I should pay attention to yellow flashing caution signals. Embrecht, an older Dutch guest, and I sit down for breakfast. Emmanuelle, our host, asks, “Would you like coffee?” We both smile and say “Americano.” I then add “last night, my toilet didn’t flush.” Embrecht then adds “And, my bathroom is flooded with water.” Yikes. Shrugging …
Author: sabbatical2017blog
211. Visual Awareness
Visual awareness can be so pleasing. As I begin my ascent of the Apennines mountains, I have various collections of photos from my walk so far. Here is a collection about slogans, street and garden art, and sculptures. Although this section of the Via Francigena doesn’t have inspiring phrases from fellow pilgrims’ as along the …
210. Buildings, Piazzas, and Deserted Farms
Not every building Is a religious structure. Here are a few more photos of other buildings that struck me. In Pavia as in Sam Gimignano, there are extremely tall towers. In the Middle Ages and later, families used these to project wealth and status. These towers also provided protection, even protection from their neighbors. So …
Continue reading 210. Buildings, Piazzas, and Deserted Farms
209. Meeting Danielo Parisi
I’m anxious. I’ve thought about the next day for months. Samwillie, my BnB host’s son, makes the phone call. “Si, si, 10 AM.” Contact with the legend! He agrees. Tomorrow, I’ll be able to cross the Po River in Danielo Parisi’s boat. Danielo has been transporting pilgrims across the Po River since 1998. While the …
208. Fellow Pilgrims
Two from the USA Pilgrims. Moving. To a Destination. We are a motley group of individuals. In almost three weeks, I’ve met approximately 25 folk. Our ages have varied. One couple is in their 30’s, four or five in their 50’s, most in their 60’s, with several of us in our 70’s. While our ages …
207. Acts of Kindness
Paolo morning coffee We often are silenced by those unmatchable acts of kindness. A person donating a kidney to a stranger. A person anonymously giving to a college so that kids who could never afford to attend, can attend. A physician voluntarily spending weeks in Jamaica or Honduras year after year. Yet, not all acts …
206. Pavia, More
Pavia bridge duomo washing woman I love Pavia. Besides the impressive churches, there is so much more to Pavia. Before I crossed the Ticino River on a covered bridge into Pavia, I simply had to admire the view. I could tell that I'm going to enjoy my first rest day since Milan. Pavia demonstration Pavia …
205. Styles of Religious Architecture
I’m no architect or sculpture; however, I do find features of northern Italian religious buildings fascinating, intriguing, beautiful, and historically important. I've collected some photos of Ivrea, Pavia, Piacenza, and Fidenza. The very plain looking Church of San Pietro in Pavia is such a church as the church is the burial place for St. Ambrose …
204. “Made My Day!”
No way! I’m not walking 18 miles. I don’t care if it is perfect walking weather, sunny and low 60’s. I googled RometoRio, one of my go-to sites for alternative traveling. No buses, but hourly trains from Santhià to Vercelli. I got to walk though. The weather is perfect. “Can I train partway and walk …
203. Nightly Destinations
Walking the Via Francigena, I realize that there are three components, at least, of my being a pilgrim. I, the pilgrim, am moving to a destination. I the pilgrim. Movement. Destination. Regarding destination, I, like others on the Via Francigena, hope to make it to Rome. It is our ultimate goal. I guess that I’m …
