Canterbury to Rome to Assisi Days 87-90:
Feeling at peace 4 days onto Via Francesco. The vibes are different on this pilgrimage versus the Via Francigena. Perhaps it is the beautiful fall weather or how quiet it has been. Walking through Tuscany was beautiful but a bit crowded relatively. Somehow the gentle and kind ways of St. Francis seem to pervade in the people and the landscape. Beautiful.
Met my first fellow pilgrims, Michelle and Ronald from Holland coming the other direction. They started from home and are about 2400K into their journey.
My last 3 accommodations have been excellent. In Monterotondo I was welcomed at Santa Maria Maddalena Parish Hostel by sweet Antoinette as friendly as can be who also prepared a delicious 4 course supper just for this sole pilgrim.
Last night Christine of Ponticelli hosted me at her home where she has a beautiful small coach house I had to myself. She also prepared a delicious dinner that included her homemade white and rose wines.
Today I am at a municipal Casa del Pelligrino in Poggio San Lorenzo where Francesco also gave me a St. Francis token to hang on my backpack.
A kind woman with two small girls helped me out making a reservation for tomorrow night in Rieti.
Rome was spectacular of course but I am grateful to have the opportunity to continue to Assisi and enjoy the serene aura of Francis all along this most wonderful pilgrimage.
Is there an app or book that can help me plan my Via Francesco pilgrimage. I’ve done Camino de Santiago from Porto – Santiago and from Sarria to Santiago. While I found a lot of apps and websites for the Camino de Santiago, I’m finding it hard to find an app that has everything. Thank you!
I never did find a good app for this but used this list of accommodations; http://www.diquipassofrancesco.it/EN/index.asp?page=elencoAccoglienzeintestazione
Also the second time I walked I used the Cicerone Guidebook which was helpful. Keep in mind that there are several alternative routes and it can be confusing at times.
Also I will be posting a comparison with the Camino de Santiago with links in December.