Oct. 17: Fantastic Walk & An Unexplained Visit

Something inexplicable happened today and we can’t stop thinking about it.

As we were nearing the end of the hike and about to start an uphill climb into Trevi, we heard a voice call out, 

“Hello, Kim and Betsy!” 

We stopped and and then there he was coming up behind us, this smiling man in clergy robes and a scarf. 

“How are you?” he asked. He was so happy to see us and happy in general as he asked us about our walk and where we were going next.

Neither of us asked him how he knew us.

I assumed Betsy must have talked to him in one of the towns we’ve been in or maybe even Rome. She’s great at striking up conversations with people. She assumed it had been me who had met him somewhere in the past couple of days.

He encouraged us to take the tour of the Basilica when we get to Assisi and said they had some American guides we would enjoy. Betsy commented on how fast he was walking and he said keeping up a good rhythm kept him from getting overly tired.

Before he left us he said, “I am Father Philip of India” and then he asked to take a photo with us. We also took a photo.

It wasn’t until he left us that we realized neither of us had met him anywhere before. Also, the fact he introduced himself to us told us we had not met.

He knew our names and he was so joyful to spend even a few minutes with us. We have talked about it and relished that experience. But we can’t explain it. We’ll never be able to explain it. We’ve just accepted it with joy and gratitude.

The inexplicable Father Phillip. It was the end of the hike, so we were both hot and tired. Father Phillip, however, had walked twice as far as us and he looked fresh and ready to go. He said he another 10 miles to walk before the day’s end.

Today has been filled with great experiences.

We loved where we stayed the night prior. Borgo Della Marmotta was wonderful. Breakfast was excellent this morning and we visited again with Fay and Phil, a couple also on a walking holiday.

Then we were off. Some of the walk was very challenging with steep ascents and then steep and rocky descents, but all of it was really great. The views of the Umbrian valley were stunning.

We never got lost or had to backtrack, and that felt like a gift.

In Trevi, after meeting Father Phillip, we walked into an olive oil festival underway, and apparently a celery festival, too, given the crop we saw. We sat at a little cafe and ordered beer and wine and laughed at the amount we were served. We also ordered a snack and were served enough for a feast.

A couple, Anthony and Jane, next to us heard us speak English and struck up a conversation. When we said we were from Nashville, they said it was their second favorite place in the world. In fact, they said they struggled between choosing Nashville for their retirement or Trevi. Turns out they just closed last week on a home in Trevi. We had a great visit with them and then said our goodbyes as they were off to their house. A bit later when we finished and asked for our bill, they had paid it. We didn’t even have a chance to say thank you, but what an unexpected kindness that was.

From Trevi, we were transported by van to Montefalco. The town is small and charming. We haven’t really explored it yet. We did walk up to the piazza and for a light dinner at one of the restaurants. After that, it was back to the hotel to sleep.

Speaking of the hotel, it is a disappointment. The people are so nice, but the hotel is not at all what we expected or what we typically see on these trips. The room is tiny, the sound travels up from the kitchen and the alley. It’s not a place we would ever choose. Now we are concerned about the next several hotels.

Fingers crossed about that. We’re here an extra night, unfortunately. We were supposed to stay in Trevi tonight, but the hotel booked there closed for the season, so they brought us here, which is also our overnight tomorrow. We wish we could have stayed two nights in the last place. But, alas, those are small complaints given the beauty of the country, the adventure of the hiking and inexplicable occurrences.

Ciao!