Hello everyone,

(I posted a few times here over the summer while planning my wife and my trip to Italy. The trip was a great success, and I am slowing writing up trip reports from it which I will be sure to share here when I have finished.) But for now, I am desperately seeking the help of any kind Sienese (or surroundings) reader of this message.

My problem is described at this web page:

http://thefigtrees.net/lee/dl/lynnbag/

But I will retell it here. My wife bought an inexpensive over-the-shoulder bright blue bag from a street vendor in Siena. She used the bag for the rest of our holiday and since returning home has used it constantly. She loved it, and then one day the other week, the cleaning company for our apartment building threw the bag out with the trash. While Lynn (my wife) shrugged it off when she told me about this, I definitely know that she is very upset by the loss of this bag -- while not a particularly expensive souvenir (I believe it cost no more than 10 or 15 Euro), it carried a great deal of sentimentality for Lynn.

I would love to be able to replace it for her, and therefore I am asking for help finding a resident of the area who would be willing to look for a vendor selling this bag and buy a replacement and ship it to me.

I will be VERY happy to reimburse such a kind soul for the price of the bag, for the cost of shipping, AND some extra compensation for your generosity and time.

A picture of the bag is at my web page:

http://thefigtrees.net/lee/dl/lynnbag/

If you can help, or if you have suggestions for where else I can search for help or someone who might be able to help me, please reply here and/or email me at

lee-slowtalk@thefigtrees.net
or
lee-lynnsbag@thefigtrees.net

thank you very much,
Lee

There are many similar bags. That style is very popular (the "alernative" or "ethnic" style).

I think I can find something, but what if it is not the exact same bag?

You are a sweet, sensitive, considerate, all-around NICE guy. How many sisters do you have??? I'm sure that you will be able to replace her bag, because the people on this site are WONDERFUL!!! Keep us informed.

Ginger

Ginger -- thank you very much for your kind words.

Gloria, I do realize that it may be difficult or impossible to get the same exact bag. That said, naturally I would of course prefer the same exact bag. However, if you or anyone else is able to go and find one that you think is the same or very similar to the bag in the pictures, please do purchase it for me and I will be glad to "take a chance on it". (I can now picture myself receiving and buying forty different blue shoulder bags of similar styles. Ah well, such is the price of recapturing a lost memory.)

In any case, I've added some more details of where I think I was when we bought the bag from a street vendor at my webpage here, along with some pictures to help orient myself and anyone else.

http://thefigtrees.net/lee/dl/lynnbag/

I do not know if these vendors are seasonal or if they usually setup in the same location, so I realize that this extra information might not be helpful.

many thanks again to everyone,
Lee

PS -- As before, feel free to contact me at lee-slowtalk@thefigtrees.net if you think you might be able to help me.

Was the place you bought the bag from in one of the walkways that you take to exit the Campo? If so I know exactly where you were and can ask my husband to stop by tomorrow and see if the bag is there.

Hi Cristina,

Thank you for your kind offer! I'm not positive that the vendor was in one of the walkways that exit from the Campo, but I think that it was. If I remember correctly, we exited via one walkway, made a left turn, walked a bit and then saw the vendor on a small street/alley on our left. I'm not positive that that street/alley went through to the Campo, but there's a good chance that it did if I'm remebering correctly.

I'd very much appreciate it if your husband could take a look and see if the vendor&bad are there.

thanks,
Lee

(Apologies for replying to myself)

Cristina, I have some additional information from another SlowTalk reader (Annamaria) who has emailed me directly. She believes she knows what vendor I am talking about and she says:

"""
the vendor is setup there all year round. I don't remember the name of small street we are talking about but, as I said, it goes from Il Campo to Banchi di Sotto and it ends where via delle Donzelle starts. It is one of the very few street vendor around the piazza so it is very well known.
"""

She also offered that I could relay her email address to anyone who would need more details to find the vendor. I don't want to post her email address in public, of course, so if Cristina or anyone else who might be able to help would like more details to help me out, please contact me via email.

thanks again,
Lee

lee-slowtalk@thefigtrees.net

If noone can find it in siena, these bags are also all over Florence!
I will be down in town on thursday!

Diva is absolutely right.

Those bags were the hit of the summer. They are made of a madras-type cotton. They came in the blue shades which your wife got, also in pink rose, yellow mustard combination and an orange rust color. They weigh absolutely nothing so you can stick all the stuff you need inside for a walk on the beach, a stroll about town.

Is this replacement going to be a little extra surprise for Christmas? If so, it might have to wait for next year.

Those vendors are selling winter bags now.

But what a lovely thought. I'll have a look around in Florence, so will Diva and you've got Cristina on it in Siena.

I want one too!!

Hello Rita and Lino and Diva,

Thanks for all of your offers of help! If the bag (or a very similar one :-) could be found in Florence, that would be great as well. There is something sentimental about the possibility of getting a replacement from the same vendor in Siena, but beggars can't be choosers!

In any case, yes, I was hoping to have this as a gift for Lynn for the holidays, but if it proves to be impossible at this time of year then you can rest assured that I'll be back here posting come the spring and asking for more help.

But first things first, I'd like to hear back from Cristina or anyone else who has a chance to take a look for the bag in Siena or Florence to hear whether there are any being sold or not. :-)

thanks again!
Lee

lee-slowtalk@thefigtrees.net

Well hubby went yesterday and the person selling said that he would look to see if he could find it for you but as Rita said, he had all winter stuff now. We have to go back on Monday to see if he could find it (hubby brought a picture of the bag).

My bag guy has them! a choice of blues too!

Hi Diva,

Great news! Since Cristina's husband has already asked the Siena vendor to take a look, let's wait and see if he is able to come up with anything -- if not, I'll come back here and ask either you or Rita to help me out with purchasing one in Florence.

Stay tuned!

Lee

(I'm floored and humbled by the effort and help I'm receiving from all of you. Thank you all so much.)

Diva has her cooking classes smack in the middle of the Mercato Centrale.

The street vendors selling their wares frequent that market. If she's found a vendor with the summer bag you're looking for, please take her up on her kind offer.

Now, what we'd like to see is some photos of your wife's surprise and joy with the "new substitute" bag. Renews my faith in the joy of human nature.

Please let us know how this works out?

Best regards.

Hello everyone,

I hope the past week finds everyone healthy and happy.

Cristina, I am waiting with bated breath for the results of you and your husband's efforts.

Diva, in the meantime, and regardless of how Cristina's search turns out, I would like to take you up on your offer of help -- if you would please email me at

lee-slowtalk@thefigtrees.net

I will be happy to arrange to figure out how to get the closest-matching bag and to arrange to reimburse you for the bag, shipping, and your time.

many thanks,
Lee

WOW!!! I have read this post and it has honestly brought tears to my eyes!! The kindness and generosity of the people on this board who are willing to help others is truly AMAZING!! May God Bless all of you!!

Sorry Phaedrus, I was out of town so didn't respond earlier. ANyway, he only had orange left in his storage. Sorry about that. Hopefully Diva will be able to get it though.

This is like a good mystery novel. I can't wait to see how it ends!

Hello Everyone,

I just wanted to bump this topic once in the hopes that Diva might have the chance to notice it and get in touch with me, or if anyone else sees it who might be in Florence anytime soon and would be able to help.

I apologize for the mostly contentless post, but I'm still holding out slim hopes of being able to find a replacement bag in time for the holidays.

I hope that everyone has an enjoyable weekend,
Lee

lee-slowtalk@thefigtrees.net

I have been reading, but decided I had to join this site after reading this!!
It is a great board!

Hello Phaedrus,

Merry Christmas to you and Lynn.

I was up in Florence two weeks ago and left a picture of the bag you're looking for with two street vendors. Got hold of one of them yesterday, (he's got a cell) and he's got the bag.

My daughter goes to school in Florence, she hooked up with him today and you've got your little extra, thoughtful Christmas gift.

What a season to be jolly. Please post a photo of Lynn with the surprise bag.

Happy holidays to you.

Best,

Hooray!!!!!

Ginger

oops just saw this too.. so no problem.. I am sure as the bag is everywhere!

Rita let me know if you DON'T get it.. too bad we missed timing as my mom was here for three weeks and could have brought it back, she left Tuesday.

A wonderful outcome. Now we have to see if the bag gets to Lynn by Christmas. I am keeping my fingers crossed!

Rita---that is great! You are very thoughtful--but, I already know that. BTW--have you received my multitude of e-mails lately--since you sent my 3 part segments last week? I only ask not to bug you but I know you had e-mail problems a couple weeks ago and want to make sure it is up and running consistently now.