October 27 & 28, 2009

Bob’s Sabbatical

October 27 & 28, 2009

 

Tuesday, Oct. 27  -
Family day and old times.

            The last
time we were in Italy, we stayed at a place called Lupinari, near the little
town of Bucine.   It is about 50 km. from
where we are now.  Lupinari has
connections with Susan’s extended family (not her father’s Italian side).  Francesca married Steve Sotomayor, the son of
Susan’s step-mother’s neice.  Francesca’s
family is the connection.  She is in Italy
now, with their almost two-year old daughter, Antonella (Steve is joining them
this weekend), with her Aunt, who lives a few miles from Bucine.  We arranged to get together for lunch
today.  It turned out to be the same
restaurant we ate in with our children, Susan’s brother, sister-in-law and niece,
and Susan’s cousin, Sharon (and Mike), all ate in one night 5 years ago.   The same wonderful man runs the place, and
the food is still great.  Susan and I enjoyed
meeting Francesca’s aunt, playing with Antonella, and driving around the area,
seeing some of the same places we remembered from before.

 

 

Wednesday, Oct. 28 – Siena

We decide to head to Siena today.  We have been warned that this is not a good
day, because Wednesday is “Market Day,” and it is crowded and parking is even
worse than usual. 

[As I write this, we are back at
Montestigliano, and hearing rifle-shots. 
This goes on every day, from early morning to dusk.  We do not know what they are hunting.]

Anyway, we want to go to Siena because it is
market day.  It is such an Italian
thing.  Every town has a day when vendors
line the streets with clothing, food, shoes, crafts, etc.  We did the tourist thing in Siena before,
this is sabbatical Siena!

            We
should have asked for more specific directions. We drive in, and have no clue
what part of town market is in.  I just
find a parking place (illegal) just outside the wall.  We start walking.  It turns out we are on the total other side
of town from the market.  We have to walk
uphill and downhill, past the Duomo, past the famous Campo (where horses race
around the piazza twice each year).  We
finally find the market, where we shop, eat, people-watch, etc.  Like everything else in Italy, it is closing
down after lunch.  We window-shop all the
way back across town, find our car (whew!), and head home.

            Still
have not been able to confirm cooking class, so that may not happen this week.  We will go to another little place “just up
the road” for supper.

  Peace,

   Bob