I set off in the company of my Italian pilgrim friends who told me there was a landslip en route. I thought it best to go with them as they are native Italian speakers and I didn't fancy getting lost on my own, even if I one of the actual things I'm comfortable saying in Italian is "mi sono perso"! As it was, the app I'm using to guide my walk helped us out and it was really easy to navigate past the blockage on the path.
Today was a really lovely walk along the Greenway del Nera - as Greenway was my maiden name, I had to explain to my companions as best I could why I was taking pictures of the signs! They thought it was quite funny!
It was so lovely to walk along companionably with these chaps. Not talking much because we can't - none of us are proficient enough at each others languages! But enough to have the odd conversation. Though I am surprised to have had two conversations about how I feel about Brexit!
On the way I spotted this heart shaped stone on the path and thought it most appropriate for today, remembering John 3:16
I wonder if we need to be more alert to the things that God brings our attention to? It might be the smallest thing but if something catches your eye then maybe pause and ask God why?
Also, having found that piece of blue tile on Good Friday I've been looking for a yellow piece to go with it and I was thrilled to find one today - again much to the bemusement of my companions (I didn't explain this one though - far too complicated!!)
So blue with a cross on the back on Good Friday, nothing found on Saturday - I was in a place of waiting and then, yellow today - like the sunrise on the day Jesus rose from the dead! This seems such an odd and small thing, but bizarrely these two pieces of tile (obviously the colours of the markers.of the Via Di Francesco) now hold such significance for me.
Apart from spotting stones and tiles, all the way along there were glorious views from the valley floor today as we walked beside the Nera River.
We stopped for lunch at Ferentillo as we were making good time and it was nice to eat together rather than just on my own as I have on previous days. And the bar was open because I understand it's Italian tradition to go out and eat as a family on Easter Sunday.
Once refreshed we carried on, with more views in the gentle sunshine.
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| Taken by my friend Massimo - I returned the favour for him! |
Am I able to convey just how stunning this scenery is? I keep thinking I'll only post one or two images but then I think I just have to post as many as I can. Am so grateful that the WiFi at this place is a whole lot faster than last night's! To give you an idea it took me a couple of hours to post last night's blog post - I spent the time between the photos uploading reading!
And then, the valley ended and we arrived in Arrone. I left my companions in the town square to find their accommodation for the night and headed on to find mine.
Now, whilst last night's was basic, I have to say that this one feels a bit odd. There is pop music playing outside and a number of folk here so it has felt like I'd walked in on a family gathering which I may well have given what I understand about Easter Sunday but it was a bit disconcerting trying to book in whilst a lot of folk were sitting down to lunch.
And as I'm having to sit outside my room to get the best internet connection I am surprised by how much I am missing the quiet. Last night's accommodation was a bit weird but at least it was peaceful.
I'm sitting at the red covered table in front of the door as I write this and I'll get dinner later on but for now, a pause and I think I'll go back into my room to get the quiet I'm craving!
