After checking in at our lodging, and meeting the adorable Italian grandma that owns the place, we left our bags safe in our room and decided to get the most our of our train day by visiting Siena this evening. While it meant another three hours or so on the train, we had already used our EuRail pass today, so it wouldn't cost us any extra money.

It turned out to be time well spent . We chatted with Aussies on the train most of the way into Siena. Then we caught a bus that took us through the old city walls and deposited us near Il Campo, the great big square. We enjoyed the view and took it all in, and then went to find ourselves some dinner. Down a side street on our guide book's suggestion, we found the restaurant we had picked, only to learn that it was closed for some sort of repair, it seems. At least, that was the nearest we could come to understanding the Italian sign. So we went to plan "B" and each had a plate of homemade pasta with meat sauce at another nearby restaurant. It was just the thing. :)

After we had paid our bill, we continued on to get some dessert. Going into a gelatoria that looked good, I had them start scooping up a few fruit favors. Before I asked for the berry, however, I asked if it had milk in it (because it looked more creamy than the other places we had seen). "Yes." (Said with the inflection of "Duh!) "It all have milk. It ice cream!" We apologized and left. I would have felt worse about not buying what he had scooped if he wasn't rude to me. But it stressed me out. We tried across the street, and asked first. Theirs all had milk in it too. Thank you, Lord, that I didn't eat a cup full of ice cream! I would have been sick for days! A good reminder to always ask, even when you think you know what you are ordering.

I was a little shaken by this (not just the milk, but the man's harsh attitude) but we continued on to see the Duomo . I was surprised that this one was striped as well. Apparently they had the same building material to work with as Orvieto. This one had less of the dark stone, however, and I think it looked more dignified. :) I took a bazillion photos from different angles and on different settings. It was a good lookin' church!

On our way back to the bus stop we found a gelato shop that had all their allergens (gluten, soy, milk, etc.) clearly marked. We each got a dish and happily ate it as we walked. We had to wait a while for the bus. When the driver showed up and we asked him if this was the bus back to the station, he was a bit bleary eyed. (Like perhaps he had just woken up?) The ride back to the train was a bit like Mr. Toad's Wild Ride! It was certainly the fastest I've ever seen a bus take corners and round abouts. Bryan (who was seated facing forward and could look out the front window) said it looked like he was driving right for the pedestrians, and they were unconcerned. Fortunately, he didn't hit anything or anyone and we made it back to the train in one piece .

We checked the departures board and were a bit taken aback when we realized that the train we were about to catch was the last one for the day. Any later and we could very well have been stuck in Siena for the night! Thankful that that wasn't the case, we went to our platform and awaited our train. When it finally arrived (behind schedule) it was only one little train car! We all got on, and I think everyone got a seat. At least, Bryan and I did. I read in our little Rick Steves' phrase book for the first 45 minutes or so, and then dozed off and on the rest of the way.

We got to the station in Florence just before 11 p.m. and walked back to our lodging. Fortunately, it didn't feel too late to be out and about on the street. It was lively in a comfortable, respectable way.

And that was our trip to Siena!

I really liked the restaurant that we found here. It was run by a family and had an open kitchen, so we could watch them work. They had all kinds of different pastas laid out and every time they opened the oven, you got a big whiff of roasted meats.  

The guy at the gelato stand was actually quite a shock to both of us. I think it was really the first time we had been treated rudely on our trip. This is no indictment of Italian hospitality. Generally everyone was very gracious to us. Perhaps he was having a bad day and was sick of tourists. I don't imagine anyone could blame him for that. Still, it was a remarkable encounter if only for being so unique.