How lucky we were to hit Sienna for Palio. It was August. We didn't join the sweaty youth who remained in the ring; nor could we afford the weathy peoples' air conditioned boxes in the hotels and bars over looking the ring. Instead, after the parade and in order to see the race, we took to the inside streets in the neighborhoods, where EVERY bar had a television tuned to the action -- being relayed to us in the streets by both the folks inside the bars and what we could glimpse of the bars' televsion through the windows. All the locals were gathered around the various bars' windows and doors. It was a party of locals and we were a part of it/them. Memorable. Lucky for us, we were in the neighborhood of the Palio winner. Oh my! The people came streaming out of the bars, and everyone watching from their homes came into the streets -- everyone heading toward the Church to praise the Virgin Mary for their win. We were literally swept along in an amazing crowd of celebrators. It was, indeed, one of my most significant "I WAS THERE" experiences. So, GO!

How lucky we were to hit Sienna for Palio. It was August. We didn't join the sweaty youth who remained in the ring; nor could we afford the weathy peoples' air conditioned boxes in the hotels and bars over looking the ring. Instead, after the parade and in order to see the race, we took to the inside streets in the neighborhoods, where EVERY bar had a television tuned to the action -- being relayed to us in the streets by both the folks inside the bars and what we could glimpse of the bars' televsion through the windows. All the locals were gathered around the various bars' windows and doors. It was a party of locals and we were a part of it/them. Memorable. Lucky for us, we were in the neighborhood of the Palio winner. Oh my! The people came streaming out of the bars, and everyone watching from their homes came into the streets -- everyone heading toward the Church to praise the Virgin Mary for their win. We were literally swept along in an amazing crowd of celebrators. It was, indeed, one of my most significant "I WAS THERE" experiences. So, GO!