As I write today's blog, I am sitting in the Palazzo Pubblico Museum, in the Hall of Peace. The frescoes displayed in this room were painted by Ambrogio Lorenzetti between 1338 and 1340. Numerous people are sitting on the provided benches with art books in hand as they study each fresco. There are no photos allowed. As you will see by the photos below, two of the three panels are in good condition while sadly, the panel of "Bad government" is very rough with segments missing and faded colour. Tour groups are coming through and particular attention is being given to this room. People are pointing and having quite the discussions. There is a man sitting beside me with a tablet, playing audio and showing text and pictures of what he is looking at... Hmm... What a great idea for an app! I am touring this room with Mary's notes and the electronic copy of Wonders of Italy. Both have been very enlightening.
First thing this morning, I climbed up the wall at the Cathedral museum. I don't know why the portion of the wall still remains but it is a great view from the top. Siena is a lovely town to view from this height and the countryside in the background is magnificent. Apparently, on a clear day, you can see all the way to Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn. Piazza Pubblico, below, is crawling with people. This is the square from where Britt and I will watch the Palio later in the summer. The rest of the town is crawling with people too but because the town is so large it doesn't seem to be over-filled. They limit the number of people allowed at one time in this open air wall so it is not any more dangerous than its height and the fact that there is no wire barracade.
Today, I bought an iron! Trevi Iron. Ferro da stir a vapore da viaggio. I have found that it is one kind of experience to walk around town wrinkled with Karen or Keith, as they were wrinkled too, and so were their clothes. *S* But it is another kind of experience to walk around town alone all wrinkled. It kind of made me feel homeless! So I bought a little travel iron that came with a completely in Italian manual. I am not sure how I am going to carry this iron with me as there is no spare room in my travel bags!
First thing this morning, I climbed up the wall at the Cathedral museum. I don't know why the portion of the wall still remains but it is a great view from the top. Siena is a lovely town to view from this height and the countryside in the background is magnificent. Apparently, on a clear day, you can see all the way to Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn. Piazza Pubblico, below, is crawling with people. This is the square from where Britt and I will watch the Palio later in the summer. The rest of the town is crawling with people too but because the town is so large it doesn't seem to be over-filled. They limit the number of people allowed at one time in this open air wall so it is not any more dangerous than its height and the fact that there is no wire barracade.
Today, I bought an iron! Trevi Iron. Ferro da stir a vapore da viaggio. I have found that it is one kind of experience to walk around town wrinkled with Karen or Keith, as they were wrinkled too, and so were their clothes. *S* But it is another kind of experience to walk around town alone all wrinkled. It kind of made me feel homeless! So I bought a little travel iron that came with a completely in Italian manual. I am not sure how I am going to carry this iron with me as there is no spare room in my travel bags!