Ami had never heard of the Palio, and like many others, just wandered in, innocently, and stumbled over the city already in full Palio fever. She was supposed to go to Naples, but decided this was too much fun so she stayed on for another couple of days and even got herself 'adopted' by the ONDA contrada.
She witnessed one of the best events, the Assegnazione dei Cavalli', which is when the Piazza del Campo is thronging with hundreds of excited Contradaioli, all singing the Siena Palio Songs, and waiting for the drawing of lots at the Palazzo Pubblico when each Contrada is assigned their horse, which is then then walked to their stable, through the streets of Siena.
The Palio is happening tomorrow, and Ami is gone now, but she got a good sense of what Palio is. Tonight is the Cena della Prova Generale, which is the great evening when all of Siena dines in the streets, and everyone believes that tomorrow they will be successful. The only cloud in the sky- quite literally- is whether it will rain or not... I have organized a table for 13 people at ONDA's Via Giovanni Dupre, and my guests are paying a high price for their tickets... or at least I have paid already for them. And if it rains? The money is not returnable... so I am feeling a little apprehensive...More tomorrow. Watch this space...
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