Siena 05/25/09

Yesterday was our visit to Siena. Our bus ride there was pleasant. Rhi and I sat on the bus and laughed aloud as we listened to "power ballads". We rocked out to REO, Styx and Chicago. It was hysterical and then we listened to some Kanye and Salt N Pepa. Fun times. Getting off the we were thrust into a beautiful view of a walled city. I cannot explain the structure of these huge walls and pictures really do not show these vast structures. We walked into the walled city and met in a group in front of a georgeous church. Afterwards we were off on our own and Rhi and I decided to take the slow meandering pace to take in all of the aspects of the city. We stopped in small speciality shops and wandered up and down winding streets away from large crowds. We ate lunch at a fast food type Italian restaurant with a piece of pizza that was bigger than the size of my head. After that we walked to find the yarn shop with Sarah, Joey, Angie, Alexis and Kim. We found some fantastic views to take pictures at and watched couples with serious PDA problems. It was HOT out and I was starting to feel ill. So Rhi and I decided to relax and enjoy the life of the city and it's people. We opted to do our own thing instead of going on the two hour city tour. Instead, we stopped and ate gelato in the piazza, started to feel "over" being in Siena for almost 12 hours and then walked towards the yarn store that didn't open for a few more hours. We experienced Italy through the people, sounds, tastes and smells on our own time. It was nice. We waited patiently for the yarn shop to open for a few hours and in the meantime amused ourselves people watching and conversing. We talked for at least an hour about our lives and that conversation of getting to know my friend better was worth far more than any tour I could have gone on. It was nice. To feel connected to a friend and be open about life without any worries of judgement. Sarah caught up with us and went "yarn" shopping and then we went to the piazza and sat and knitted while watching children running through the streets playing and enjoying the fountains. Oh yea, did I mention that Rhi and I like 97% saw Taye Diggs in a off the beaten path street=) For dinner we went to a nice sit down restaurant with some of the profs and enjoyed exchanging stories and drinking wine. We relaxed and enjoyed the cool evening air that began to circulate which was well needed after a scorching 95 degree day. The bus ride home was a riot, Fabio, our driver, was our "dj". He played plenty of "power ballads" that we all joined in singing and laughing about. Dr. Tyson and Dr. Remley even participated in the YMCA. It brought me back to my high school soccer days, all of us united in a win, enjoying our victory and the company that came along with teamwork. Long day. Some parts "over it" and other parts I wish I had more time to enjoy. Sigh. Italy - I will be back...that I can promise.