Tuesday, 20 January 2026

A Postcard A Day - Tuesday 20 January 2026 - T for Paella and Siena

 Hello lovely girls,

Brrr, it's so cold here! Temperatures around freezing (Below zero at night and above zero in the day). I'm having to light my stove every day. I know a lot of you would be used to much colder, but for the south of Spain, this is cold.

I've been cooking nice things as I seem to be hungrier when it's cold. But that's for later. Let's look at my postcard first:


It comes from France, but it shows Siena, which is in Italy.
Wikipedia writes: Siena is a city in Tuscany, in Central Italy, and the capital of the province of Siena. With a population of 52,991, it is the 12th-largest city in the region as of 2025.

The city is historically linked to commercial and banking activities, having been a major banking centre until the 13th and 14th centuries. Siena is also home to the oldest bank in the world, the Monte dei Paschi, which has been operating continuously since 1472 (554 years ago).



 Several significant Mediaeval and Renaissance painters were born and worked in Siena, among them Duccio di BuoninsegnaAmbrogio LorenzettiSimone Martini and Sassetta, and influenced the course of Italian and European art. The University of Siena, originally called Studium Senese, was founded in 1240, making it one of the oldest universities in continuous operation in the world.


I don't think I've been to Siena while I lived in Italy, but I do remember watching the 'Palio' every year on TV.
The Palio di Siena known locally simply as Il Palio; (from Latin pallium) is a horse race held twice each year, on 2 July and 16 August, in Siena, Italy. 
Ten horses and riders, bareback and dressed in the appropriate colours, represent ten of the seventeen contrade, or city wards, in a tradition dating back to the 17th century.

The stamp is interesting:

The stamp is French as the card was sent to me by Hélène from France. She had visited Siena during her holidays in Tuscany.

The French postal system called La Poste writes:
At La Poste, we deliver in TetrisTM mode. Thanks to optimized loading of our trucks, we can transport more parcels at a time and reduce the number of vehicles on the road. Our final score: 15,000 tonnes of CO2 avoided.
Well worth a stamp.

What have I been up to here in Spain?

Last Saturday there was a lunch and Bible study for English speakers. It was a 'bring-and-share' lunch. I made paella, the famous Valencian rice dish:
Here it is bubbling on my stove.
And this was the finished article. I had made it with seafood, but in most places it would be made with chicken or pork or even rabbit.
Other people had brought other dishes.
Today I will join the T-Party hosted by Elizabeth and Bluebeard, so I will show you a few more photos as I need to show a drink.
Yes, a few glasses of wine are visible. On this occasion it was mulled wine actually.
Finally a photo with myself in it (second from left).

That is it, my friends.

A very happy T-Day to all,

Lisca












 







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