Siena, Italy – Monday, June 29th, 1830-1914
Got up at 4:45 and read and studied for an hour. Then slept until 8 o’clock. Had b’fast about nine. Helen came in and said I might to go in to see the people so I hurried and was ready soon after ten. We went down to Via Parmi and met Mrs. Moore and Mrs. Wilde, the two ladies from the Crocini. Mrs. M. started on the 7:30 train, went to Pisa instead of changing at Empoli and did not get here till 5 P.M. Mrs. Wilde was in the same train and had a good laugh at her.
We met Mrs. Oudesluys and her daughter and went with them to two churches, the San Bernardino and San Francesco and their cloisters. It was most interesting. Bought some postals in San Bernardino.
Came back to lunch and found Miss Kinney here. We had lunch together and then Helen and I came up and lay down and had a nap while Miss K. ate down in the parlor and read. Then we (Miss K. Mrs. O, Helen and I) all went to the Duomo and baptistery and then to the Campo where they let us get into our seats though we had left our tickets at home. We have very good seats in the top row where we can watch the race* and all its incidents and the crowd. There was an immense crowd there. It was intensely interesting, just like a kaleidoscope. We saw several horses race. One rider was thrown and his horse ran the course just the same and of course interfered with the others.
After dinner Miss K. went home while the O’s, Helen, and I walked around to the Fort and looked over the wall by moonlight. Then came back and had an ice and then home. Helen washed her waist** and I wrote this diary.
* The ancient annual horserace, the Palio, is on July 2nd, but from four days before the Palio, trials take place in the “Campo” square which is turned into a race track..
**blouse
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