Siena, Italy

Our next stop was Siena, the most lovely medieval city in Tuscany.  Getting to this hilltop town was quite the adventure.  It was probably our most complicated and memorable leg of the trip.  We travelled through Florence and several Tuscan towns, which was so beautiful.  We forgot to validate our train tickets prior to boarding one train, which led to the smelliest train conductor man I have ever taken a whiff of yelling at us in Italian.  I could literally smell him from three train cars away.  It all worked out though... he let us off the hook.  Also, up until this point of the trip, we were very proud of ourselves with how map and direction savvy we had become.  Well, that all ended once we arrived in Siena!  It took us at least 30 minutes, asking 15 different Italian people for help, trying to recall Rick Steves' Siena travel tips, and wandering aimlessly through a four-story parking garage to finally find the correct bus to take us to the center of Siena.  We figured it out and made it to our hotel.  We loved the two days we spent in Siena.  It felt so good to relax and explore such a charming city.  

I'll never forget it.

Below is the view from our hotel. Simply stunning.

Hotel Villa Elda

This was one of our very favorite hotels of the trip. 

The room was super comfortable and the service was great!

...and I have to mention the big bed and blackout blinds!

We took a nap here after our long day of travelling.

This gorgeous view of the city was right out front of our hotel.

We couldn't wait to get an Italian dinner (pizza and ravioli) and explore the city at night.

We took the next day to relax and enjoy the city.

Below is Siena's central piazza, called Il Campo. This area is known worldwide 

for the famous Palio, a horse race run around the piazza (two times each summer).

It was so fun to stroll, eat gelato and pizza, shop, and people watch.

I had the best gelato ever -- pineapple and strawberry. I still dream about it!

Duomo di Siena (completed in 1215)

The architecture was absolutely stunning!

Here we enjoyed a can of luke warm Coke Light. Thirst quenching I tell you.

We walked up and down these streets in search of a true Italian cannoli. 

We struck out -- the locals told us they are found in southern Italy, closer to Sicily 

where they originated. We ended up finding the most delicious ones later in Positano!

My Italian Stallion

I bought this cute shirt in Siena in one of my favorite European stores, Sisley.

Spencer told me I had to mimic the kissy face!

The next morning we took some pictures from the roof of our hotel 

before we headed to the train station.  It was a great farewell to beautiful Siena!

Our cab driver said he knew of Salt Lake City because of the 2002 Olympics.

He also told us he knew all about the "Utah Mormons". :)

I thought this was too funny! At the train station in Siena, the grocery store had 

these funny little carts on wheels.  I was just laughing so hard following Spencer shuffle around.

This little bag of mini madeleines quickly became my favorite go-to treat of the trip.

Each time we had a long train ride ahead of us, I would buy a bag (or two) of these goodies.

Mmm. My mouth is watering just thinking of them.

Ciao Siena! Off to Verona to see Juliet!