Siena, San Gimignamo, And Rain

Ciao. So today was my day trip to Siena and San Gimignamo. I got up and was all set for my day until I walked outside it was a steady light rain. Knowing Italian rain, I knew that it would stop and start all day and probably come down pretty hard at times. As I met the group I was touring with I bought an umbrella at the news stand that was next to the meeting place. We got on the bus and drove about an hour or so south to Siena. As we got there it was raining a little harder so I took out my umbrella to try avoid getting soaked. Just a quick side note, anyone who knows me knows that I do not use umbrellas or rain coats unless the conditions are pretty bad. So take this knowledge and judge for yourself just how bad the weather was today for me to be using an umbrella. Anyway, as we walked around Siena to the duomo it started pouring rain. Siena is a city set atop 3 hills, so there was quite a bit of upward hiking which is difficult in the rain because the ground is quite slippery. We got to the duomo and I was relieved to be going inside out of the rain and cold. We first toured the museum and then the church. I learned that this was supposed to be the largest church in Italy, but construction was stopped due to the black death that wiped out almost all of the people in Siena. Part of the walls that was supposed to be the main entrance still stand. The only family that survived the black death lived to finish the church, a much smaller church than originally planned, and bought the title of pope 2 times. They were Pope Pius the 2nd and 3rd. After touring the church we had lunch and I sat with a couple from Canada and another from Germany. The man from Germany reminded me a lot of Dad except much shorter. Before we got to the restaurant, however, the wind picked up and my umbrella broke so I was left with the hood on my hoodie and my jacket. After lunch we got back on the bus after a hike in the pouring rain. By this time I was soaked through all 4 layers I had on and was freezing with a headache. By the time we got to San Gimignamo it had stopped raining and I dried out a little bit. Here we had and hour and a half of free time. I walked around and took some pictures. This village is very tiny and is set atop a hill so every view is amazing. I was still freezing so I found a little coffee shop and got some coffee to warm me up until we left. On the way out of the village I stopped and bought a very pretty butterfly ring that I don't want to take off. We got back on the bus and had an hour drive back to Florence. Once we arrived I got a call from Mom as I was walking home. Once I got home I took a hot shower to warm up, did some laundry, and then made dinner. I am now in dry clothes resting on the couch for the rest of the night. Despite the weather I had a pretty good day. I can't wait to see my mom tomorrow. I was thinking it is almost like a dream that she is coming. I feel like I am going to wake up tomorrow and someone is going to be like "just kidding!" Anyway, hopefully this rain goes away soon so Mom and Tom do not have lousy weather for their trip.