Besides the Siena Duomo, I simply love visiting sites, wandering around the streets, eating delicious Tuscany food, watching a snare drum and flag waving procession of one of the Contrade’s (neighborhood association). The Piazza del Campo is the gathering point for Siena. Like a sea shell, the brick plaza dips toward the lowest end of …
218. Siena Rest Day
After the accumulated effects of walking, my body wants a rest. Siena is my designated rest space. In my opinion, I find Siena to be captivating. I still can picture walking down a stone street, looking out and up, and seeing the sloping, brick, shell-shaped Piazza del Campo and the slender, majestic tower of the …
217. Pilgrim’s Searching for More
She is in her early 50’s. She may be 5 feet tall; she may weigh 100 pounds. She declares “My pack weighs 5.8 kilograms; I can’t carry anymore.” There is a quiet, melancholy confidence to her. Similar to other chance meetings between pilgrims, a small group meet along the trail. We walk together and then …
216. Pilgrims’ Shame
Milano- Turin train and mts background During the first week of my walking the Via Francigena, two older women sensibly took trains to avoid the cold rain. Yet, they felt apologetic. They felt shame, not for a prior act before their pilgrimage, but for these actions during their pilgrimage. They had internalized a value judgment …
215. Revisiting Lucca
A refreshing, low-key rest day in Lucca. The desire for such a day is strong. Managing each day, finding the trail, staying on the trail, wondering if I’ll be able to take a break on a bench or stone wall, searching for an open bar or cafe for lunch, managing an entrance into town, locating …
214. The Feet’s Perspective, Part 2
The nights lodging at Berceto is refreshing. When I have these feet resting level with the brain, whether it is ten minutes or ten hours, I feel better. The rest and another breakfast with two yogurts, an orange, and coffee, get me ready. The brain upstairs has always liked Thich Naht Hanh’s quote “Walk as …
213. The Feet’s Perspective, Part One
It’s my turn. I get to describe the two days walking to and over the Apennines. I want to let you know what it is like being feet and carrying a 200 pound fellow to the Passo della Cisa. Before the first day begins, I hear concerned chattering up in the brain. Bardone to Berceto …
212. Ms. Grandma “Mario” Colombo
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 …
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
Journeys: Explorations in Body, Mind, and Spirit 