Siena

It just so happened that after a record 40 minute bag (sleeping) to bag (backpack) pack we arrived at the bus stop with 10 minutes to spare only to find out that the bus strike would continue for another 3 hours. At this point most travellers, particularly our NY friend, would be pulling hair out. Within seconds our contingency plan was in action. We were sitting under an olive tree, in a vineyard, overlooking town from 500 metres away with a hot cup of tea and local delicacy in hand. Go team Hall!

A couple of chapters of Harry Potter and a few slices of pizza later and the bus pulled up around midday. We arrived in Siena around 1.5 hours later. After tallying our camping nights on arrival at a few more than is comfortable (20 plus) we opted for a one night stop in a hotel.

49 euros, a hot shower and something called a p-i-l-l-o-w was pretty sweet for one street behind the famous town square. Each year the town square holds a famous horse race which erupts into festivals for the rest of the week.

Siena is the colour of, well, burnt siena. Orangy red brick is seperated by marble and stone work in the buildings. We visited the enormous basilica heavily adorned with marble frescoes and tilework, traced our way back to the hotel via numerous calligraphy shops, got blinded by the butcher who shone an industrial torch at Steve who was about to take a photo, and lingered long enough in the local supermarket.

After cooking in our room (is that the same as 'non fumare', debatable if you ask us) we read a few more chapters of Harry then ventured out in the crisp night air to see the square (really an oyster shape) in a different light. To our relief it had stopped raining sufficiently to wander the narrow back steets and catch the lights of the city across the valley.