We All Knew It Would Happen

After more than 20 years of friendship and many travels, Betsy apparently forgot everything she knew about me and let me be in charge of the directions when I asked. Why did I ask? I felt confident. There are “way marks” throughout the trip. I thought even I could not get lost.

Oh how wrong I was. The directions (which are oddly detailed to the extent it sounds more like a treasure hunt instead of a walk) said something about an electrical tower. I saw an electrical tower. This way, I said, and pointed and off we went. And off track we went, for about 90 minutes, which meant 90 meants back to the spot where I turned wrong. To make matters worse, the wrong way had very steep climbs and it rained on us harder than ever. It was the one time on this trip I felt like crying. Betsy just kept shaking her head and asking herself why oh why had she let me be in charge of the directions.

Today, the directions are in her hands.

As for our route, we walked from Volterra out one day and caught a bus back, as planned. The next day, the trip rep. took us to where we had walked out to the previous day and we walked on to San Gimignano. From there, we walked to Colle Val d’ Elsa. Yesterday, we walked to Monteriggioni, which is the greatest place ever. This is basically a fort that has become a very small village. I have never seen anything like it, and expect I never will. We are about to walk along the walls where people walked centuries ago as guards.

Meanwhile, prior to beginning the walk, we spent a night in Lucca and one in Pisa. We will walk to Siena today (though we expect to catch the bus for part of the way…not in the mood for an 11 mile trek). We spend two nights there and then off to Florence for three days. Then…home.

Kim

Yesterday was filled with mud. Mud puddles, large ones, followed by mud and more mud. We saw a huge field of pigs that must have been happier than, well, pigs in slop. It was muddy. And it was also beautiful. We descended from an incredible trek down the white road (any road that is not muddy and is not paved, but is a somewhat common track, is called a white road) on which either side were terraced olive groves, surrounded by the most perfectly fitted stone walls. Cleve would have loved the walls. The stones were perfectly matching, perfectly even. A wonderful work of craftsmanship and it was probably done 1000 years ago. We stopped and had a couple of vinos in a bar, then crossed the street and entered a large stone walled area that surrounded a 6th century church. We could not go in the church, but people were gathering for Sunday evening supper at the church social hall. We met a young beautiful little girl named Julia. And then, as we were walking through incredibly brilliant green fields, we looked up at Monteriggioni set stop the hill and a rainbow was arched across it. It was stunning.
You should Google Monteriggioni.
Now off to Siena.
ciao…
betsy