the first one to speak doesn't get to choose the gelato flavor (Firenze and Siena)

We spent a whirlwind 24 hours in Firenze, which was beautiful as ever, but full of tourists and a little bit hectic for our moods. At night, Mum was on the hunt for a disco tech... and at one point angry with us for not planning our ladies-night-out-on-the-town better. Stef and I thought she was kidding the first 2-3 times she brought it up, and by the time we realized how serious she was, it was too late (meaning Stef and I hadn't done our disco tech research and were already too tired / too full of wine to correct the mistake). Rookie error. We should know Paula Tocco better than that, and I only hope she forgives us one day for robbing her of the chance to experience Firenze's late night dance scene.

I brought Stef and Mum to Siena so that things might slow down a bit and allow us to relax. Siena is a gorgeous, small citta in Tuscany. The center of town is a UNESCO World Heritage site and I came here once before to visit my friend Kate while she was studying abroad here. Long story, short: we picked the wrong week for a peaceful, Tuscan vacation. This week is Il Palio, a medieval horserace in Il Campo (the town center, where you see the photo with the hordes of people). As Stefanie put it, its sort of like being a naive tourist in Washington, D.C. coincidentally on the 4th of July. Everywhere you look, Sienese citizens are wearing their neighborhood flags draped around their necks, or participating in parades. As I type now (in the calm, hidden backyard of our B&B), I can hear young men singing Sienese songs loudly in the not-so-far distance. Yesterday, we escaped Siena and drove to the small town of Montepulciano and to a vineyard along the way for a wine tasting. I finally got a dose of the fields of sunflowers that I have been yearning to see -- and the drive between towns was almost as enjoyable as the visits themselves.

A few hours ago, Mum and Stef left to head back to Switzerland and fly to Boston. It was hard to see them go (i almost asked them to smuggle me in their suitcases so i could have a 4th of July at the lake), but we certainly had a long 10 days together. Last night, as we strolled around town after dinner, Stefanie suggested we play a game called: "the first one to speak doesn't get to choose the gelato we buy". Mum tried to escape and experience some time in the city without us, but she realized after storming away that we were holding all the cash and she was stuck with us a little longer. It seemed (the whole trip) that our lowest moments were often followed by 5 minutes of bowling over with laughter, unable to catch our breath.