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Every now and then I read a posting that makes me forget the sniping, nasty posts i sometimes see on this forum. This one was a lovely read, really captured the spirit of the thing. If only you'd shipped me some panforte before you'd left...Thanks.

Thanks Me, I loved your story!

I too will never forget my Palio experience which left me and my then 20 year old son shaking with adrenalin! We were with Italian relatives from Tuscany so had the benefit of being shepherded around and explained all the ritual. I sat next to an old gentleman from the Orca contrada. While we made polite conversation before the race, he looked at me suddenly and said "Senora, this is not a horse race this is a war!" Giraffa won that August race and had won the June Palio as well. Imagine what it was like afterward! In the car driving home we heard the bishop of Siena offer a prayer of thanks to God that not one horse had been injured in the race (several jockeys were pretty crunched up but hey, they get paid!)Thanks for a lovely report that brings back great memories.

Just wondering, if the competition is so great, do they all get along fine the rest of the year or are they always competing in some way. It is a small place, I hope they lay their competition aside. Can they change their allegiance if they move?

No we are rivals 365 days a year we never ever ever change contrada even if you move!!

Really? Where is Dario?

Me, whoever you are, you did a brilliant job of explaining the Palio. I have tears in my eyes remembering when we, La Selva, won in 2000 (and all of the times we have lost since I arrived here 7 years ago). I would say that day winning day was one of the highlights of my life as was the day I was baptized into my contrada.<BR><BR>W la Selva<BR>

Ciao!! Chi sei? Viva il Bruco!! Conosco un sacco di gente nella Selva!!