Into Tuscany

Didn't have time the other night so here goes. As you move away from the sea you get into Tuscany travel brochure country. Lots of vines and olives and mountain top villages. I know where the supreme being put all the spare hills now. Nothing huge but a bit like a roller coaster. After miles of lovely countryside you then reach one of the set piece towns. I can't remember even hearing of Lucca but it turned out to be a beautiful place, and in retrospect relatively tourist free.

I'd booked into the Youth Hostel (no cheap shots please) and the lady at the tourist office pointed me in the direction of the tower and church (see above). It was an old convent and was like a 5 star hotel in the foyer (see below). 21 euros a night and right in the middle of the old town. The snoring and flatulence of my 7 room-mates was the downside but I still have a pair of the earplugs Bob brought me in France and was able to get two good nights sleep. Bob bought them for me to protect me from his snoring after I'd spent two nights sleeping in the en-suite in the hotel in Chalons.

As I walked south this farmer stopped and we had a chat about my trip and in the meantime he built up a huge traffic jam. After 20 minutes of horn honking and him waving people on he said he had to water his toms and lettuce and he was off.

There have been a few bits of the walk which have been really special beacuse you know that the old pilgrims had to have travelled down the same bit if road. This bit is the old Via Romana which has been by-passed by more modern roads and is maintained by the local community in Porcari. Underfood are cobbles and on the left is a medieval mile-stone. Some mason has been good enough to build a bench into the wall which has been polished by the bums of countless pilgrims, merchants and soldiers who travelled the Via Francigena (including mine).

One of my favourite pictures is this one looking back at St Miniato in the early morning. I stayed in the convent and was fed along with the lay brothers through a revolving serving hatch. Own room with en suite plus evening meal (unlimited wine) and breakfast all for 30 eu - great.

Last photo is of the centre of St Gimignano. This is the hill top town (everywhere is on a hill)with 17 medieval towers. Two local families decided to outdo each other in tower building rather than fighting (very Freudian) and the result is wonderful.

I'm writing this in Sienna and it may be the last blog until I get to Rome (hopefully by two weeks today when I meet Jill and we fly home). Best wishes to you all for now.