La Dimora Del Poeta San Quirico d'Orcia

... I have to walk across town to get to class now. One good thing that came out of this, however, is that because we were so close to her apartment she decided to invite the entire class over for a tea party after class today. Not sure why or how she came up with this idea, but I thought it was really cute.

This was the first genuine Italian apartment inhabited by genuine Italians that I ...

... room – the Libreria Piccolomini, built to house the ancient books of Ena Silvio Piccolomini, better known as Pius II. This room was magnificent – the walls contained brightly-painted frescoes, and the ceiling was outlined in vivid gold.

After the Duomo, we continued walking around Siena, spending more time snooping through its streets and shops. Late afternoon, after a quick stop-in to an Irish pub (hey, don’t judge us ...

... paysage est tres beau, comme dans toute la toscane!!

dans les attraction principale , il y avais le duomo, quelque eglies plus modestes, mais chacune avais un petit quelque chose a voir. puis il y a les ruines d'une anciene arena romaine.

... un prix pour s'assoir a une table! ici c'etait 2 euro par personne! mais sa en valais la peine, les bruchettas., les gnocchis et l'osso buco etaient tous delicieux.

ensuite, la piazza del campo ou il y a un gros chateau avec une tour tres haute, pui une visite a la piazza du duomo pour y voir la seul eglise completement baroque ...

... life time on this trip already!
Climbed the tower in the main piazza, saw an enormously large pizza and had wild boar sausages for lunch which were a bit gamey but nice.
Went for drinks at Lochness bar and ended up drinking long islands as there wasn't much in the way of wine or beer there.

... find them, not knowing who I was looking for, then Kathie came out to help. We caught up with them and I then figured out that Kathie was talking about Dave and Loraine Huner. Their son played baseball with Michael and that son and his twin sister graduated with Michael.

After quickly saying hello we went back to dinner then after dinner went to the bus stop for our ride to the hotel. At the hotel Kathie and I relaxed then started getting ready for our last day of riding.

... cameras in hand, we watched the flag team arrive with drums and fanfare followed by a cast of characters in costumes as well as a dozen or so balestrieri (men and women). The flag twirlers did some great work to the sound of the drums and trumpets and I was struck by the gender balance of the teams. In fact, there were more girls than boys on the drum corps and probably a 50-50 mix on the flag team. After the flag demonstration the square cleared for the crossbow ...

... have to say that our experience was absolutely no disappointment at all. I have never ever EVER seen so many drop dead gorgeous women gathered in one area at one time in my life. They are so naturally beautiful that after the first day or two my neck was sore from whipping my head around looking at everyone. Eric and I just couldnt get over how almost every single person you saw had such drastic beauty and after seeing all this, I think I will tell myself I am partly from Swedish ...

Today started off pretty well. We ran off to start with Internet. A good start to most any day. Must be connected! It started raining, so I went back to the hotel to get an umbrella and then down sopping at the vendor markets again. Haggling here is a bit easier than it was in Mexico. I am not sure why, but I feel more at ease. I didn't sleep very well last night, so I went home after and took a nap. Wende cam by to wake me an hour or so later and we ...

... staircases; one for going up and the other for going down; built to supply water during sieges. - ended the day atop the city walls overlooking the sheer drop to the west and the oldest part of town to the east; what a place to live! *Montefollonico itself: - about a 15 minute walk uphill from Banditello. - great little sleepy village (at this time of year anyway) perched on a hilltop (aren't they all!!). - had a realy special meal in a little ...