Everything is blimmin marvellous. Pisa for two days - its only worth an afternoon........then on to Siena for 4 days which was truly sensational. The Palio is something else and if I recommend anything to you its go to Siena for the week of this (Aug or July you choose) The contrade loyalty is spectacular to behold - for days they saunter round the streets in clumps singing songs about their horse and how they are going to anhilate their opponents - the songs do sound the same and Id hum it to you if I could find the hum button.... The mother of all storms on Friday night did nothing to dampen the festivities even when a particularly frisky bit of lightening cut out the power to the area we happened to be in - grown men were hiding under tables as, apparently, it never storms here
The day of the race? Horses go off to church and get blessed and more drums are banged, more songs are sung and then you trot off to the campo and take your seat 5 hours before the race starts. Loads more singing and medieval pagentry flags a tossed and drums a banged. The race finally starts and its over within 90 seconds! Was it worth not being allowed out of your seat? TOO DAMNED RIGHT!!!!
Now in Rome which is fecking warm to put it mildly. Off to see Popie (whos in tomorrow) and those soldiers in pyjamas.
Back to Blighty on Fri.
Big hugs to Blast, who it seems, had a blimmin fabulous time at his party
Love ness
xxx
Photos when we get back.
