Siena – Part 2:
Hungry Exploration
After a full day on the road, exhaustion finally set in. I was shown to my room—nice and homely, big enough for one to feel comfortable staying in. I had no desire to explore it; I was tired, and midnight was approaching. A wide square bed became my final goal of the day. I sat down at first and took a look out the window, where in the dark lay the Tuscan fields.
The place I was staying in was on the outskirts of the town. There were barely any lights coming from the outside, and the neighborhood was silent.
I woke up from a deep sleep. Wild torrents of dreams chased after me for a good nine uninterrupted hours. My mind was overwhelmed, trying to hungrily process all the bits from the previous day—a tough task for sure. But there was no time to dwell on yesterday. I had finally arrived at my destination, and a good exploration was in order.
But first, breakfast!
Jam and croissant, orange juice, ham and cheese, good old white yogurt, and an apple. I was hungry, okay, so don’t judge me for overeating a little. Oh, and cappuccino, of course. Since you’re not supposed to order it in the afternoon in Italy, I was taking full advantage of it being served first thing in the morning.
Energy restored, time to explore the city!
I got my backpack, emptied it, and only took the necessary minimum of things to lighten my load. And my legs were happy I did, let me tell you. While the city itself was fairly small, the walk from one side to the other was no breeze—especially not after a day-long journey. First, I descended a hill only to find myself below an even larger hill sloping aggressively upwards. I also took a wrong turn, adding a good 15 minutes to my initial walk towards the gate of the city center.
I didn’t mind.
My mind was filled with warm feelings of anticipation. I wanted to see the sights, eat some good local food, drink coffee, and sip the famous Tuscan wine. I wanted it all, and I was determined to get it all on day one.
And there it was: the gate to the historic core of the city. Apartment buildings left my view, replaced by beautiful stone and brick structures. It sucked me in, leading me easily toward my goals. As I wandered, I found myself next to the Basilica of San Francesco, which I immediately had to visit. But before that, I caught sight of the most wonderful cathedral, Duomo di Santa Maria Assunta, towering majestically over the city center.
What a sight! I was trembling with excitement. I wanted to be there now. But hunger was calling, and there were other things to check off my list. Food! Enchanted by the sight of the city’s most prominent structure, I picked a nearby restaurant where I could sit, enjoy my meal, and take in the view at the same time. It was my first restaurant experience in Siena, and yes, it was a bit touristy—but I liked it anyway. I had bruschetta with tomatoes, lasagna, and a small glass of local craft beer. Yum!
After tipping (which you shouldn’t do extensively in Italy unless you receive extraordinary service), I picked up my things and ventured further into the city.
I saw so much: the cathedral, the central Piazza del Campo—a gathering place where locals sat on the stone ground with a drink or a snack in hand, relaxing and chatting with friends or family. This was where I made my second hedonistic stop of the day.
Wine time!
I chose a place for wine almost randomly. Since I had little idea how to avoid tourist traps, I simply went with my gut. I saw a group of servers pouring hefty amounts of wine for their guests and decided that was a good sign. I sat down at one of the tables, smiled at the server, and waited. After a minute or two, a tall and cheery guy came over, asking if I wanted to eat or just drink. I responded honestly:
“I wanted to finally try the famous Tuscan wines. Can you help me choose some?”
And that, my friends, worked wonders. I got lucky with this server, for sure. After a wine or two—and because it wasn’t a very busy day (it was Wednesday, I think)—this kind man spent more and more time with me on each return, answering my questions about the city, its people, and, of course, the wine. He even shared tips to better enjoy the experience.
I ended up visiting that place three times, and each time I had a great experience and learned a lot. My natural curiosity seemed to have a befriending effect, and I felt like I wasn’t just another tourist passing through.
Day one and day two were filled with curiosity and a hunger for knowledge. But by day three, I felt a need for something else. I wanted a change. I was starting to feel a little lonely. Sure, I had engaged in occasional conversations, but mostly with people serving me food or drinks—not with fellow travelers or locals sharing stories. I was craving connection, a sense of companionship.
And it was about to change the very next day.
Stay tuned for part three. I hope you have as much fun reading this as I have writing it. See you next time!