Florence

Sienna

I really enjoyed my time at here. I met Courtney here. The busabout accomodation was break the bank expensive and I'd booked myself in there. Courtney on the otherhand had done some research and found a hostel for less than half the price... a steal realy. So I spent one night in each place. That kinda balanced the whole thing out.

We didn't spend much time together here but landed up travelling with each other for about three weeks. I enjoyed her company and was always worth having around. She is the cool unseamingly organised type who people like me can realy on. Plus she was a good laugh.


I went and watched a falconry show below the old town. Its a bit different when you're the only foreigner in a crowd of Italians. Especialy if you get your own comentry in English... all be it the shortend vesion. I didn't get any of the jokes! But besides getting jist of the comentry the show was very good.



There was also a Museum of Torture that I had a look in on. I'd never been to a museum like this before and got quite excited. I thought it would be great to see some of the instuments used in the middle ages. You know: the classic streacking rack, a cat-o-nine-tails, some pre-historic looking sergical utensils etc.

It wasn't great. Infact it was horrible. You could have gone through the entire museum not flinching... if you don't read the comentry. I did. They explained exactly how the instument worked, right down to the pain the poor haples victem felt. Often emphasising how the victems were a 'victem' of injustic and often be the case of superstition (witches and such). What got to me the most is they would give cases of where the particular torture instument is used in modern age. Africa was the most reported. The whole experieve put me off going to another museum like that. To think that we've been doing that sort of thing to ourselves for cunturies.

I also went to the Sienna Duomo. This is the most impressive Cathedral/Church/religious sight I'd been to on my entire trip. The structure is impressive and the interior art work the best I've seen anywhere.

I also decided to shave my beard off my last night here. This is a final view before it got the chop... 3 months growth, no shaving at all! You may wonder why it was taken off? I could take the bewildered stares, quizical looks and often rude leers. But the kids. I felt sorry for them. I kept scaring them. I don't know why, but that morning I brought a tear to a little boys eye!