What a view! A photo simply doesn't do it justice.
Breakfast was a scrumptious mixture of cappuccinos, cured hams, local cheeses, croissants, fruit and the juice of blood oranges. Feeling satisfied we took our little car for a spin to the centre of Siena.
A local reminded us that it was street cleaning day, so no free parking for us. We parked in the paid parking (€1.60 p/hour) and took the five - yes, five! - long escalators to the top of the hill where the town was built.
Tiles decorated the inside walls that encased the escalators.
Inside the lane ways were busy with students making their way to university, delivery drivers racing to drop off their goods, scooters zooming off in different directions dodging passers by and a nun dutifully making her way to this morning's calling. Shaun and I were amongst the only tourists at that time which may be why we had so many on lookers.
Siena seemed to be around three times the size of Lucca and having been built in the 1100s she's ancient! But like so many European constructions she carries her age well. We flirted in and out of shops admiring the leather shoes, handbags and the bountiful Tuscan hand-painted plates and dishes.
We spotted endless varieties of Pizza displayed (which we had as a late lunch on our way out), Gelato and green grocers whose shops we adorned with strings of garlic cloves, bottles of oil, herbs and spices.
By this time the lane ways were bustling with tourists and locals alike. I still find myself gawping at local women who so effortlessly sport heels while walking on the cobbled stone streets. I've been wearing flats and still manage to trip myself up on the uneven corners!
Somehow, with a few accidental wrong turns, we found ourselves drawn to a local park. Not because it was so different to Australian parks - the absence of grass replaced by huge shade throwing trees - but because of the view which fitted perfectly like wall paper to the back of the park. Just when we thought we've seen it all!
We slowly made our way back through the lane ways. A €6.40 parking fee later we were in our little car and on our way back to the castle, only a eight minute drive. Shaun decided to take a nap so armed with my Danielle Steel literacy delight I took myself, my sunglasses and my swimmers and went to laze by the pool.
The owner, Count Luigi and his wife were already at the pool trying to enjoy the sun's rays but when the cries of their seven month old baby boy became too much they left. Leaving me alone with my book and surrounded only by the sounds of soft lapping pool water, the intermittent rustle of olive trees in the gentle breeze and distant chug of a tractor, I finally felt myself unwind to the point that I could feel the rhythmic beat of my heart in my chest. Blissfully happy I read and read until the sun successfully completed its mission. Hot and sweaty I rinsed off under a nearby outdoor shower before wading into the swimming pool. The water was fresh and crisp... after two laps the temperature was perfect.
Sufficiently cooled off I returned to my deck chair and continued reading for what felt like another hour. The sound of other guests making their way toward the pool signalled the end of my sun bathing.
Shaun was half awake when I returned. I was starving so we made our way to the restaurant we ate at the previous night. It was 6:50pm and they were still setting up an we're told to wait outside. We were deliberating going to another restaurant but for the ease of eating here we decided to stay. Wrong choice!
Short of the story is that Shaun ordered slithered steak pieces (I use the term steak lightly because it's not at all like our steak!) and asked for it to cooked medium. The meat arrived bathed in a sauce and only seared o one side...the rest was raw! My pasta with truffles was sickening. We both ate half our meals then gave up. We asked for the bill and left feeling queasy (Shaun definitely wasn't feeling good) in search for an ice cream to rid our mouths of the foul taste. We drove around for 20 minutes before finding a small bar that only stocked two of the twenty four ice creams listed on the board outside. But that did the trick!
After we parked the car at our accommodation we took a few photos the town's twinkling lights in the distance before making our way back to our room in our castle for our last night in Siena.
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