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Then the storm drained away and we were left with the quiet of the night, not even the stones whispering their secrets to us. We were utterly and completely alone.

We feebly wrapped our meager travel towels around our shoulders, shifting against our packs for some slight position of comfort and drifted in and out of a sleepless sleep. Every hour or so a blue "Polizia" car zoomed around the square and sped off, as if in a cartoon. Each time it careened past, we perked up, not wanting appear as homeless vagrants and be shooed away from our meager shelter. But the police did not even slow as they passed us, undoubtedly taking us for what we were: hapless, hotel-less tourists who had not booked ahead. Roused from our fitful nap, we heard the sleepy movement of a lone backpacker gently treading across the square. Where had he taken refuge? Had he just arrived? We blinked as the sky lost its ebony depth and morning became a promise soon to be fulfilled. The yeasty perfume of fresh baking bread and sugary buns wafted through the crisp air. We stretched.

As the day slowly dawned, the rustlings and murmurings of shop-keepers softly broke the silence. Store fronts were raised, cobblestones swept, tables tidied. Soon the pungent and reassuring smell of espresso filled our nostrils. We had made it. Morning had arrived. We rose from our now-familiar perch and ambled over to a sun-kissed cafe', claiming the first of the outdoor tables. After taking advantage of their facilities, we sipped our bracing cappuccini and gazed back across the piazza, smiling at the sight of our former nest. My eye caught the nearby Torre Del Mangia, Siena's Medieval tower thrusting upward 100 meters. I was suddenly possessed with an urge to climb it. As soon as its doors opened to the day's visitors, I hurtled myself upward, 300 steps, up, and up some more, pausing in the periodic lookouts to snap photos to prove my moment of insanity. Glimpses of my husband, enjoying yet another cappuccino flashed in and out of my view. Finally I arrived at the top and I was rewarded with the most breathtaking view of Siena boasting its terra cotta roofs and snaking streets. Satisfied, I made my way back down. We hoisted our bags and explored more of this amazing town by daylight. Then we hopped a bus to the train station and waited to be whisked to our next adventure...but not before stopping to make a reservation for the upcoming night.

Learn more about this author, Melinda Brovelli.
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