Luckily we had planned a walking tour of Siena today, to burn off all the cake calories. We try and plan our activities around Isobel’s nap times, although it doesn’t always go to plan.
We started off this morning driving from our accommodation to the town of Siena and planned Isobel’s morning nap for the car. We are staying in a lovely rural farmhouse apartment about 30 km outside of Siena. These types of properties are known as “agriturismo”. Usually they are old run down farm houses renovated into different apartment’s or chalets, ideal for family travel as there is a separate living area from the bedroom so we are not in bed every night at Isobel’s bedtime!
I realised yesterday I was quickly running low on nappies and we spent about an hour driving around Siena to realise supermarkets don’t open on Sundays. Sunday afternoon’s for Italians are usually reserved for family time enjoying a long walk. For us it was figuring out how to navigate around Siena’s old town and then realising when we were driving through Piazza del Campo and that cars were not allowed in that area. We found out later a car had not been through there since 1969! A mommy will really do anything for her child!
So on our way to Siena this morning I finally found a supermarket open and one that stocked nappies. With no morning nap happening in the car we parked up and opted for a nap in the buggy. One stinky bottom later cleaned again in the back of the car, we were off for our tour. Siena really is a beautiful town and our 2 hour tour for €20 each was definitely value for money. Our guide was very impressed with Isobel and told us she is the youngest she had ever had on tour. She tried to explain why Italian mothers do not bring out babies in public but it didn’t translate well. She said she could not really explain in English but it was difficult for Italian mothers. After a few days in the country I can see why, no public changing facilities anywhere, very difficult to navigate a big buggy into and out of cafes/restaurants, and very few high chairs available. When you do get a high chair, you usually have to manipulate it in some way to get it suitable for use. Today it was my husband’s belt that we used to try to keep Isobel strapped in. It didn’t work and since we were told to leave the buggy outside it was a case of passing her back and forth between us to eat lunch.
On the whole we are having an amazing time on holiday even with the difficulties of getting Isobel sorted out on occasion. We managed a dinner date last night where we are staying as the restaurant is just directly below our room. We got Isobel off to bed early as naps were non-existent yesterday so she was asleep by 6.20pm, and we had dinner at 7.30. I am glad we brought the monitor with us as it certainly kept me at ease whilst having dinner. It is the first time we have been alone for a meal since she was born, and we really enjoyed it. The food here is really superb. To make use of the apartment and try another dinner date we had a big lunch today and brought some local produce to have antipasto in our living room this evening. Looking out on a beautiful Tuscan sunset, there isn’t a better way to enjoy an evening!
Just caught Isobel before she slipped through the front of this high chair
