The Naps We Take.

Siesta: (noun) an afternoon rest or a nap, esp. one taken during the hottest hours of the day in a hot climate.

Apparently all of Italy (and most of the world) takes these except for the U.S. but I guess they have to because they are constantly walking from place to place. It could also be the fact that Sienese people (or maybe Italians in general) are very calm and easy going so they don't mind taking a break in the middle of the day?? Since day one, my roommates have succumbed to the powers of Siesta. I thought I could be stronger, but I, too, am falling for his powers. Stores close down during this so I'd be pretty crazy if I decided not to sleep. Oh the convenience of capitalist America...

The times when the streets of Siena are most crowded are early in the morning, late at night, and even later at night (say 2 a.m.-ish). Nobody does anything during the afternoon, which seems really odd to me because that's when the sun peaks above the clouds and the streets look so pretty! That is also usually the time when my roommate goes for a little jog because no one is out to see her run.