Olive Trees/Palio di Siena

Today was just great! We started the day with a 2 ½ drawing session of olive trees with Jason. Good times, but I wasn't in love with my drawings so no need to show.

Then we were dropped off at our 2^nd Italian lessons which we had to do earlier since we were going to Siena. We went over numbers today. Uno, due, tre, YAY!

After class we had an hour to get ready before jumping in the vans to head to Siena. I ended up riding in Jason's car with Valeria, the daughter of Deana and Gabrielle. She used to live in Siena for 5 years and worked at Santa Maria della Scala which was an old hospital that has now been turned into a museum. It is one of the oldest European Hospitals. (I know this because I had to go to the bathroom and she got me in because she knew the ladies at the door. And of course I sneaked in a picture.)

She was nice enough to show us the ins and outs of Siena. She was able to practice her English with me and I tried to practice my Italian with her….like Posso usare il bagno versus Potrei usare il bagno (May I/Could I use the bathroom :)

I have to say that I wasn't originally that excited about the Palio because I don't like the idea of horse racing and the potential for the horses to be hurt. BUT it was an amazing day. For those who might not know The Palio (Il Palio) is one of the most famous athletic contests in Italy. This particular one is a horse race held twice a year (July 2^nd and August 16^th) with riders from various neighborhoods (wards) in the town competing to win the three lap race around the Piazza del Campo.

Before the race we watched from the steps of the Duomo, the parade of all of the different neighborhoods dressed in their particular colors and historical outfits carrying their group flags and performing. Behind the people in costume were people who were apart of each group (you must be born in or related to someone who was born in the neighborhood) who were wearing their neighborhood flags in support.

After this we headed to the piazza which was hard to get into because they were closing entrances. Myself, Jen, Judy and Robert were able to get in through one small gate while the rest were cut off and had to go through the main entrance. We spent the next 3 hours sitting and standing in the sun watching the parade again in the piazza with all of the other thousands of people waiting for the race to start. It was fun believe it or not.

Finally the horses with jockies came out and the race began. NOT! We had to wait another 45 minutes while the jockeys tried over and over to get the horses lined up and ready to go. There was one false start. The anticipation was worth the wait. It WAS SICK!!!! That is all I can say. The screaming the yelling and the speed of the horses along with the 3 horses that ended up crossing the finish line WITHOUT their jockeys. It was an experience I will never forget. Then the celebrations began at the church of the winning neighborhood.
Afterwards we left through the hordes of people and went to dinner. Later we walked back through the piazza that had now been turned in to a huge outside dining area with all of the restaurants serving people on what used to be the race track. AWE freakin some!