Jill and I have arrived in Siena after a three hour bus trip (nicely airconditioned), where the Tuscany landscape is a mix of medieval buildings, rolling hills, and a gorgeous sky. Our room with a view is an understatement to say the least. But rewinding to where we left off from our last blog and last time with internet availability, we completed many of our Rome must sees.
Monday evening was a visit to the Spanish Steps which was incredibly packed with tourists and Italian men shoving roses at you in hopes you might buy from them. We discovered the Enoteca Antica on one of the small cobblestone streets. Enoteca is Italian for wine bar and this place had been in business for over 200 years. The wine was just fabulous and our gnocchi we ordered literally melted in our mouths. By far the best meal we had in Roma and made some fun local friends who helped us practice our Italian. Most of our sentences begin with Como se dici, meaning How do you say...?
Due to unforseen difficulties with her flight and the lack of a proper communication channel, Erin was unable to join us Monday evening. Happily, the next day the three of us was able to tour together. An interesting dining option in Rome is to stand up at the delis/quick service restaurants where you can sip teeny tiny espressos ( about 4 sips per cup) and eat pressed paninis while being entertained by the server whose charasmatic personality and hate of all US cities with the exception of Miami kept us entertained.
The long walk to the Vatican compounded by the blazing sun (i.e. with every step another drip of sweat rolls down your back), thousands of tourists, and a slight detour in the exact opposite direction which thankfully Jill realized before we walked too far. Arriving at the square, we quickly got into line for what we thought was the Vatican. Half an hour later after going thru the metal detectors, having Jill fail the dress code due to an apparently too short hemline, quickly get her back thru the line after donning a pashmina over her skirt, and being stopped by another guard telling Erin to pull the hem of her skirt down we finally are allowed to go in. Turns out the line we were in wasn't for the Vatican Museum (housing the Sistine Chapel) but for St. Peter's Basiclica only, have we mentioned the poor signage in Italy yet? The Basilica itself was one of the most incredible sights we've seen thus far and pictures would never do it justice...
When we stopped to ask a guard about the entrance to the Vatican Museum, we were informed that it was 1 kilometer (actual distance still in question) around the city wall and to the left. Realizing it was 3:50 and knowing they stopped allowing visitors at 4 put the three of us into a full on sprint towards the entrance. The girls with their tennis shoes and me with my Ecco sandals. I am happy to report the sandals did not slow me down as we quickly manuvered around people leisurely walking in the same direction. Making it just in time, we paid for our tickets and quickly began our tour at the Vatican. The Sistine Chapel was just stunning as you stared at paintings drawn with such talent that the figures appeared as if they could step out of the walls and into the room. Definitely worth seeing and after our overload of visions from the day we headed back to our hotels to relax before our evening plans.
Getting back to today...Jill and I checked out of adorable hotel in Rome and headed to the metro for our bus to Siena. After a bit of difficulty finding the actual bus station we quickly bought our tickets 15 minutes prior to its departure. Well that catches you up to present and tomorrow we are hoping to see more of Siena and possibly a cooking class.
Ciao for now! Jaime and Jill
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