oh Siena

Yesterday we went to the Museo Galileo and then to the Boboli Gardens.  The museum was a welcome change from art, tho (as the trip advisor reviewers mentioned) there is rather a lot of scientific equipment on display - and not a lot to do with it.

G with the largest telescope he could find

There is a small interactive area near the end - Te Papa it ain't - which G and I enjoyed.  Especially as a couple of the things needed minor repairs.  We happily devised schemes for finding the missing ball, re-attaching the bell that had fallen off, as well as enjoying the experiments on offer - mostly to do with speed, velocity (is that the same thing?) and stuff like that.  Alas, my scientific knowledge is still well under par...  Or, in golfing terms, I guess, well over...

Siena - lovely

I have just looked at facebook and Penny has reminded me that we forgot to look for Galileo's *actual* finger.  big disappointment.  not sure how we come back from that...

Boboli gardens - also lovely

The Boboli gardens were lovely - not stunning, but large and relatively tree-y.  Not huge amounts in the way of cultivated gardens, but very enjoyable and relaxing.  And, also, the weather remained fine throughout giving G plenty of opportunities to comment on the lack of thunderstorms.  Well, I could only go by the forecasts, couldn't I?

In the end we covered a fair few kms - which had not entirely been our intention - but so it goes when wandering about Italian cities.

best fountain, water feature, thingy, in Siena IMHO

Thursday we jumped on a bus to Siena.  It's a lovely town and we found it easy to while away the day, touring a couple of churches (inevitably), the inner city, bits of the wall, stumbled across a fabulous water feature - remnant of the town's early industries and need for water distribution, etc (tanning I think) - and circumnavigating the old fort which, troublingly, now contains a Luna Park.  Just like the one in Sydney only smaller and lamer (I think).  Then, back on the bus and off to G's new favourite place, I'Gottino.  It is just round the corner, very humble, and generous with the drinks.  What more could a traveller want?

washing day (again)

Today is washing day (again) - hopefully the last one before home - although that realisation is a bit depressing too - and then we're off to see David, before a cooking class - nothing too fancy, pizza and gelato.