780. I hate you, James Bond!

The good people of James Bond are taunting me. They are back in Siena, and are filming RIGHT OUTSIDE OF MY APARTMENT. From my window I can look down at the extras and traffic control people.:

No, I'm not as bitter as I sound.

The poor extras have been sitting all day in the square doing absolutely nothing, while I have been living a fabulously fun, exciting, adventurous Bond Girl life!  

That is to say, I'm been watching them. BUT from my apartment window!  I've also been on-line.  I gave an English lesson.  I had my Italian lesson.  And I ate a delicious lunch while the poor extras got a lousy sandwich (as indicated with the enthusiastic "ha!" in the above photo). My lunch was a café latte and cookies! Ha!

At the beginning of the week, Piazza del Campo was transformed.  They set up a section of it to look like the Palio, the famous horse race that runs here twice in the summer.  One of my students told me that it is quite the controversy among some of the locals. Some staunch defendants of tradition are aghast because this is the first time in the history of the Palio--a tradition that's been going on since 1656, long before Sean Connery's great-great-great-great-grandparents were alive--has dirt been laid down on the Piazza, at least to simulate the race, for any other reason than the Palio.  

The Palio is rightly an event for and by the Sienesi.  It is not ran for benefit of tourists or the world, although many people have enjoyed watching it throughout the years and will continue to do so for generations to come.  

So, I officially join the Sienese, if they will have me, to oppose this incredible imposition by Hollywood (ok, so it's a British film) and cheap entertainment!  Damn you, James Bond!!!!

(If you Bond casting people are reading this, have your people call my people. You have my number! Did I mention in my interview that I can sing, too?  Call me!)