What not to do

We cannot believe how quickly the time has flown by. We've reached our last week in Italy!

We spent one of the last days in Italy, in the town of Siena.

Being so close to Florence, we could not miss out on this endearing town.

So once again, we hopped on the train (our favorite mode of transportation) and headed 2 hours south of Florence.

Siena is a very old city, built on hills with few roads large enough for cars.  The roads average about 8' wide, and its very easy to lose your sense of direction.  There's not a 90 degree angle or square intersection in town.  Our first stop was the Piazza Del Campo.  This plaza (piazza) was different than most we visited.  The whole thing is built on a slope, with 13 triangular sections all pointing downwards towards the Torre de Mangia.  The red brick gets nice and warm in the morning sun, and hundreds of people and dogs relax and take in the view.  

We didn't stay a part of that group for long.  Making our way through the narrow streets to the quintessentially Gothic Siena Cathedral.  Marked by the black and white stripes and geometric patterns, this cathedral is really breathtaking.  Ornate carvings adorn the entryway, and the floors are covered in complex mosaics.  The ceilings, frescos and alcoves are equally labor-intensive and beautiful.  It's hard to capture in pictures how much work must have gone into this church.  After seeing the inside of the church, we grabbed a bite to eat, and then headed to the Opera Museum.  Strangely, this museum has little to do with the Opera, and more to do with the Cathedral.  Original artifacts from the Cathedral, such as books, icons, thurbiles (you've seen one before) and chalices live here under vacuum in glass cases.  Some of the texts date from the first century A.D.  (yes, they had paper back then). 

We then waited in line and finally got our chance to climb 106 stairs (guessing here) to the Panorama; a narrow catwalk adjacent to the museum that towered above the city.  The views here were really amazing.  The red tile roofs contrasted beautifully with the green hills of Tuscany that surround the city.  We got lucky with some friendly cumulo nimbus that gave some good contrast to our photos.  Thankfully they didn't hold any rain or lighting. 

Our last stop was the crypt of the Cathedral.  It was discovered more recently and the excavation efforts have been very carefully done.  The frescos tell the story of Jesus' last days on earth, and are in really great condition.  Hats off to the Siena Historical Society for using glass panels on the floor and allowing visitors to walk directly above the ancient foundations of this church.  

We attempted to enter the Batistero (where baptism are/were performed) but alas, it was being used for.... wait for it.... a baptism.  

The sunset was beautiful, but the air cooled very quickly.  We hastily made our way back to the station and boarded our train back home for the last time.
The rest of the week was filled with return visits to our favorite sandwich shops, gelaterias and pizzerias.
So it is with great sadness we say goodbye to Florence which has been our home for over a month, and we head of to Spain to start a new adventure!

Before we go, we wanted to give some words of "wisdom" (read "wizdumb") to anyone thinking of traveling to glorious Italy... enjoy!

Tips for Italian travel:

1. Don't wear long colorful skirts with sandals and socks, you will be confused for a zingara (gipsy)
2. There are no returns in any Italian stores, exchanges only. So think before you buy!
3. No tap water is served in restaurants, so expect to pay for bottled water.
4. Almost every restaurant chargers a cover to serve you.
5. The train system is expensive so if you are planning on traveling by train, buy a pass online beforehand.
6. Look both ways before you cross the street or you will most likely get hit by a taxi or scooter.
7. Don't pretend to be on a diet in Italy.  You WILL eat gelato every. Single. Day.
8. Don't eat anywhere near a restaurant with:  a) an entirely English menu.  b) A pushy guy telling you they have great pizza or c) anywhere a tour guide recommends (they get kickbacks, in case you were wondering).
9. Italian waiters will never bring you the check unless you ask for it (twice)
10. Order the house wine. It's usually drinkable, and half the price.
11. Don't go on a tour. Walking around with an earpiece is not attractive.
12. Download the "TripAdvisor" offline guide and get your information from there. 
13. Spend 20euros on a sim card so you can use your cellphone for maps etc..paper maps have been outdated for over 100 years.