Getting to know Siena

Well because I missed the train to go to the weekend trip, I decided I would spend the weekend getting to know Siena as best as I could! Its starting to feel like fall here and Siena looked so beautiful. I woke up this morning to Peirina and her daughtor yelling, and I knew it was time to wake up! I got dressed in a sweater, boots and wore my Italian scarf from Rome. I felt pretty European, and I decided I would get a Kebab for lunch. The Kebabs are an indian meat covered in whatever you want on it. It was the best thing I have had here by far. It was the closest thing I could find to Mexican. This means I have lost my love for Gelato and will now be eating Kebabs everyday.

After lunch, I went to the train station and went to the mall. It was tiny, and pretty useless, so I took a train back and came to Piazza Gramsci. As I was looking through the stoors, I started to here drums going off in the compo. I went over there, and noticed there were little boys dressed up and marching through the streets. It was a Contrada game today!

The city of Siena is split up into 17 different districts, each named a Contrada. 2 times a year they compete against eachother to the Polio. It is a small horse race only 3 laps in the compo. It is a fast race but means everything to them! Everyone goes. Only one rider and horse can compete for their contrada. The contradas all have different names and mascots like, the Elephant, Owl, Snake, Dragon, Duck, Snail, Giraffe and so on. Some times during the year they have other competitions and they like to battle against eachother. Today it was the boy's turn, and the little boys were playing the drums and flags to represent their contrada. Because I live outside the city walls, I don't have a contrada, but I decided that if I am going to be here, I need to have one! Everyone picks a Contrada and they are loyal to it. I did my research around the city and decided that my Contrada would be the Owl. They have not won recently, but they did 2 years ago. Giraffe won the Polio in August and Duck has the most wins overall. I am excited to finally have a contrada.

But today has been really nice. Really relaxed and it feels really good. Arriverderchi!