Author Archives: drpopp

I originally booked my ticket in a January. No Visa needed, then in March the Vietnamese government decided to change that. Still do not have a visa! Back up plans are in progress! Stay tuned!

Kind of a lazy day, wait that was yesterday and the same for today. Walked around both days, dodging the storms. Some were quite violent. Last night it thundered for over an hour, with constant flashes of lightening. I had reservations for dinner at a Michelin restaurant but I cancelled because I was too full from lunch. Lunch was at the Gato restaurant across the street. Great pappardelle with ragu.

Another photo of the building where the flat is

Mugolone was the Michelin restaurant. Not a star, maybe a nod. Not so great. Food was attractive, but tasteless, service was tired. Sometimes pizza is perfect!

One more night here. I am full of pasta. Tomorrow I take the train to Florence for one more night in Italy. I think the rain is over!

Today started off with a windy thunderstorm, now it’s clear. Time to get some reading done!

After a short nap and a nice message from my host that the race would start earlier than the day before, I headed back to Il Campo. Same bar. They had a table reserved and they didn’t care that it was just me. After a few minutes the people next to me asked if I had been there the two days before. They were part of the bachelor party that we talked to! They asked where the rest of my group was and I told them that they had to get back home, then they asked if I would like a ticket? Yes!!! They had seats near the bar. Of course I bought them a round of drinks. They didn’t know the race was starting earlier than the day before so we got ready to find the seats. We raced back and forth under the bleachers but we were too late to get to the seats. I left them and tried to peak through here:

This was the best part. I had no idea who won, but as the losing contradas left, I moved towards the track. I had front row seats to see the horse parade down the track and then next came the cute jockey! It was very exciting. I shed a few tears of joy!

One of the Serbians, next to me asked me to join his friends for a drink at the San Paola bar so I did, but very hard to understand them so I left and ran into another celebratory parade of the Unicorno Contrade

What an exciting turn of events. A rain delay, no ticket, then a ticket, unable to get the seats then seeing the celebration! Wow! Almost as exciting as a Packer Super Bowl win, very close!!!

Sad to see this cute family leave. It was wonderful getting to know them.Loved x answering questions from the past. I happen we continue a closeness.

I didn’t get to sleep until 4am with help from part of an Ambien. When I woke up they were pretty niches packed.After they left I decided to get some Euros and buy a bracelet that I liked.

Then I just meandered around, stopping at shops that I had seen along our walks.

We have been staying at Palazzo Celsi Pollini, it was built in 1525! The rain blew open some doors, well, we opened them a few days ago, but that was my story. We met the owner last night just above the garden area that we were having hors d’oeuvres on an old table and chairs. It was a hot beautiful night.

It rained pretty hard for about 20 minutes. we arrived at San Paola Bar about 5:15. Our table was taken but we had a different one for a bit and then moved to ours. Once we got drinks we figured it out. They weren’t letting people in the center area because the race was postponed. I looked at the track. There were still some puddles. We slowly made our way back to the flat. Jenny and I stopped for more food and checked out some jewelry and Mark and the girls had some gelato. Apps on the abandoned balcony, dinner a movie wine and Lemoncello

Lots of parades of the different contradas. At the end of the day they must have been so sweaty and wet from the rain. Many wore wigs.

It rained pretty hard for about 20 minutes. we arrived at San Paola Bar about 5:15. Our table was taken but we had a different one for a bit and then moved to ours. Once we got drinks we figured it out. They weren’t letting people in the center area because the race was postponed. I looked at the track. There were still so puddles. We slowly made our way back to the flat. Jenny and ai stopped fro more food and checked out some jewelry and Mark and the girls had some gelato. Apps on the abandoned balcony, dinner a movie wine and Lemoncello

Lots of parades of the different contrada.

Back to the flat. The big day is tomorrow! We had a beautiful thunder and lightning storm in the evening.