“Last night was as we had anticipated rather a noisy due to the scout group, which is maybe a jamboree,which was occurring outside our windows of the convent. I must admit we are usually so physically tired that we can sleep through anything. (We were waiting for Kumbyah in Italian but it didn t happen)
We are now moving down to the plains, which is.much drier but still sunflowers, corn and lots of families havesting their potato crops. Bob is foraging for blackberries and has had some success with apples and plums! So the paths were flatter today.
Setting out today
We stopped in San Lorenzo Nuovo for our 9 am snack and thought it was unremarkable until we walked to the end of the street and there over the valley was a huge expanse of a misty Lake Bolsena. So we were teased all of the way to the township (another 3 hours) by the sight of the refreshing water as we sweltered.
Bolsena is another Etruscan town on the edge of a huge volcanic crater, which houses the lake. An important point on the Via Francigena because in the 1200s a priest was celebrating mass when he saw blood appearing from the host (the bread) and the celebration of Corpus Christi began here.
My favourite story though is of St Christina, whom the catacombs and cathedral are named. Her father accused her of being a heretic, so he threw her in the lake but she survived. He weighted her down with stones but she still survived. He had archers shoot her with arrows. Now she is the patron saint of the area. What you have to do to achieve sainthood!
The lower part of town is a little like Batemans Bay at the moment with tourists galore. We went down for a swim but not very appetising with.mossy rocks and dark volcanic sand. Despite this, there are hotels and holiday accommodation all along the strip. Bob’s tip for dinner is a white fish from the lake. We wanted to go and see the catacombs but unfortunately there was a funeral procession into the church as we walked into the piazza. Tonight we are in a small hotel, Hotel Nazionale, as we’ll need the air conditioning because it is quite humid.
Some highlights
The main piazza
Well cared for gardens along the shore
Fish galore
Afternoon drinks
We opted for pizza for dinner
Only 112 kms to Roma.”
M&M
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