Life begins early in the Cloisters of the Carmine Monks.

Woken by the smell of coffee at the crack of 8.45am.  I look out of the window at the vast expanse of terracotta roof tiles towards the near by Basilica and the distant Duomo. I once more descend the marble stair case, pausebriefly to look into the Choir Hall before passing through the library and on into the crowded breakfast room.

I there find Ilze gazing out the window deciding which view needs closer inspection.

Having broken our fast with fresh bread rolls, prosciutto, cheese and two kinds of fruit torte we work it off by going back up to the room to prepare for the day.

It is important to select the appropriate footwear for cobbled streets in a medieval town.

In the town I bought myself a new wallet and Ilze, who had been looking a forest green handbag for the last two days,finally bought one in light beige. I then improved my standing with (“I am never travelling with you again”) by buying her a pair of handmade silver earrings.

Before proceeding too much further we looked at a few options for lunch and then continued on down.  Everything is down as the Friars chose the best views.

On into town with a quick wander around the walls of the Medici fortresses in the piazza della Liberta, with views back up towards the Duomo and out across Tuscany.

Wandering back up through the town we paused to take a few more photos of bits of this and bits of that before returning home for a well earned rest and to allow me to play with my new wallet, which is now distressingly lighter.

Still that is life in Sienna, and so it goes.

Pete