Thursday, October 21, 2021

Wednesday, October 20, 2021



I had breakfast with two delightful women that I met on the trail.  Talla is English and Judith is from Vienna, Austria.  We sat and talked last night before we adjourned for bed and again this morning.  It is fun to meet other people on the same journey.  Talla is only hiking two more days but in a different direction.  


Another beautiful day in paradise.



 I walked along this little river for a while and then crossed over this bridge to head up into the mountains.


Looking back at Buca di Michelangelo


Such beautiful vistas and I was lost, lost and lost some more.  I have figured out part of why I have been lost so much.  This is a newer section of the Via Francisco.  They cannot seem to stay consistent in what markers they are going to use.  It is frustrating but with enough help from people, I made it to the end.


A beautiful place to be lost!


In Pieve Santo Stefano, I was able to get a diet coke and have a brief stop.  Whew.  This is the Collegiata di Stefano.


The main altar was rather plain.


I love these porcelain covered terra cotta reliefs


In spite of my prayers at the church, things went downhill rapidly.  Lost again.  I thought that if I followed the road with the interstate in view, I would get where I wanted to Sansepolcro.  That is what I get for thinking.  I finally flagged down a young man on his way to work. Luckily, he spoke a little English.  He explained that I needed to be on the other side of the interstate.  He rolled his eyes and told me to get in that he would drive me back to where I could cross under the interstate and get on the correct road. It was about four miles back.  He actually apologized for not being able to drive me all the way to Sansepolcro.  His Mama taught him some nice manners. A true Camino Angel.

Fallow Deer Buck - Dama dama, looking for rivals.


As we were driving he suddenly braked and pointed to the woods.  There was the biggest deer with the biggest rack that I have ever seen. He told me that it was a Fallow (Deer.) Quite impressive!  I didn't have time to snap a photo so I found this one on line.  If you can believe it, the one we saw had a bigger set of horns than this one.


This is Lago Montedoglio.  


As I neared Sansepolcro, I saw this copper Jesus. I have never seen a copper one.  It was beautifully done.


I came to this sign and practically kissed the ground,  Little did I know that I had close to three miles left to go.  But at last I made it - 22.8 miles.


My hotel in the center of the historic district. Oh my aching feet.   I think I heard the Hallelujah Chorus as I entered the doorway.


I ate dinner at this little restaurant off of the historic square.  It was very nice and I sat by the window and watched the people go by.


My Primo Course was Flan di Verdure di Stagione su Crema di Rape Rosse, con Cialda di Granna e Verdure Julienne was incredibly tasty.  It was a silky, savory, flan with beautiful vegetables through out it.  I think that the raspberry colored sauce was of beet origin. It would have been vegan except for some wonderful parmesan crips through out it. 


My Secondi Course was Farmona Disossata al Vinsanto, con Prugne and Lamponi.  I would describe it as a chicken roulade stuffed with proscutto, prunes, and raspberries, pan fried in olive oil and garlic.  It had the perfect balance of sweet and savory and the chicken was so tender. YUM!

I didn't order dessert at the restaurant but I stopped by a little pastry shop and got a sugared bit of pastry.  I don't know what it was.  I just pointed at it.  The perfect end to a wonderful meal.

BUT my favorite thing of the day was I finally had a bath tub.  Every day has been a shower and you just can't soak tired muscles in a shower. I even had some bubble bath.  Needless to say, I slept well!


22.8





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