Cliche Alert: Under The Tuscan Sun. . .

After the winery tour, we headed to Siena, which is just a short drive away. After being in the middle of nowhere, it was strange get so quickly into a town. Tom Tom actually had the route right for once. Blind squirrel, meet acorn.

We drove around for a bit, searching for parking. We felt triumphant when we found a tiny pay lot right by the Fortezza (Fortress). Well, as we headed into the town and turned the corner, it turned out the parking lot is huge. . .but darn it, it still counts as a good parking find.

We followed signs along the twisty, narrow streets packed with tourists like us (although we were wearing short sleeves while everyone else was bundled up like January). Plus, the other tourists’ children are not as bright as our kids. So, maybe they aren’t tourists like us.

Okay, I’m back now from wherever I drifted off to in that last paragraph.

We plopped down for lunch in the huge – and packed – Plaza del Campo. But, once again, it was a good packed, not an overpacked packed. It gave the place life. . .there’s a fountain and the famous clock tower (look, Lonely Planet guidebook says it is famous, it’s famous – trust me). The antipasto plate of Tuscan meats and cheeses was enough for lunch – and Carol and I split that. Huge plate of the best stuff. The pasta was fine.

We toured the Palazzo across the way, then hiked up the windy hill to the Duomo. We were shocked (twice). There was a line to get in (it moved fine), and we had to pay to get in. First Catholic Church in Italy we had to pay to enter. The facade is amazing, and it was pretty inside. After wandering for a while, we headed out for gelatto.

(Look, I could write more in-depth about the different frescos, paintings, etc., but I’m not an expert and you’re here to be entertained, not bored.)

We headed for Nannini’s just off the Plaza del Campo, because it was promised by the Lonely Planet book to be the best gelatto in town. Except the shop didn’t sell gelatto. Bakery, candy, coffee, yes. Gelatto, no. We then set off in search of the car AND gelatto. Since the gelateria in Radda en Chianti is closed on Monday, we needed our fix in Siena.

Well, we came upon another Nannini’s - which has gelatto – but the place was ringed two deep by Italians who don’t queue up. Clearly it’s good gelatto, but we had less than zero chance of getting anyone’s attention to get served. Maddy asked – "is it worth it." Nope – so we moved on. We stopped for water/soda at McDonald’s (we won’t get food).

Then, it was time to head back. We stopped for diesel. . .and the fellow at the gas station was very helpful. . .for example, pointing out that the diesel actually goes in the front after I had pulled too far forward. Because of technical difficulties, I posted some blog entries to the site while parked at the station.