***Since this blog was created, it has been written by "Laura and Bryan"... anybody that knows the both of us knows that just stands for "written by Laura, read by Bryan a week later". I have decided that it will be easier for me to just write this as myself. That being said (now that I am no longer speaking for both of us...) - I have decided I am moving to Italy.
After catching a late flight from the (very confusing and warm) Orly airport in Paris, we landed in Florence (or, in Italy, Firenze) and took a taxi to our hotel. The hotel was not exactly a luxury resort, with a metal screen filling in holes in the roof (we had the pleasure of listening to every floor above us flush their toilet at all hours of the night). Still, with a bed, a shower, and a free breakfast, our needs were met and we settled in. Even in the crappy hotel, it took me less than 24 hours to fall in love with Italy.
Our first day in Florence, we ventured out to find some lunch and check out the hills we could see outside of our hotel window. Just down the street, we found a little restaurant called 'Pizza Man', and walked in to grab a bite to eat. Although the staff didn't speak a word of English (despite the English name of the restaurant), we managed to point and use hand gestures well enough to get our order across - two personal-size ham pizzas and two waters. A few minutes later, we had pizzas the size of a large pizza in the US, and two glass bottles of mineral water (they are really big on their glass-bottled water here). Amazed at the amount of food in front of us, we dug into the pizzas and had our first taste of Italy. Instead of the greasy, cheese-smothered pizzas we were used to (which I still think are delicious), we had oven-roasted tomato sauce with fresh mozzarella and basil on fresh-baked dough straight out of their brick oven. It was delicious, and served well as our dinner that night too! (Since we had so much left over!)
On Tuesday, we woke up early to hop on a bus that took us to a few places around Tuscany. We started in Siena, where we got to walk the streets, and see the square where they hold the Palio horse races. These horse races are an important tradition in Siena, and happen twice a year (every July 2 and August 16).
Siena is divided into seventeen contradas - and each resident is born into a contrada that they cannot change. The contrada that you are born in is so important in their culture that women giving birth at hospitals outside of their contrada will bring soil from their home to place under the hospital bed so their child can be born on their contrada's soil. Before the race, jockeys are selected from outside of Siena, in attempts to keep them from being biased. However, it has long been known that these jockeys will accept bribes, and have instead inherited the name "assassins". Race day starts with a special mass, trial runs by the jockeys, and blessing of the horses. In the afternoon starting around 3pm there's a procession through the historic center of Siena with costumed participants from each contrada and performances by flag throwers. The historic parade ends at Piazza del Campo.
Before the race the starting line-up is decided by lottery and horses are lined up behind a rope, the traditional starting gate. The race is about 1000 meters total, with horses circling the track three times, taking less than two minutes. The contrada of the winning horse is awarded the palio, or victory flag. Winning the palio is a huge honor and the race is highly competitive. I've grabbed some photos from the internet that show the race; although that many people packed into a small space with such emotion sounds crazy, I think it would be amazing to witness.
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| Thousands upon thousands pack the square to witness the 3-lap race. |
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| Horses race around the square 3 times, and jockeys ride bare back dressed in costumes representing their contrada. |
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| The track has sharp turns and can often result in jockeys being thrown from the horse, and even horses tumbling into the crowds. |
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| Piazza del Campo... without the thousands of people. |
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| The Duomo |
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| Just checking out some of Michelangelo's work in the church... |
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| Another shot of the historic square. |
After spending time in Siena, we visited an organic farm in the Tuscan countryside. They served us organic pasta and food for lunch (all from right there on the farm... they grow their own grain for the pasta, olives for the olive oil, grapes for the wine, vegetables for the salad, raise cows for their beef... everything!) We got to try four different kinds of wine, and enjoyed a view of the Tuscan countryside while enjoying the best meal I have ever eaten in my life (hands down!).
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| I could eat this every day of my life and be happy... |
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| Maybe this picture best explains one of the reasons I want to live here. |
After lunch, we headed to San Gimignano, one of Tuscany's best-preserved medieval towns, and enjoyed some cool architecture and gelato!
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| mmm... gelato! |
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| San Gimignano is known as the "Manhattan of Medieval Times", because it had so many "skyscrapers". |
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| The classic tourist pose at the Leaning Tower. |
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| Trying to get a shot of all of the people trying to get the "classic tourist shot" in Pisa! |
Our next stop is Rome, so I'll be posting again soon!
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