Darnokish

ooo, I know I have been a bad bad blogger, so after a few excuses I am going to to back track and blog about the days in reverse order. So the excuses. It is really hard for a foreigner to find internet in Europe! We are spoiled! Oh, and after walking all, all, all day and taking trains, buses, and it being very hot. I was really tired at night! And only one computer! Another spoiled admission! Alright, we left with a day in Florence.

Now it is Wednesday. We wake up early with plans to see Siena and San Gimignano.

Finding the Sita bus station in Florence was not fun. We finally find it and in typical Konrad fashion, just miss the bus. Doors are closing, I'm on line getting the biggiletti and Michael is asking Italian man for une momento, no no no. So we wait for the next bus. Arrive in Siena after a dizzyingly beautiful ride through the countryside. Some shopping at the market and then to town.

This basilica held Cateriniana, the patron saint of Siena's...head, oh and for a special treat her ring finger, may-be it was the pointer, I just can't tell them apart, but it was definetley her left hand...yum!

Piazza del Campo

please take me back here soon....

hang them on the horse rings!

Ciao Siena...grazia mille!

..Okay, later this day...The Konrad's have another bus to miss. Yup, get there just as it was leaving. But this seems to work in our favor. We find the ticket office, sit, rest and regroup. Slow, slow and yes once again slow bus to San Gimignano comes. After stopping at many small villages along the way, we arrive at San Gimignano. Some background...San Gimignano, a once upon a time flourishing Medieval town with 40 towers, some for a bit of protection, some just for prestige, ...we are talking Romeo and Juillet...someone read some prose. Perched on a hill, San Gimignano now has only 16 towers left. The town fell to Florence in 1398 after the town's population was diminished by plague.

We reached San Gimignano, just as the sun was beginning to set....It was perfect.

So, one of the main attractions, for the ragazzi at least, is the torture museum. We rush through the stone arch entrance and they spot it on the right. They run to see what time it closes, while Michael goes to see when the last bus back to Florence is. Apparently, there were so many torture devices, they have them in two buildings, so our tickets would be good for two days. "Are you staying the night?" asked the lovely torture guide. no..."Do you know of a vacancy?"..."Si, si, si, si,....the Italians, love to repeat this word, in fact it often is followed by "allora va bene" one or two words of substance are then inserted and then they repeat it again.

Anyway, she would call her friend who runs a pasticheria, across the street. Her family runs

an agritourismo outside of town. Opening? "Si, si, si, si! allora va bene, do you have a car?" No, we are senza macchina. No, problem, Barbera, agritourismo lady,

is closing the shop and will drive us. Wow...It was actually Barbera's husband who drove us.

What a drive, what a view, what a lack of Italian vocabulary to describe how we felt. Not much

english spoken here. wow...

View from the terrace.

Running down the lane to the trattoria for dinner.

A big plate of local Chingale...wild boar! for Addison

Michael and I snuck out for an early morning walk.

That's a rosemary hedge!

Can I live here?

Next day after a yummy dolce filled breakfast and focaccia sandwiches, these are a bit weird for breakfast, but Addison digs them, we were taken back into town. Onto the torture chambers! It's true, we are all wearing the same clothes as the day before...allora va bene.

Yes! Those are skulls.

an excellent day!

a needed nap.

Friday was our last day in Florence.

Michael and I started the day our most favorite way. A stop at the bar for a macchiato and cappuccino, then a little shopping.

This jug, was my intended purchase. After much thought...uncharacteristically of me, I decided that it may not be a good traveler. I do however plan to return to Italy and be braver next time.

I really think I need a house here.

Here Michael and I split up. He went home for an unsuccessful trip to the pool with Tim and the kids. That open or closed thing is always a little misleading with the Italians. So while they went for a nice long walk, I continued some shopping.

Our last night...boo hoo hoo.

We are so going to miss you guys!

Pizza and Pasta after the Palazzo...say it fast 10 times.

Saturday we left for Milan, and for the first time this whole trip we were early for the train.

And it was totally crowded anyway! We had to sit in the hall until Bologna! It felt just like my time here in college when we used to jump on any train, going any where at all hours! It was even a little bit of nostalgic fun!