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 …
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558. 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 …
556. 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 …
555. “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 …
554. 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 …
553. There is a Truism to Walking
There is a truism of long-distance walking. The first week, one gets to know one’s body; the second week, one gets to know one’s mind and emotions; the third week, one gets to know one’s spirit. As I near moving into my second week, this truism may or may not fit me completely. Because of …
552. Day of Firsts
Who is this Guy. First Morning Okay, I’ll keep this short. I’ll have to figure how to insert photos at the appropriate spot later 1) My first complete day of hiking, ten miles in five hours. No speed record here. 2) My first day of sunny, wonderful weather, albeit my weather app said there were …
537. French People and Scenes
Besançon proud and shy baker Within a few days, I'll be leaving France. I want to post some of the individuals and scenes that I'll remember. The French love being outdoors, whether in the woods or in a market. The man is smiling even though I'm only buying one apple from him! How many times …
533. Memorial Day in France: Remembering the Others
The Commonwealth Commission on War Graves cares for numerous sites. The Thiepval Memorial remembers over 72,000 soldiers who died, but whose graves are unknown. During the first day of the battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916, more than 57,000 British soldiers were killed, wounded, or missing, the worst single day in British military history. …
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505. Canterbury, more
I simply love Canterbury, especially the Cathedral. I remember one Christmas Eve that our family decided to take an impromptu trip to Canterbury Cathedral. During a family Christmas vacation to Paris and London when our boys were probably seven or eight, my wife and I asked the question "Why not a trip to Canterbury?" Well, …
Journeys: Explorations in Body, Mind, and Spirit 