CHAPTER 2
It was a cold and dreary winter toiling away at the grindstone in Pittsburgh, made longer by the anticipation of our Aegean Expedition. I don’t think it really warmed up until the week before our departure at the end of June, Pittsburgh’s feeble attempt to convince us to stay, or at least trick us into thinking it might be pleasant if we decided to ever come back. I will say that it can be a charming city when it wants to… but this time its ploy didn’t work. We were on the plane, two carry-ons and no checked bags, and we weren’t looking back. First, off to a wedding of some dear friends in Colorado, and then, before we knew it, on our way across the pond, a quick layover in Brussels, and touching down in sunny Florence. It really is a marvel how quickly you can change environments in the modern day!
We immediately jumped on the train south to Siena which afforded a much needed jet-lag nap, taxi to the BnB, a few staccato raps on the door, and there stood Jake and Jackie, with big smiles, a cold beer, and a tall glass of red wine waiting to greet us! It felt oddly like coming home. But we wasted little time with pleasantries- the city was beckoning. After all our travels, across dozens of countries and through hundreds of cities, Siena remains one of our favorites. It just has a certain charm that makes everything in it seem fresh and novel, while at the same time familiar, like you have lived there all your life. Add to this the excitement surrounding the upcoming horse race, Il Palio, and we were knocking each other over to get out the door and into the historied streets.
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