Hi Tino, always great stories. It is interesting the feelings that were awakened within you when you started visiting Italy, that you knew that you belonged. In English “Morherland” captures that quite well. You and I and millions of others left our motherlands as children and lived wonderful lives elsewhere, but being back in the motherland awakens something. I was reminded, reading your story this morning, after I separated from my then wife I would go to my parent’s home for Sunday dinner. After a satisfying lunch that my mamma had served us, I would lie on the couch and have a nap. The feeling of security and comfort I felt being there was wonderful. When I visited San Vittore with my family , almost 20 years ago, walking around on a Sunday morning, the familiar cooking smells and our dialect being spoken, I truly felt at home. This is a bit corny, but to paraphrase some old saying “ You can leave Italy, but Italy never leaves you”.
Looking forward to next week. I used to read the Gazette religiously every Saturday morning, now I read you. Don’t stop😊.
Hey Mike, I love reading your comments and identifying the similar experiences we’ve both gone through. Yes, we have been very fortunate to have had the opportunity to live in such a great country, and we’re blessed to have such rich history from our homeland.
"... as the journey continues. Will my body hold up? Will my mind stay steady? Will I make it to Rome? And why, exactly, does Emanuela want those pictures?" Indeed, I look forward to learning that and more. I'm along for the ride as you adjust your posting schedule — so long as you keep my inbox in mind, I couldn't care less about the frequency; whatever works for you is fine. Just promise to keep writing and sharing your thoughts, travels, and discoveries.😏
Wow, Cindy—how heartwarming. It’s people like you who inspire me to keep sharing my stories. Thank you. I’ll be taking a little summer break to work on my book, but I’ll definitely post on Substack now and then. Be well. A presto!
I am so excited to read this! We are planning (I’m planning, Hugo is hoping it will go away) to do the pilgrims way to Canterbury, and then do the VF from start to finish (the Brindisi extension) We are thinking to do it by electric bike, even though we have never been on electric bikes.
Do you think it is ok to do it by bike?
I’m so excited and inspired by your post, and no doubt the connection with others who have done it, that the very second I have finished my tea in bed, I’m unlocking my trusty push bike and venturing for the first time to where the pilgrims way crosses near us. Okay, after a coffee.
Hello Pia, Thank you for your comments. I can really sense your enthusiasm for the Via!
I regularly ride an e-bike and offer tours in Tuscany, so here are a few thoughts:
The Via is best appreciated on foot, but for a long stretch like the one you’re planning, a bike is a good alternative. I would just raise one concern about using an e-bike: battery autonomy. A good e-bike can probably give you 70 to 80 km of range (some might go over 100), which is a decent distance per day. However, if the battery runs out, it becomes a very heavy bike to handle without assistance—so make sure to plan for that.
On the positive side, a bike allows you to cover more ground, which means more choices for accommodations and restaurants along the way.
Walking and biking require very different kinds of preparation, so take your time to research and prepare properly.
Feel free to reach out if you’d like any tips or suggestions—this is such an exciting adventure!
Wow Chandi, how nice to see you experienced the Via and just reading the intro of your memoir I can’t wait to dig in the pages of the book. I think there will be many similar experiences. Thank you for sharing.
Hi Tino.I really enjoyed reading about your walk along the Via Francigena—it was both vivid and reflective. Siena is a region where I have some dear friends, and I do hope to visit them one day. Reading your account brought the landscape and spirit of the place to life.
Tino!!!!! The question is what have you not done?? You make it a point to keep challenging yourself. The passion and the freedom to do so is what really keeps you finding amazing Challenges. And as we can see where there is a will there is a way. Now we have to wait 🫤til next week for continued excitement !!!! Buona settimane🙏☀️👏☕️🙋♀️
En tour cas, pour le cas de la lumière, ça c’était vrai!! 😁.
Au fait si c’est bien planifié avec des arrêts fréquents c’est pas si mal. Mais il faut choisir le bon temps dé l’année car les températures peuvent beaucoup influencer. Merci pour tes commentaires. Je te le dis je n’arrivais pas à allumer la lumière 🤷♂️😉
A sweet story well told. I was born in 1956, have been through two divorces (one after 30 years of marriage!) and one LTR that also ended. But now…happily married to a feisty and lovely Italian woman! Following your journey with interest and familiarity.
Per te, i miei occhi sono pieni di lacrime e il mio cuore di gioia. Una scrittura meravigliosa su un'esperienza profonda. (I hope GoogleTranslate wasn't too far off!)
Hello Antonietta, always nice to read you. I have to say I do love challenges, most of all I love life and that includes also doing absolutely nothing. But I think we all have interesting stories. I’m a chatterbox and love to share them. Stay tuned for next week. I will then take a little brake. The thermometer is hitting close to 40. 🥵 Take care. 🤗
This is transporting. Riveting. Tear-producing. Hanging in the edge till next week…
Hi Tino, always great stories. It is interesting the feelings that were awakened within you when you started visiting Italy, that you knew that you belonged. In English “Morherland” captures that quite well. You and I and millions of others left our motherlands as children and lived wonderful lives elsewhere, but being back in the motherland awakens something. I was reminded, reading your story this morning, after I separated from my then wife I would go to my parent’s home for Sunday dinner. After a satisfying lunch that my mamma had served us, I would lie on the couch and have a nap. The feeling of security and comfort I felt being there was wonderful. When I visited San Vittore with my family , almost 20 years ago, walking around on a Sunday morning, the familiar cooking smells and our dialect being spoken, I truly felt at home. This is a bit corny, but to paraphrase some old saying “ You can leave Italy, but Italy never leaves you”.
Looking forward to next week. I used to read the Gazette religiously every Saturday morning, now I read you. Don’t stop😊.
Hey Mike, I love reading your comments and identifying the similar experiences we’ve both gone through. Yes, we have been very fortunate to have had the opportunity to live in such a great country, and we’re blessed to have such rich history from our homeland.
"... as the journey continues. Will my body hold up? Will my mind stay steady? Will I make it to Rome? And why, exactly, does Emanuela want those pictures?" Indeed, I look forward to learning that and more. I'm along for the ride as you adjust your posting schedule — so long as you keep my inbox in mind, I couldn't care less about the frequency; whatever works for you is fine. Just promise to keep writing and sharing your thoughts, travels, and discoveries.😏
Wow, Cindy—how heartwarming. It’s people like you who inspire me to keep sharing my stories. Thank you. I’ll be taking a little summer break to work on my book, but I’ll definitely post on Substack now and then. Be well. A presto!
I am so excited to read this! We are planning (I’m planning, Hugo is hoping it will go away) to do the pilgrims way to Canterbury, and then do the VF from start to finish (the Brindisi extension) We are thinking to do it by electric bike, even though we have never been on electric bikes.
Do you think it is ok to do it by bike?
I’m so excited and inspired by your post, and no doubt the connection with others who have done it, that the very second I have finished my tea in bed, I’m unlocking my trusty push bike and venturing for the first time to where the pilgrims way crosses near us. Okay, after a coffee.
Oooo this is going to be great!
Hello Pia, Thank you for your comments. I can really sense your enthusiasm for the Via!
I regularly ride an e-bike and offer tours in Tuscany, so here are a few thoughts:
The Via is best appreciated on foot, but for a long stretch like the one you’re planning, a bike is a good alternative. I would just raise one concern about using an e-bike: battery autonomy. A good e-bike can probably give you 70 to 80 km of range (some might go over 100), which is a decent distance per day. However, if the battery runs out, it becomes a very heavy bike to handle without assistance—so make sure to plan for that.
On the positive side, a bike allows you to cover more ground, which means more choices for accommodations and restaurants along the way.
Walking and biking require very different kinds of preparation, so take your time to research and prepare properly.
Feel free to reach out if you’d like any tips or suggestions—this is such an exciting adventure!
Ciao Tino,
How fun to hear that you walked on the Via Francigena. Did you know I wrote a memoir about my walk on it, which I did in 2009?
getBook.at/returntoglow
Wow Chandi, how nice to see you experienced the Via and just reading the intro of your memoir I can’t wait to dig in the pages of the book. I think there will be many similar experiences. Thank you for sharing.
I'd be interested to chat about shared experiences! Buon Cammino! 🥾
Definitely Chandi. I will read your book first. Looking forward to chat with you.
Awww, thanks! I appreciate that you are interested in reading it! 😍
Brilliant!
Quelle belle écriture…….j’ai hâte à la suite….merci pour ces superbes photos 🙏
Merci Lise
Hi Tino.I really enjoyed reading about your walk along the Via Francigena—it was both vivid and reflective. Siena is a region where I have some dear friends, and I do hope to visit them one day. Reading your account brought the landscape and spirit of the place to life.
Thank you Johanna
Tino!!!!! The question is what have you not done?? You make it a point to keep challenging yourself. The passion and the freedom to do so is what really keeps you finding amazing Challenges. And as we can see where there is a will there is a way. Now we have to wait 🫤til next week for continued excitement !!!! Buona settimane🙏☀️👏☕️🙋♀️
Ahah! Tino, tu me fais bien rire! Incapable d’allumer la lumière, quel bon prétexte pour rencontrer une femme! C’est la première fois que je vois ça.
Je te trouve bien courageux d’avoir fait tout ce chemin, je ne crois pas que j’aurais été capable physiquement.
Et j’aime beaucoup la finale de ton texte, dans le style « page Turner ». J’ai hâte de lire la suite….
En tour cas, pour le cas de la lumière, ça c’était vrai!! 😁.
Au fait si c’est bien planifié avec des arrêts fréquents c’est pas si mal. Mais il faut choisir le bon temps dé l’année car les températures peuvent beaucoup influencer. Merci pour tes commentaires. Je te le dis je n’arrivais pas à allumer la lumière 🤷♂️😉
Moi, je te crois mais pas François 😂😉
Dis à L’homme d’aller ce confesser. lol. 😎
A sweet story well told. I was born in 1956, have been through two divorces (one after 30 years of marriage!) and one LTR that also ended. But now…happily married to a feisty and lovely Italian woman! Following your journey with interest and familiarity.
Hi Brant, we have very similar paths including the feisty and lovely Italian women. Thanks for reading and sharing. Ciao
C’est vraiment intéressant et enrichissant de te lire. C’est une expérience de vie.
Merci de nous offrir cette tranche de ton existence.
Tino I’m loving this Camino Francigena tale. I wish we’d had more time to be talk in Colle.
Per te, i miei occhi sono pieni di lacrime e il mio cuore di gioia. Una scrittura meravigliosa su un'esperienza profonda. (I hope GoogleTranslate wasn't too far off!)
Ciao Joy, 37, il traduttore ha fatto un buon lavoro. Grazie per le tue belle parole. 😉
Tino, this is a very interesting story that could be turned into a film. Any movie producers out there?!
Have to say, I really love the line about freshly laundered attire feeling so good when everything else is worn out. Good metaphor.
And Tino, you’re a rascal for keeping your readers in suspense about Emi’s request! There had better be a satisfying explanation in Part II! 🙈
Hmmm! feeling some pressure there. And yes the metaphor was well intended for deeper reasons. Good catch.
Okey I suppose it’s time to go and reread my journal of the Francigena. Let’s see what lies ahead.
But first I need to study for my drivers test which is this Tuesday. Now that gets me nervous. 😬
Even my friend, a bus driver, failed the simulation test yesterday when we practiced together. 🚗😰
Hello Mary Jane, you live in a beautiful area. Yes I was in Vetralla. I mention it on my next newsletter. Ciao.
Hello Antonietta, always nice to read you. I have to say I do love challenges, most of all I love life and that includes also doing absolutely nothing. But I think we all have interesting stories. I’m a chatterbox and love to share them. Stay tuned for next week. I will then take a little brake. The thermometer is hitting close to 40. 🥵 Take care. 🤗