ESTRAZIONE and more...

Well, the greatest news since last time is the joyous fact that ONDA was favoured by Fortuna on Sunday, when the last three contradas were pulled out from the lottery which established the final line- up for the July Palio. This momentous event took place at the Palazzo Pubblico at 7pm, in front of a waiting and packed Piazza, le tout Sienne  having made their way to see this spectacle.  After a ceremonial trumpet fanfare, at exactly 7pm  the first flag appeared at  the Town Hall window, creating a huge roar among those from the lucky contrada- in this case the Giraffa. The  next banner to take its place, after another fanfare, was that of Nicchio, the shell. So only one left... the thousand or so in the Piazza held their breath. The last  fanfare sounded, and there it was, the lovely  bandiero celeste/bianco of Onda. Much joy erupted. It means we will run in both Palios this summer: on July 2nd and on August 16!

And  trekking in the lovely Chianti -where the baby grapes are forming on the vines- continues when I can get away... 

                                                  

but there are so many people here now to look after in the flat, and sometimes I almost feel overrun, and rather stressed out, until I once more realize how lucky I am. 

There has been a young German woman here, Corinne, studying Italian at the Dante Alighieri, just like I did. She has been bringing her study companions here and they have been cooking- and I have been  invited of course, to these splendid dinners (well, of course, I should hope so!) and Robert, 'my' Swedish business man too, when he is here. Fun evenings...

And talking of fun evenings: that lovely Siena summer tradition which sees the Contradas opening their gardens for big barbecue/wine/live music events to which all of Siena goes began tlast week, in the huge gardens of the Chiocciola- The Contrada of the Snail:

Meanwhile I am putting together once more a piece of work I did for an exhibition in London in 2019... I dismantled it and brought these metal pieces - originating from Scaffolding planks ) to Siena. They are now changing shape and becoming something else: more pics will follow...