Before you travel abroad, you should do three things.
Number one: Read travel information and watch YouTube videos about the places you want to visit.
Number two: Pack what you are going to be comfortable wearing, even if the information and videos say otherwise.
Number three: Learn a few important words that always include “Thank you!”
I listened to #1, which told me what to wear, and did not follow #2 (for which I am truly sorry). Number 3 is a given, no matter the destination.
I went to Italy. The first week, my stepdaughter, Rosa, and I bunked in the same hotel rooms. We went to Florence (Firenza) and then to Rome (Roma).
On our second day in Florence, we were picked up and driven to Siena, a medieval town full of history. It is home to the Piazza del Campo, a well-used 15th-century plaza that also hosts the twice-yearly, and apparently very famous, Palio horse race. The race began back when Siena was first built and continues to this day.
There is also the Duomo of Siena. Apparently, each street has its own church, but the Duomo is Siena’s cathedral. On one wall inside is a set of six engravings of important men. One of them was done by Michelangelo before he got bored and ran away to work on the famous David. Lesser artists had to finish the other five.
It was well into September, and Fall should have been settling in. It was not! It was hot! And I was wearing black because I didn’t want to carry too many clothes that would show dirt.
There is no shade in medieval towns. It was 95 degrees. I was hot!
In a big, beautiful cathedral, you expect breezes to come through the shady building. They do not! Apparently, the truth is that every church and cathedral in Italy (that I visited) is warmer inside than it is outside. If it is 90 degrees outside, it is 95 inside.
Did I mention I was wearing black?
So, back to Siena. As we were leaving town a little early because I was not feeling well, I made the driver stop suddenly. I dragged my body out and walked five feet to a lovely shade tree. I hugged that shade tree. Then I, well, let’s just say, I left some of my DNA at the base of that shade tree.
Great way to start a vacation, right?
Within the next two days, I had bought a pair of green shorts and a white T-shirt.
Rome was even more interesting. It was also just as hot. The shorts, T-shirt, and water bottles saved me.
Next week: Roma (Rome)
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