Italy, land of the Fiat Panda

You see these EVERYWHERE! And only in white and teal.

Day 76 The rest of the day

This evening was fun, because in the internet cafe I had tried to couch surf for the first time. Unfortunately that didn't work out, so I called Andrea because he had said he knew some people here. That didn't work out either because he was in Switzerland and didn't pick up the phone. So I was back to basics again, looking with no clue where to go. After strolling around the park a bit, sitting, eating and enjoying the weather, I looked on a map to see where the tourist information was. A woman came up to me asking if I needed any help finding the way, because it was her town and she liked helping people. She was a bit weird, and even said I was her little boy, but she was helpful and she could speak Italian. So after asking around with her, we were directed a house for students. We asked and I got denied (you had to call ahead, and be student and whatever) and then said goodbye to the woman so I could try stuff myself again. I went to a cheap hotel and asked, but the woman only spoke Italian, didn't seem interested in trying to understand my broken Italian and it turned out the room still cost 35€. So I left and asked in a restaurant. The man sent me on to a house for the youth, which I didn't find immediately, and I ended up in a homeless food providing charity thingie. I was offered food, and was told to go with someone afterwards. So I ate among the homeless :). The food was good, the people smiled and looked filthy, and my belly was filled. Then I went with some woman who brought me to the house for the youth, where I met a nice group of people who were like a big family. It was a house for children who had trouble at home, or whose partents couldn't or wouldn't take care of them properly. It was really interesting to see that the boys standing outside looked really cool at me as I arrived, but as I came in their direction their cool faces suddenly turned into smiles and their interest was incited. We had great fun, I was offered a room and could eat with them, and played table football and table tennis with one of the guys later on. An interesting day, that made me feel really good.

Day 77
After a corn flakes breakfast and tea I went to the post office to send home some books that I didn't need anymore, and then went to the tourist information (which was closed yesterday). They didn't have any info about the E1, but a lot of info about the Via Francigena, of which I already had a good map so I decided to follow it from now on. So I walked to Santa Cristina e Bissone, where I found a place to stay really easily, because the tourist information people gave me a list of all pilgrim hospitalities. The woman (who even spoke some English) cooked for me because all the shops were closed, and after that I was invited to join their evening service, which I decided to do. It was rather boring because I didn't understand a whole lot of it, and it was a rosary praying thing, so a lot of repetition of stuff that I didn't understand... But after that I met the religious community (Parrocchia) which was nice. (see picture).


Day 78
I woke up fairly early and ate the pasta leftovers. Then I set out in the extreme heat, to find out after around 2 km that I had forgotten to give back the key to the room :S. Damn. So after bringing it back I set out again along quite a lot of asphalt roads and too small roads that made my legs hurt. I arrived in a small town where I looked up the Pharmacy because one of the guys from yesterday evening was working there, and he called the fare-taxi for me. I then walked to Corte S. Andrea where I waited for the boat, and then for a group of cyclists who were going over as well. We went all the way to Soprarivo, from where I walked to Calendasco. There was a very friendly German-speaking priest with his mother, who offered me a bed and invited me for dinner.

Day 79
After a good breakfast and thanking the people I set out along a fairly huge asphalt road, which I had to follow all the way to Pontenure. Pontenure turned out to be a passing through village of the Via Francigena, because there weren't any facilities, but I was allowed to sleep in the school, and take a shower in the sports school. A lot of youthly people were there and it was a lot of fun to talk to them. Luckily there was a man who spoke some German, but with bodylanguage and some Italian it also worked out. I ate together with the priest, and then went to bed on the floor.


Day 80
I woke up fairly early and went to the supermarket for breakfast. I had to follow the big road again, but after a while I could walk parallel to it along small country roads.It was really really hot, but somehow it's not uncomfortably hot... I think it might have something to do with walking all day and feeling healthy (if I eat enough). I walked really far through Fiorenzuola d'Arda, Castelnuovo Fogliani all the way to Fidenza, where I found the Pilgrimhouse of a Franciscan monastery after asking around for a while. There were beans available, so I prepared those (oooh bad, microwave) and then went to bed. My feet hurt a bit because of the long walk (32 km, mostly asphalt) but other than that I feel good.

Day 81
It was hot again, but I finally saw some hills! After a week of flatness this was really welcome, because I suddenly had great views again, and could walk on smaller roads more often. I walked on to Medesano where I looked up the Oratorio and was offered a great room with shower and everything except food. But I'm used to supermarket unprepared food now anyways. I might have to buy me a hat because I have a bit of a headache...

Day 82
I slept rather long, and then set out again. In comparison to the last couple of weeks there was little asphalt, and also a nice river. The barking dogs are annoying me a lot though. I walked to Sivizzano (only 16km) and asked the priest. He really got mad because of my lack of speaking Italian, which is obviously ridiculous because I speak English, German, Dutch and a bit of French. But I was polite and got a room for 10 euros because I didn't have any credentials. (A paper saying that I am a Pilgrim). That evening I met a nice man who let me print out a new list of hospitalities along the way (after messing with his printer for an hour or so :S), and gave me some sandwitches for tomorrow morning. I made a soup and then went to bed.

Day 83
I prepared the rest of the soup and set out at around nine am. Today I finally walked along actual walking paths which were marked out quite well, and for the first time I met a German pilgrim who was walking to Rome as well. He gave me a small print out of credentials which I could try to use in case of refusal. We walked together for a while, but he then chose the asphalt road because the normal road was quite intense (up-down-up and very steep). I walked on to Berceto where I looked up the Casa della Gioventu, and then ate a pizza because all the supermarkets were closed. Later a group of cyclists arrived here as well.

Day 84
After a long night of lying awake and being annoyed over a snoring cyclist I set out along a nice road. I saw some snakes and then chose to follow the asphalt the last 8 km because I was so tired. In Pontremoli I waited for an hour, and then after showing the credentials was allowed to stay. The priest stamped it and I was an Official Pilgrim from now on, which turned out to be quite useful when trying to find refuge. I planned the next couple of days a bit, and then went to bed.

Day 85
I set out in fairly cool weather (in comparison) and again followed an intense steep footpath through the mountains. I saw a couple of snakes, and I saw a baby deer! It looked me straight in the eye for a couple of seconds and then ran off. But later on I saw a dead baby swine next to the road, which sort of ruined the good feeling I had for a while. In Aulla I found the place, and was pointed to my room by a nice lady who told me she would pray for me. I cooked (!) pasta with pesto and then went for a barefoot evening walk through town. I called my best friend and talked about all kinds of stuff, and then went to bed.

Day 86 Today
I woke up, ate 3 bananas and 3 bars of chocolate as breakfast (don't worry, it was the first unhealthy food in a couple of weeks) and then set out. It was hot again, and the road was steep, but I liked it a lot and arrived in Sarzana where I looked up the church and found a nice refuge. Then went looking for this internet cafe and here I am! It is seriously bad weather now, thunder and lightning and really hard rain.

















As you can see I've become a cow (white body, brown arms and head) and look quite skinny. But I feel good, eat a lot and am very happy.
Thanks all for the kind words!

Oh, and if you think you have a nice tip or some critiques to improve my writing, or make it less boring please write a reply :) (Polycounters know how I love crits ;)).

Ciao! Love!