Travel Pig

Espresso for breakfast and then off to explore. We stopped first at a favorite butcher shop for sandwiches. The owner is a little grumpy like the soup nazi.

Then on to another favorite place, the balcony that overlooks The Campo!

Next we went to the Duomo. I have never seen it so crowded.

Back to the flat for a nap . On the way we picked our favorite contrada. There are 17. Only 10 will be in the race.

My nephew and family picked me up at the airport and we drove to the gorgeous hill top town of Siena. We were lucky to find parking pretty easily outside the walls of the city. Our flat was easily located. How did we get around without cell phones and GPS?

It’s a beautiful flat in an old cathedral. Two bedrooms and very spacious. The kitchen is nice for breakfasts.

The flat is near the main Duomo, or church. It is my favorite interior of any church I have been inside. No air conditioning in the flat but it was comfortable with fans. That evening we walked around. The city is very walkable and just delivery vehicles are allowed inside. Everyone is getting ready for the Il Palio. The campo has the track filled in with dirt. We found a place to eat dinner, stopped off for a few drinks on the way back to the flat and then to bed.

Mario Batali once said that “nothing can prepare you for the breathtaking beauty of the main piazza in Siena, nothing”. That is assuredly so and yet …

The Pageantry of the Palio

At the airport awaiting my first leg of this much anticipated trip. My dog, Paisley, is with my son, George and his sweet girlfriend, Grace. The house and kitten, Lloyd, will be watched my my daughter, Natalie. She will also be on call at the office. All the plants are watered and bills paid. Ready to go!

So, I have been to Italy many wonderful times but this week I have the good fortune to go back to Siena, Italy to see the Il Palio horse race! This has been on my Bucket LustList for almost 20 years! WTF, I can’t believe that! BTW it’s Bucket-Lust-List because it’s adventures I want to experience, not because I plan to kick the bucket any time soon.

Flying United San Diego to Houston. Then on to Munich and finally to Florence where my first nephew, Mark Giauque and his lovely wife, Jenny and darling daughters, Harper and Mia will pick me up. We will then drive to Siena, where I have a flat rented through Airbnb.

Travel is joyful. Travel makes me feel alive and grateful. Travel makes me giddy! I love my career because I have the opportunity to make my own hours, to schedule in Travel time in my schedule to basically keep my sanity. It’s life balance for me. I don’t have a boat, a vacation home or a RV. I don’t spend much time at salons or spas, but I love to travel! I love exploring new cultures. I love the adventure, the unknown, the unexpected wonderful moments. I love the cross-cultural experiences. I love that going to India once, led me to a private Global 5500 Bombardier jet to Tokyo and then Dubai, staying in a three bedroom two story suite overlooking the Dubai fountains and in front of the Burj Khalifa and a day later eating Indian dahl made over an open fire, sitting in the dirt. Or going to Turkey with my Mom and ending up watching an Endurance Race in Abu Dhabi for three days and a 11 hour layover in Barcelona. Or meeting friends from Coronado in Munich, all of us coming from different pre-Oktoberfest destinations yet arriving at the designated hotel within minutes of each other. Yes, some people like to go on tours or cruises, and maybe I will too someday, but this week, bring on the adventure and unknown.

The flight from San Diego and then the Munich was uneventful, except for the long flight was cold. presently I am at the Munich airport having an Aperol Spritz and beef tartar. I went through passport control and about a 15 walk to my gate. Asked the gate agent if the flight to Florence was next, she informed me that I was in K terminal and needed to get to G. Good to check. The boarding pass was wrong. It’s a huge, well organized airport but if I waited til the flight was called, I would have been late getting my flight

Made it home Wednesday afternoon. The MD letter was fine, even though no one read it! Had to wake up a 3 am. Even though the people on Pink Street were still going strong. Had some sushi. It was ok.

I sent out some SOS’s from Dubai to Coronado and I think my MD came through. I booked a ticket for Wed AM and I have his letter ready to confront the CDC.

Now what? Just hanging out, walking a lot. Keeping away from people, wearing a mask when near people.

I walked around mostly, trying to keep away from people. I have a lot more to read, so I am enjoying this extra time. I feel badly for putting this burden on my daughter, but she will be fine. She will have her well deserved vacation soon. I had to find out where to buy more contact lenses and toothpaste.

I just took a second Covid test. I will be emailed within two hours to see what is next. The weather is perfect, warm in the sun, cool in the shade. I am very close to a Food Hall that I went to a few days ago. I think I’ll wander over.

Back down the Funicular is next