A bit of history

For all of the posts we have done, we haven't really done any about the city. While we live right outside the city walls, we go into the city center just about every other day. It's a quick bus ride for us (which the kids love) or about 3 minutes by car. Siena is a really beautiful place. The pictures below were taken when we went to dinner the other night right near St. Catherine's house (she's the patron saint of Siena).

All of the buildings in Siena are made of brick that is the reddish color of the local stone. The reddish color is why Crayola created a reddish-brown colored crayon called "burnt sienna".

Siena is also known for its steep streets. Below are pictures of us at dinner the other night. The angle of the street poses a unique challenge for restaurants. They've come up with all sorts of devices for making outdoor dining possible. None of them help to keep a squirmy toddler on a stool that sits on a 45 degree angle, but they certainly provide for an interesting dining experience.

This past Sunday night we went into the city to witness an annual event that could not be missed. Each year there is a drawing to choose the last 3 contrade (neighborhoods) who will race their horse in the Palio. Only 10 of the 17 contrade race their horses each year. (More about the Palio here.) It is one of the first events of the Palio season and it brings the entire city out onto the Campo.

As the results are drawn, trumpets play and the flag of the contrade that is chosen is hung out the window of the town hall. The section of the crowd where that contrade is standing goes crazy. It is quite a site.

The drawing is followed by marching through the streets by the contrade whose horses will run in the Palio. Below are pictures of the Tortoise contrade members marching. The scarves around their necks indicate their contrade. The whole thing is fascinating.

New Friends

When we arrived in Siena, we hoped that finding new "Italian Friends", as Anna would say, would be easy. Here at the villa where are staying, we could not have been luckier. There are two other families from Novartis staying here with us. One family, who is from Rome, have two daughters ages 7 and 4. 7 year old Giulia speaks both Italian and English, while 4 year old Marina may not speak English, but clearly understands. We have also be fortunate enough to have Eapen and Mia, also 7 and 4, from Munich here with us for the last week. While they speak neither English nor Italian, it has not slowed down the playing.

The first BBQ of the season!

Last Tuesday night, we all went down to the Campo to hear Giulia sing with the rest of the Sienese school children.

The pool may still be a little cool, but always warm enough for splashing.

The high tech and the low tech of Italian parks

The kids and I have found that the parks in Italy are on two extremes...either very high or very low tech. So far we've found four parks in Siena and we have already identified two as our favorites. There is the super high tech, brand new park down the street from our house. This park has a zip line that one would never find in the States (Karen, you are so right about that!!) and many other high tech balancing-type structures that are both challenging and fun for kids as well as adults.





Then there is the other park. This one is downtown and may as well be straight from 1982. The kids absolutely adore the merry-go-round with seats. It reminds me of the Tot Lot on Innsbruck Drive. Jaime, don't tell me this doesn't bring back fond memories!

Here are some other pictures from the park today.

Pisa and Lucca

Our first full weekend in Italy gave use the opportunity to go and see some sites. Saturday we took a road trip to Pisa and to Lucca.

The leaning tower does in fact lean, quite a lot. Anna was concerned that it might topple over while we were there.


What was the most exciting part of the trip for Christopher? A cherry picker inside the Duomo!





30 minutes North of Pisa is Lucca. It a small walled city that was perfect for a walk and some more gelato.

Wade's musing on Italian Fashion: Hammer Pants

Look out America. Guess what's coming your way? That's right, hammer pants are back!

Fashion forward Italian women are working the drop-crotch pants in a big way. Why you ask? I do not know.

It might be time to break out the Skidz.

Monteriggioni

Anna in the doorway to our apartment.

The kids and I went to Monteriggioni, a castle not far from where we live.

We were allowed to climb the castle walls and sit on the top...an amazing view!

Anna tried on some armor at the museum.

Because when you live within a castle wall, sometimes you keep a live chicken in your kitchen window. Anna spied this while we were walking among the houses of the real people that live here and I thought she was kidding...she was not.

Monterggioni provided a new square, Piazza Roma, where the kids could run around.

The bell tower at Monteriggioni.

Wednesday we explored some smaller towns outside of Siena and came across a tree swing that was hung from a huge old pine tree. The kids loved it!


On Tuesday we found a playground downtown and met some American children who were visiting from Seattle.

We met them for lunch, gelato and some pigeon chasing on il Campo.

Our first few days

Today Wade went to work so Anna, Christopher and I had a chance to get out and explore. The day was beautiful. Sunny and about 70. We found a fabulous park about a ten minute walk from our apartment. The park has a zip line that both kids enjoyed quite a bit.

We had a picnic on the lawn outside of our apartment and we went into the city to have dinner on the piazza. The kids chased the pigeons while Wade and I ate.

The view from the kitchen window.

First gelato of the summer and the kids first experience on il Campo.
I'm sure we'll be back.

We made it

We have made it to Siena for the start of our 3 month stay. The flight, drive and arrival all went without a hitch.