A pageant, the “Corteo Storico,” precedes the race, which attracts visitors and spectators from around the world. We were the only Americani at the line of this Palio… it took 10 hours of waiting in the hot Siena sun to secure this prime position just to the left of the starting rope at the “Mossa” (the starting zone) within the center of the campo. I was with my buddy Lee Klein… the fellow who masterminded this Hemingway hijinks as we fought off scores of Italians coveting our position. Nicknamed “Scompiglio” (“Disarray”) the wining jockey riding for Contrada Lupa (Wolf) was Jonathan Bartoletti. He has raced in 16 previous Palios with two previous victories. This year’s wining horse “Precious Penelope” has raced the Palio just once before. The Contrada Lupa has not won in 27 years. No longer the longest running losers, the Contrada L’Aquila now inherits the tile (“cuffia”) of “la nona” (“the grandmother”) ! PREZIOSA PENELOPE baio F 8 Sandra Ross – 1 palio Jonatan Bartoletti detto Scompiglio 16 palii/2 vittorie Dehydrated and slightly sun burnt we agree the 90 seconds of infectious mass hysteria warranted the Herculean efforts.
Fonte: Johannes Knoops
☛ Massi Lo Sà ☚ 