Each trip we take seems like it has its own personality. We’re realizing on this trip we all have a little less energy and we don’t feel quite as adventuresome. Thursday we set off to explore Siena. We had never been but Sam and Ruby had highly recommended it and I wanted to be able to share that with them. It was only a 40 minute drive and that part went just fine. Pretty much other than that the day was a disaster. We weren’t really sure how to get to the sites we wanted to see and couldn’t find a parking space.  We finally decided to just find a taxi stand and park there and have them take us to the duomo. Even that proved to be difficult Meanwhile, things are getting a little tense in our car. The front seat didn’t seem to appreciate all the really good help that was being offered from the back seat. We finally decided we would all feel better if we had something to eat. After all, remember, we’re all about the eating. Oh, and by now, it’s raining. We spy a restaurant in the distance and take off towards it with hopes of turning the day around. But noooo that would have been to easy. Yuk, it was a sushi Restaurant and that wasn’t going to work. We saw another restaurant down the block so we take off again. Maybe with a little less enthusiasm this time. It turns out to be kind of like an Italian Burger King We figured we better take it. It wasn’t great (Dale’s hamburger was leaning towards raw) but we stayed.  It was a bit quiet at the table but we finished and walked up the street where we finally find a taxi at the train station.  After Dale takes a picture of the front of the station, we take off and in a matter of minutes the driver gets us to where we have been trying to get for the past hour. The cathedral is magnificent. Unfortunately it was just too little too late. With a low level of enthusiasm we went inside for a tour and had to admit it was amazing, Even so I’m sure we didn’t give it the full appreciation it was due. As we head for the exit we hear a large clap of thunder and wonder if we should have showed more appreciation. As we approach the door we wonder why no one is leaving until we see that the sky has opened and it is absolutely pouring rain. Quietly our little band of weary travelers waits it out. But enough is enough, let’s go home. We called the taxi exactly as we had been instructed and were told call back in a few minutes Dale called 13 times. We waited and waited and waited.  There is very little conversation going on and different members of the group would occasionally wander off. Finally our taxi comes and Dale shows the driver the picture of the train station, He keeps saying something to us over and over again. We figured he is asking us where we want to go so Dale keeps showing him the picture and finally he nodded and off we go. We drive for awhile and just about the time we’re thinking nothing looks familiar, he pulls into the BUS station. Are you kidding me? The train station was a low gray cement building and the bus station was a two story red brick building. We said no this isn’t the right place and showed the picture AGAIN! He gets a little hot, we got a little hot.. We calmed down a little, he calmed down a little and off we go to the TRAIN station. We parted on friendly terms. By now we have been gone waaaaay longer than our 2 hour parking spot allowed. Wouldn’t that just be the topper, to find our car towed. But God knows how much we can handle and our car was just where we left it. Not even a ticket. The front seat got us home with no assistance from the back seat. Conversation picked up a little. We got home and made a lovely Italian dinner followed but some laughter and some tears as we shared our hearts over past and present situations in our lives. When we finally headed for bed we were once again laughing hysterically. Probably from exhaustion. We went no where the next day.

PS

Can you guess who was in the front seat and who was in the back seat?