Day Eight:. Siena: Angels In The Architecture

Saturday featured a visit to Siena, a mountaintop medieval village with a long and proud history. A rival of Firenze for 500 years, Siena is divided into 10 neighborhoods called contrado, each with its own flag, colors and mascot. Some of the mascots I saw were the snail, the fish, and the turtle. In the center of the city is Il Campo, which means literally, the field. For 500 years, since before Columbus raised anchor in Genoa, there has been horse racing around Il Campo. At the top of the city is Il Duomo, one of the most impressive cathedrals to be found anywhere in Europe.

Paul Simon wrote these famous lyrics years ago: He looks around, around, he sees angel in the architecture, spinning in infinity.... And yesterday, I felt exactly that way while in the presence of the angels, saints and gargoyles carved into the front of Il Doumo. Ir truly was an awesome moment.

When my daughter Kate was young, we used to amuse ourselves on snowy winter afternoons by doing jigsaw puzzles. One of our favorites was called Verticalville. The artist who drew the picture for that puzzle must have visited Siean. The streets are narrow and steep and all the good stuff is at the top.

Also yesterday, a road rally featuring old sports cars came through Il Campo between  11 am and 1 pm. There are few sounds more endearing to a confirmed car nut like myself than that of the open exaust of Bugatti race car snorting its way through these narrow streets and then driving con brio through the piazza and out the other side. I took a whole bunch of pictures of that event, but will post them separately for those of you who are not quite so passionate about automobili as I am.

I really enjoyed Siena. It gives the visitor of what life must have been like when Italy was still mostly city-states, each one fighting for the survival of its own way of life. That people still cling to these hilltop communities amazes me. But they are everywhere in Tuscany - some larger and some smaller - but the sense of community they create is remarkable to see.

Enjoy today's photos at this link.

Driving Directions to Blueberry Pointe on the Lake during Bridge Detour

Hello!  A local bridge is under construction near our home, so please follow these revised directions if you are coming to visit.  You'll be glad you did!

Driving Directions to

On the Lakefront
Carolyn Fortuna and Steve Hanley

P.O. Box 206, 115 Sand Dam Road

Chepachet, RI 02814

401.568.6826

From Boston:  Take 95 South to 295 South to Route 44 West.  Follow 44 West Go through Chepachet Center, totaling about 9 miles.  Bear left onto Pine Orchard Road extension and left again onto Pine Orchard.  Go approximately 1.5 miles.  Pine Orchard becomes Chestnut Hill Road at its end.  Go straight for about .25 mile.  Take right onto Sand Dam Road. 

From New York City:  Take 95 North to Route 395 North to Route 6 East.  After about 10 miles, bear left onto Route 6 Bypass and take a left at the next traffic light onto Route 102 North.  Follow 102 about 5 miles to a stop light.  Go left onto Snake Hill Road.  After about 1 mile, take a right onto Anan Wade Road.  At T in road, go right onto Chestnut Hill Road.  Follow until Sand Dam Road on right. 

From Warwick (airport):  Follow the airport connector toward Route 95.  Take 95 South one exit to Route 295 North to Route 44 West.  Follow 44 West about 9 miles.  Bear left onto Pine Orchard Road extension and left again onto Pine Orchard.  Go approximately 1.5 miles.  Pine Orchard becomes Chestnut Hill Road at its end.  Go straight for about .25 mile.  Take right onto Sand Dam Road. 

From Eastern Connecticut:  Follow 395 South to Route 44 East.  Go approximately 9 miles.  Bear right onto Pine Orchard Road extension and right again onto Pine Orchard.  Go approximately 1.5 miles.  Pine Orchard becomes Chestnut Hill Road at its end.  Go straight for about .25 mile.  Take right onto Sand Dam Road. 

From Hartford:  Take I-84 to Exit 69 (Willington/ Route 74).  Go right off ramp to light after railroad tracks.  Continue on Route 74 for about 7 miles to intersection with Route 44.  Go left on route 44 for about 20 miles, through Putnam, CT and into Chepachet, RI.  Go approximately 9 miles.  Bear right onto Pine Orchard Road extension and right again onto Pine Orchard.  Go approximately 1.5 miles.  Pine Orchard becomes Chestnut Hill Road at its end.  Go straight for about .25 mile.  Take right onto Sand Dam Road. 

From New York State:  Take the Massachusetts Turnpike to Auburn, Mass. Pick up Interstate 395 South at the junction with Route 290. Its sounds complicated but the route is well marked. Then follow the directions just above for Eastern Connecticut.

From Central Massachusetts: Follow 146 South to Route 102 South.  Go about 9 miles.  Go right onto Latham Farm Road.  Continue straight through stop sign until next stop, which intersects with Route 100.  Turn right on Route 100.   Go about 1 mile.  Take left onto Reservoir Road.  Follow Reservoir Road to end.  Go right onto Route 44.  After about .5 mile, go left onto Pine Orchard Road extension and left again onto Pine Orchard.  Go approximately 1.5 miles.  Pine Orchard becomes Chestnut Hill Road at its end.  Go straight for about .25 mile.  Take right onto Sand Dam Road. 

Sand Dam Road is where we live, at the very end.  It is a one-lane dirt road (the street sign hangs high on a telephone pole only in the westbound direction). Two white houses are situated on each side of the road headway.  Sand Dam Road is just after driveway for 182 Chestnut Hill Road. You will note the first white circular sign for Blueberry Pointe on the pole.

We are an island at the very end of the Sand Dam Road, ½ mile down the hill from Chestnut Hill Road.  Follow the white circular blueberry signs. 

As you pass the state boat ramp on the left, continue bearing right. 

Bear right at the telephone pole with the rectangular sign for the Blueberry Pointe property and parking area. 

[Remember, take the turn to the

right.]

You’ll see ahead of you our main house:  a large white house with white wraparound decks and blue and salmon colored trim.  Once the lake comes into view straight ahead, drive slowly past our neighbors’ green/ blue garage on the left and the green house on the right.  Please drive slowly across the short one-lane causeway so as not to disturb wildlife or human life.

Once you get to the end of the causeway, park to the right in the driveway.  We recommend backing into your space, so you won’t have to negotiate around other cars on the way out later.  Welcome to Blueberry Pointe on the Lake.