This property - the dirt drive past the vineyard, the rosemary hedge in the front yard, the stone buildings covered in vines, the enormous family table in the kitchen (one of two, btw), the quiet and comfort of tiled floors, covered sofas, brick and beamed ceilings, and endless private bathrooms, the pool in which we pretend to exercise by standing and/or floating while we talk - is everything I imagined and hoped for . . . and more.
And now, Siena . . .
Our Tuscan tribe members continued to adhere to the muster call, gathering at 10:00 am (give or take a few minutes (:) to begin our Siena day. I was excited to show Wes the famous tower where Jon and his friend climbed far above the look-out to the very top of the bell ladder while I sat below and prayed . . . Well, actually I drank Prosecco, but I was worried, of course.
Our fearless van leaders delivered us safely once more, this time to a Siena city parking lot (might have been nice if even one of us had read the name) and off we headed to the ancient and walled town centre.
Kudos to Betty for entrusting her mobility and safety to the arm and leg strength of her many willing attendants. Their teamwork is beautiful to witness.
The square (really an oval) in Siena is a magnificant spot. It may, however, be rivalled by the lunch we devoured at the Trattoria Papei just below the square. http://www.anticatrattoriapapei.com/en/
Our server Eduardo, whose English might have trumped mine, helped make our experience wonderful, but the food was the definite star of that show. I have added a photo of Betty's beans and sausage because even that, a dish that sounds like something your mother offered up the night before grocery day, was a scrumptous piece of edible art!
We split up to wander Siena with a plan to meet at the not-to-be-missed Duomo. Dave, Wes, and I made excellent use of our time. We wandered straight to a bar on the square where we could have a drink and watch the tower - the tower Pam was busy climbing.
Eventually we all joined forces at the Duomo and begun the journey back to . . . I'm sorry, what parking lot? Oops.
And . . . yes, it rained, yes, we miscommunicated and went our separate ways, yes, Team Betty cooperated and played well together like all the annoying good kids at school while Team Sheridan revealed their true bully colours and pelted each other with recriminations and blame! As Sandy said during the debriefing over supper (and by the way, who was the fool who brought it all up again?!), Team Betty's motto is "There is no I in team" and Team Sheridan's is "We will eat our own". Enough said.
And the end of the day? Supper, singing, cigars . . . vino. You get it, just a typical Tuscan evening. Fantastico.
Caio for Ciona
xoxo
More to come . . .
Kudos to Betty for entrusting her mobility and safety to the arm and leg strength of her many willing attendants. Their teamwork is beautiful to witness.
The square (really an oval) in Siena is a magnificant spot. It may, however, be rivalled by the lunch we devoured at the Trattoria Papei just below the square. http://www.anticatrattoriapapei.com/en/
Our server Eduardo, whose English might have trumped mine, helped make our experience wonderful, but the food was the definite star of that show. I have added a photo of Betty's beans and sausage because even that, a dish that sounds like something your mother offered up the night before grocery day, was a scrumptous piece of edible art!
We split up to wander Siena with a plan to meet at the not-to-be-missed Duomo. Dave, Wes, and I made excellent use of our time. We wandered straight to a bar on the square where we could have a drink and watch the tower - the tower Pam was busy climbing.
Eventually we all joined forces at the Duomo and begun the journey back to . . . I'm sorry, what parking lot? Oops.
And . . . yes, it rained, yes, we miscommunicated and went our separate ways, yes, Team Betty cooperated and played well together like all the annoying good kids at school while Team Sheridan revealed their true bully colours and pelted each other with recriminations and blame! As Sandy said during the debriefing over supper (and by the way, who was the fool who brought it all up again?!), Team Betty's motto is "There is no I in team" and Team Sheridan's is "We will eat our own". Enough said.
And the end of the day? Supper, singing, cigars . . . vino. You get it, just a typical Tuscan evening. Fantastico.
Caio for Ciona
xoxo
More to come . . .
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteNot much of a surprise the Sheridan's got lost. It's like wrangling cats. I guess the "trust big brother" saying has failed
ReplyDeleteTouche Brendan!! It was an ugly hour!!
ReplyDeleteNothing like stepping back in time! What an amazing place and wonderful sounding day you had!
ReplyDeleteOnly slightly jealous after reading about the first 3 days!