PALIO

Good morning all -
Just a quick announcement: TODAY IS PALIO DAY!
My friends and I are heading to the Campo later on - I'm supporting Istrice (the Porcupine), M Drago (Dragon), H Torre (Tower; their animal is the elephant), A Nicchio (Shell), some of the others Giraffa; I'm told up to 40,000 people can fit in the Piazza del Campo on race day - it's going to be hot, sweaty and a lot of fun.
Photo-report tomorrow. In the meanwhile, have a look at wikipedia, the last Palio, or the opening scene of Quantum of Solace (footage from one of the 2007 Palios.)
RI.

UPDATE: VINCE LA SELVA!