Part 23: Mobile homes and Moonwalking through Siena’s Piazza del Campo

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Now I know

“Now I know why God spared me from all of the stupid things I’ve done in my life,” I wrote in my journal. “So that he could show me Tuscany.”
Take your most idealistic image of natural beauty, and max it out. Then paint it all over the countryside for miles and miles. That’s Tuscany, in a nutshell. It even says everywhere, “The most beautiful region in Italy.” That it may well be.
It was on this incredible drive that I began to notice my declining fuel efficiency and pay very close attention to the performance of my bike. I would investigate this further when I reached Rome. As my awareness of the mechanics of my Vespa increased, I wrote the following about my respect for that which I could rely on:

I’ve gained an appreciation
For the things that haven’t broke
Like my baggage
And my habits
And my heart that’s full of hope

The road

The road to Siena is one of the best-paved roads in Italy. The only vehicles I saw were large trucks delivering cargo from the countless wineries along the way.
Tuscany is the only place in Europe where I have encountered recreational vehicles (RVs). Though they are almost an exclusively American obsession, it is easy to see why you would want to take a recreational vehicle out here. With such beauty outdoors, who would want to lock themselves inside?
Siena is the most classic walled, Tuscan city. Here, we would not stay in an old world loft in the heart of the city. We would not stay in a Motel 6 or a Best Western. Not a hostel, nor an elegant hotel. Here, in Siena, we stayed in a mobile home, in a camping park. Yes, we rented a mobile home for the night. Our first-class camping quarters included our own bathroom (without hot water), dual midget beds, and the luxury of about a centimeter of insulation. Of course the conveniently-located mud pond that reached all the way to our doorstep meant that keeping the tiles on the floor clean and dry was out of the question.
We dropped off our things in our room, and took the bus to town in the waning rain.

Siena

We ignored the typical Italian flee market, admired the well lit Christmas tree in another square, and came to the big, open Piazza del Campo where we stopped to watch a 12-year-old Moonwalking over 1,000 years of solid stone.
There was an American gospel concert happening on Jan 1, and we attempted to attend. However, the show sold out while we waited in line. American gospel music is rather well received in France and Italy, which surprised me at first.
The buildings in Siena are magnificent; so weathered and colorful. I fell in love with this yellow one in the photo posted here. I took about four of them in almost no light at all, and this was the best of them.

Tourist Land

Because Tuscany is very well established on the tourist circuit, I must warn anyone reading this - do not order food from display cases without a listed price. No price pretty much means, “whatever we can get from you.” How about two spinach hot pockets for €10? At least they were good. You won’t get charged that much if you are off the beaten tourist path. But in places like Siena, they will nail you.
Alex didn’t eat at my hot pocket café. She picked up some grub down a dirty alley at a Chinese restaurant. Somebody please tell me why it is that the garbage leftover after you consume Chinese food always smells 10 x funkier than the food actually tasted. Am I right on this? Maybe it’s some kind of spell those crafty Chinese put on their food, shading the true rancid flavors just long enough to reach your digestive tract.
It was here in Siena that I officially dubbed Alex as the “sister I never had.” I think I truly mean it, for all the positive and negative connotations associated with siblinghood.
While searching for what eventually turned out to be her Chinese food, Alex proceeded to lead us about 3 kilometers in the wrong direction. We wandered about until we met a guy at a tobacco shop, who gave us the most excellent directions I’ve ever received I my life - in English - telling us exactly where to find the bus that we needed. As a result of his precise directions… we found the bus, went home, and went to bed.

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Photos

Cathedral
Night shot

dude
Love this dude with the umbrella by the door

xmas
Christmastime in Siena

read this
Engrish isn't just for Asians

building
I love this building for some reason

driving
driving through Tuscany

Comments

[Candi]

Yay, Siena!
Siena is one of my favorite places, especially because of the Piazza. In the summer, people camped out on the cobblestones as they would on a sandy beach, watching people, talking, playing games, making out... a little of everything. Just a fantastic place. Hopefully you visited the Duomo and saw St. Catherine's head in a box, too. Only in Italy. ; )