08 Oct 1985, Posted by Scott An Chora in Travelogue, No Comments.
10/08 Siena, Italy
After packing up my clean clothes I headed off early into the city, sat behind a cup of coffee just off the main square, with pen in hand I watched the city wake up around me. I found myself staring at the unique inner walls of the St. Catherine’s church. The inside was different from what I expected from its outside. It captured my attention and soul. The contrast between the dark and light was not like others churches I have visited. I sat off in one of the corners and for some time stared at the many faces looking down on me. I walked around the outer wall of the city and meandered through its small narrow streets. Such a beautiful location. A group of us from the hostel gathered out in the square to enjoy the sun. Piazza del Campo still echoes with the pounding of hooves, whose beats are just ahead of the drums and colorful processions of flags. It was a good day to be in the sun. I wandered the shops and headed back to the hostel before dark. We ended up again across the street drinking and who would have thought I’d enjoy fruit cake, if you could call this fruit cake.
I headed back toward my carnal fantasies, a young law student. I showed up with a bottle of wine but it seemed that nobody was home. I sat outside for awhile but grew tired and impatient so I headed into the heart of the city. Festivities were in the air tonight. Dancing, singing and the smell of food filled the air. I assumed she too was most likely wandering among those same streets enjoying the atmosphere like I. I wandered back and made another attempt at her door but still nobody answered. I sat outside waiting when a gentleman approached. It turned out that he was the older sister’s boyfriend who had just arrived from Switzerland. He was perturbed that his girlfriend wasn’t home. He was not an easy guy to hang out with which was a bad sign. Even the bottle of wine didn’t loosen him up. Eventually I gave up and began wandering towards the train station towards a new designation. In the back of my head I still wondered if she was hiding up there in her room avoiding me, looking down on me through her laced curtains. I suppose we are all a bit insecure at times. We’ll it looks like all these thoughts of sex only lead to where I am now, staring across a train station at two drunks that could have used a bath weeks ago. I did leave a note but I was going in one direction, south. The good news was that I had good timing on a late night train into Rome. The ideas I had entertained will only enlarge my eyes and allow the voices in the back of my head to become a bit louder.
