So after I cleaned up and sent emails and wrote the blog, I decided to walk around. This church is across from my hotel. I went in and there are these two typical Italian grandmothers, praying the rosary so I do my best to never be the ugly American so I knelt and said my prayers. I didn't want to take a photo of the altae in case that was rude. As I am appreciating the beauty of the church, a man comes in with the priest and discretely takes a photo of the main altar. Meanwhile these two women are saying the prayers over and over. I thought okay, I can take a discreet photo of the altar. As I am tip-toeing back to the door, the most fervent of the ladies looked up at me, winked and pointed to the fresco right above her. I took a quick photo and the other woman gave me a thumbs up and a smile. I love Italian grandmothers.
This is the photo they wanted me to snap. The fresco looked very old.
So, diner was at 7:30 at this restaurant. I ordered a green salad and a pizza. They brought me two long bruschettas, one with fresh tomatoes and the other with roasted zucchini. Yum. Then they brought the salad and finally the pizza diavolo (sauce of the devil).
Look at the size of this pizza. OMG! I always thought I liked thick crust pizza but I have now changed sides. And I always heard that pizza was an American invention. Italians don't really eat pizza. Well, that is a big fat lie! I am sorry to say that the Pizza here is better than any pizza I ever had in the US. (We do steaks better!) Clearly, Pizza has been in Italy for many centuries.
I think if I saw this plant in the dark, I would be scared!
Okay, my big challenge of the day. I couldn't get under it without laying on my stomach and scooting through the mud. Picture men in boot camp! That didn't seem like a good idea. The top of the first layer is about neck high on me so I had to pull up to the top level and straddle the brown part. Then I had to duck under the top greenery. Whew. It only took me two tries.
I had a true Camino Angel today. This very nice man stopped me and asked if I was walking the Francegina and showed me a trail I would have missed. Gotta love those angels.
"I was ill and you visited me." This was by a large hospital and I thought it a brilliant sculpture.
I knew that today was going to be a huge challenge. I was so careful to try to follow the Camino and when I got to what I thought was Rome, I still ended up having to walk 3 more hours. I had a bit of a blesslng because I went into a shop to ask which way the Via Francegina was. I realized it was an electronics store. Two days ago, I lost my converter. So I wasn't sure that I was going to be able to post today's blog. I was down to 11 percent on my laptop and downloading phots takes a large amount of powoer. Even worse, I had no way to power my curling iron. Not only did the woman speak English, she was able to sell me a converter. Big prayers were answered. I had looked up an Apple Store and thought I was going to have to take a taxi and try to get another cord and maybe by an Italian curling iron?
The day didn't get any easier. I finally lost the trail altogether and ended up on a scary highway. Finally an Indian man showed me how to cut through but I was long off the trail and I never found it again. I walked three more hours through Rome, asking directions over and over. What was booked as an 11.4 day was actually a 22.1 day.
This is the Santa Maria church in Trasevere.
As always, I loved the stained glass windows.
The ceiling!
I sat outside for a glass of vino and this man serenaded me with original songs. Always good to have entertainment. Off to dinner and after 22 miles I am starved.
It is bitter sweet to finally be in Roma. Ideally, Dennis would comeback bring our five cats and we would continue hiking. Not likely to happen, especially with the five cats. So I will be glad to see him, our babies and all of you!
P. S. You have to realize I write these blog after I have hiked all day so please excuse my gramatical errors!
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