Siena e San Gimignano

We were up early again for our day trip to the towns of Siena and San Gimignano. We found the coach spot and claimed our seats before the guide started her speech. I can't remember her name but she was a nutter. All her sentences started with "And I tell you somethings....", "And I tell you why..." and "Please even on the right hand side you can admire...".

We got to Siena after about an hour on the coach by which time everyone was wishing the guide would just shut up. As we got off the coach we heard mutterings of people taking the piss by quietly saying "Please even on the right hand side you can admire the beautiful toilets". Ok ok, I did a few impressions too and Jo thought they were funny for the first 2 minutes.

We had a guided tour of Siena before some free time to wander around. We are used to the heat but it was a really hot day and Jo and I spent most of it trying to keep in the shade! The town is beautiful and the guide was telling us about the Palio horse race that they have in the square (below) twice a year.
We hopped back on the coach and we thankful for the air conditioning as we drove to San Gimignano. The guide went on and on and on about "the beautiful bell towers" and how the town is a "germ of the middle ages". When we arrived I'm sure it was even hotter than before and I rolled up my jeans to my knees and we headed straight to get something cold to drink. San Gimignano is like a fortress built on a hill with a fantastic view of the Tuscan countryside. We walked down the narrow roads and through small piazza's and took a walk along the outer wall where the view was spectacular.

We hopped back on the coach and thank god the guide was quiet until we reached Florence again when she went on and on about "the most important..." everything. The most important road, the most important church etc etc. Whatever.

We headed straight for the hotel and the sanctuary of our air condidtioned room (what princesses we must sound!) and had a shower before going out to find something to eat before the England v Sweden game. We found a great little restaurant where we shared a buffalo mozzarella, proscuitto and eggplant salad before a pasta platter for two.

We were so tired we watch the football in bed! I thought the goal by Joe Cole was superb and I couldn't understand the commentators to know (and still don't) how badly Michael Owen injured his knee. Gerrard also did well as sub but it was typical England to throw it away with our dodgy defence of corners and set pieces full stop practically in injury time I think. Dammit.