Traveling Mickles: Some rest and the town of Sienna

Day 9:

Was a much needed 'rest day' as Oliver out it. The kids didn't want to go anywhere, and most of the adults agreed. We hung around the villa, explored our little area, and had a lovely day doing nothing. The kids watched a little tv for the first time in a long time, and I got to sit and visit and drink wine. The kids learnt how to play cribbage, and had a great time playing card games with Popi and aunt Bobbie.

We fired up the pizza oven for dinner. After a little confusion on how we were going to make the pizzas (rolling out vs throwing and pulling) we got there in the end. They tasted great and that is what matters. Dads new project, build a pizza oven!

Day 10:

Found us going to a little hill top town called Siena. We were there for the Palio, a horse race that they do twice a year in the town square. Come to find out this is a very big deal, and the kids couldn't watch as it gets pretty dangerous. So we walked around, enjoyed the very festive atmosphere, for be the big square and walked on the track (I really don't think we were supposed to, but no one stopped us) it was very slippery and Oliver fell. They had covered the cobblestones with a clay like mud. We saw one of the horses that was going to race, and Chianina, a large Italian breed of cow. When I say large that is an understatement, they make oxen look tiny.

Siena is a beautiful town with a lot going on, this horse race is a very ancient tradition and they are very proud of it. Each neighborhood has a horse and rider enter to compete, out of the 17 neighborhoods 10 get to compete. They all have ifferentnflags and colors and they parade around in the streets throwing and twirling the flags and veering the drums. It was a very neat thing to see. I am sorry we missed the horse race, but I completely understand why they have a no kid rule. Maybe on my next trip... (hint hint)