Palio di Siena

Every year, on July 2 and August 16 (each one is separate from the other), 60-70,000 people fill the central plaza of Siena for a horse race called the Palio. Three laps are completed around the Piazza del Campo, which is approximately 300 meters in circumference. The jockey's, who are like mercenaries, hired by the contradas for ridiculous sums of money, whip the horses and each other with whips fashioned out of calf phalluses. In approximately 80 seconds from the start of the race, over 800 years of tradition, 365 days of anxious anticipation, and all of the love, hate, sadness and joy in the 10 participating contrade (there are 17 total) culminate and are suddenly released as the third lap is finished. There is no filter for emotions in this 4 day event. The exultation the winning contrada experiences is equal to the shame and heartsickness the losing contradas feel. Think of the Warriors winning the Championship, the Giants winning the Pennant, and the Niners winning the Superbowl, all in one year. Times 1,000.

This is a parade for Contrada Onda - the Wave

The Unicorn Contrada - Leocorno

Onda again - they are indoctrinated as babies!

I apologize for my previous posts being a bit verbose. I haven't done any creative writing since way back in beginning fiction, freshman year. Thanks for visiting!

Ciao ragazzi. A presto mi amici!
-Teo