Siena

Observations:
Some men in Italy are not afraid to sport loud pants – orange, red, yellow;  if you fall in the shower or bathtub in Italy, you don’t have to worry about “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” because they all have cords you can pull to call for help; every bathroom has a bidet.

Siena is a fortress, surrounded completely by a brick wall.  Twice a year, once in July and once in August, they hold the Palio, a horse race in which each of the 17 districts within Siena compete.  Preparations for this major event were underway when we visited.  In the center of town a race track is created.  Dirt is brought in for the track and bleachers are erected for the spectators.  Restaurants and vendors who had their tables and wares set out for business will be pulled in when the big day arrives.

Each district identifies itself with its own colors and designs.  As you walk along the streets, you notice the brightly colored street lights and flags representing the particular district you’re in.

Seven of the seventeen districts street lights:

Flags hanging in one of the district's streets

 District flags for sale

District hats for sale

 Part of the track

Another view of the track.  It goes all around the piazza (plaza).

Bleachers going up,

and all these awnings over restaurant tables will come down.

We had lunch at one of those restaurants.

Hoof prints in the dirt

Medieval architecture is still very evident.  There are many towers:

and lots of other medieval appointments:

This building came to a point!

Funny picture of the day:

These people put a stuffed animal horse on the track and were taking pictures of it.  They were cracking up, and so were we!