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| A flock of sheep take refuge from the heat under the shade of a tree. |
Pilgrimages
Everyday you have a goal: complete a stage to walk to the next town. You can leave early to beat the heat or leave later and sleep in.
Everything you have you carry with you. The more stuff you have, the heavier your load. But you realized that you do not need much to be content and happy, and THAT is liberating.
When you embark on a pilgrimage, it is very hard at the beginning-–finding your way to a new town, dealing with health challenges (like blisters), being prepared for the weather (the heat, the rain), living with creatures (like flies, mosquitos,) the grade of the journey (going uphill and going downhill), being in a new culture and acclimating to their dining schedule. But with time, your body adjusts and you understand how to manage in a new country. Radek, who has been traveling since Canterbury said he now just gets up and walks.
There is silence while walking. Yes, you meet people along the way but especially on the Francigena, there are long periods of quiet and solitude giving you time to pray, think, reflect. Sometimes I am so tired, I can’t think and that’s wonderful too–to be in my body and just feel.
There is the landscape. Tuscany has beautiful vistas and rolling hills and vineyards, Lazio is flatter but also has forests and lovely byways.
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| Dinner with Radik and Andrea |
