Siena - market and palio preparations

We went back to Siena again today. Wednesday is market day and we also saw the preparations for the first of the "palio" horse races in the Campo.

A big part of the market are the shoes.

The "palio" are held twice a year - this year the horse races in the Campo are being held on 2 July and 16 August. The dirt has been spread around the Campo track for the first race, souvenirs have arrived in the shops and flags are up in the various suburbs of Siena that compete against each other in the race.

It rained today!

Tonight was Linden and Cherry's turn to make dinner and they treated us to four courses - a Sicilian starter of anchovies, orange and fennel; a chicken cacciatore casserole with tuscan white beans; a cheese course of pecorino with honey and gorgonzola; and gelato with limoncello for dessert.

The night ended with a display of the 42 bags purchased while we've been at the villa (women 38, men 4). The Italian economy is in for a shock when we leave.