5-29
So we got up and got some delicious breakfast and met out front to start the day in San Gimignano. We were supposed to start off with a torture museum but found that that would have to be delayed and so we went off to our rooms to regroup before going to climb the Tower. We had a balcony, which I already said that I loved, and while we were regrouping a harp player started setting up outside our window. And then the man in the room above us began to sing. Let me add this to the list of I-feel-like-I’m-in-a-movie moments. Unfortunately the harp player was dinking around and hadn’t started playing before we left. Time for the Tower, I don’t know what its official name but we climbed it. The climb wasn’t awful and it really did have a cool view of the town.
After the tower we went to the torture museum. Now I am going to tell you that I can stomach quite a bit. I watch the History and Discovery channels and have seen some things on torture before but what I got hit with was nothing like I was expecting. It was just torture method after torture method. They were gruesome and malicious and numerous. There wasn’t any lead in or lead out to prepare you, just the torture device, a brief description of its use and sometimes a picture. I was out of that museum in record time. I think there was just something too awful for me about seeing what other people can and will do to each other over petty things like bickering and being a busy-bodies. It hurt my heart to see that stuff.
So after that we walked around a little hoping San Gimignano would be so kind as to show us some beauty; it obliged and we found some great pictures and fun little look outs. We stopped back at the hotel to get our stuff into the van and found that the harp player had started playing. It made me so happy. We grabbed some gelato from the World Champion (2007-2008) gelato shop and then packed out gear into the bus and left. We drove to Sienna first where we stopped for quite the workout.
We went to another tower, the tallest of course, and waited in line to climb that. Erdogmus got tired of waiting so we walked over to the Duomo of Sienna and went inside to see the cathedral. It was really stripy but I liked it overall. It was interesting because the Duomo actually never got finished so that made for some differences between it and other cathedrals we’ve seen. We got a call from the guy waiting in line for us and so we scurried back to the tower and climbed it. I was panting by the time we reached the top. I think that might have been the most stairs we’ve ever climbed in one go. The view was amazing, though, and while we were up there a marching band passed by which was fun to see. During this climb I found a new appreciation for my shortness. As the stairs got steeper and the walls got closer together (they really did, my shoulders were definitely touching both walls at one point) the ceiling also would sporadically plunge leaving a five foot two inch tall opening. How do I know it was this tall? I never had to duck; I came close but never had to. Going down was the real treat for everyone else; trying to hunch over and navigate down the stairs safely. Yay short people! The top was sweet though, I should have some pretty sweet pictures.
Then we went back to the Duomo and saw the museum, went on top of what was supposed to be the façade (since it’s not finished it is not) and went into the baptistery. I have found that I like baby angels. I don’t know how long this partiality has lain dormant but it is here and I have noticed now. I see them everywhere and they make me laugh. Other people now point them out to me, too. There were some great baby angels that I saw today. In the baptistery we also saw a real kid getting drug by the arm by his mom, who then—wanting to take a picture—trapped the kid between her legs to free up her arms. All this time the kid is making so many different noises (grunting, laughing, squeeling) and we are all dying laughing.
After that we grabbed some quick pizza. A huge slice, like as big as my face, for 2.5 euro. It was amazing. Then we loaded onto the bus and drove to Assisi where we are staying the night. We found our rooms and packed our overnight bags for the next two nights since we’ll fly to Palermo tomorrow and don’t want to haul the big bags. While I was packing I noticed that I was running dangerously low on underthings and so with the help of the complimentary soap and shampoo, some hot water and the hair blow-dryer, I remedied that as much as I could. Hopefully that’s all dry in the morning when we have to leave! Night!
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