Siena

We left Florence on the "rapido" or direct bus to Siena, arriving a little over an hour later. We are staying in Hotel Alma Domus. "The building that is now the Hotel Alma Domus began its life as the drying room of a medieval wool works (hedificum tiratorium), probably dating back to the early 1300s and belonging to a certain Brunello di Brunaccio. It was here that the last important phase of cloth production took place. The wet cloth, once treated with natural agents and transformed into felt, was hung out to dry on purpose built washing lines. The medieval building was transformed into a hotel in 1976 and although it has now been completely renovated, it has preserved its original facade, which is clearly visible from Vicolo del Tiratoio. The facade is five stories high and decorated in typical Sienese style; a row of tall rectangular windows runs along its substantial base, while a series of quadruple loggia with alternating architraves and arches decorate the upper stories and decorative brick battlements complete the picture. Inside some traces of the old factory remain, such as the imposing pillars which used to hold up enormous trusses -infact a sketch from the early 1700s reveals that the building was once open on the side looking out to San Domenico. Even the most recent addition of a small building overlooking the slope from Camporegio down to Fontebranda features in the Leopoldine land register of 1811."

After a brief rest, we walked up and down and up and down and up and down...you get the picture: Siena has hills! We reached il Campo at about 7:00. We speed out and let every one choose the restaurant in small groups. Everyone was very pleased with the food. The kids are getting more adventuresome in the eating.

I have been watching the eclipse, which had totally obscured the moon as we walked home about 10:30. As I write, it is just ending at almost mid-night. The cathedral is lit in the foreground. I tried to take some pictures but without a tripod, I think they will be shaky.