Fine!

Bloody heat nearly killed me but how and ever, 1030 kms in total from Italian Swiss border at Gran San Bernardo to Saint Peter's Basilica. Armed police everywhere in Rome and €6 for a can of Fanta, quick exit to Bologna and the start of Phase 2! 

July 8 2016

Aug 9 2016

Vegetarian Crisis and Spaghetti Bolognese

Two things I heard the other day which I was quite taken with.

One, concerning vegans is a story about a vegan complaining to the cook who was about to kill a goat for some tired pilgrims. Apparently the local priest intervened and said to the vegan "either we kill the goat, or we kill you, you chose". I liked that because we've come across a few foodies on this hike and 'pain in the hole' is the phrase that leaps to mind. We often get a meal at a hostel and you take what is given and be thankful for it. Some of these folk think they are at a hotel. 

The second item re. the spaghetti bolognese is interesting in that there is no such dish in Italian cuisine (big news to me). Indeed, it's considered good policy to ignore restaurants in Italy that have it on their menu. Spaghetti is too smooth to retain the sauce unlike other pasta types, e.g. Tagliatelle. This is the type of info. you pick up on a hike like this. 

Est, Est, Est

Legend has it that in the year 1111, a German bishop called Johann Fugger was more keen on sightseeing than court politics. As he travelled, he would send his manservant a day ahead of him in search of accommodation with quality wines. In order that the bishop knew which inns provided the best drops, the manservant would write with chalk the word Est!, meaning 'It is!', on the various inn doors.

When the manservant reached one lodging in the picturesque village of Montefiascone, he was so taken with its wine that he wrote Est! Est!! Est!!! on its door. On arriving at this inn, the bishop also fell in love with the wine, and from that day forth the wine from this area bore the name Est! Est!! Est!!! di Montefiascone. So taken was the bishop with this nectar that he returned to the area to live until his death. 

I have sampled the said wine in the course of researching this story and I'm with the bishop. Although the village is a kip. 

Part 2- Bishop of Siena

Despite my best efforts for silence the Bishop of Siena heard about my pilgrimage and insisted on meeting me at Porta Romana at the gates of the city with hundreds of city dignitaries. This was all fine but then they made me give a speech in Italian: 

"Prego, grazie mille. Toto Schillachi bastardo, pizza pomodoro pronto. Paoli Rossi, prego, Mafiosi prego. Prego pronto pasta ravioli, ragu il Via Francigena e Sophia Loren, Cinema Paradiso e Buffalo Mozzarella Pronto lasagne, il vino rosso Montalcino bellissimo, ciao bella. Irelanda ama Italy e Italy ama Irelanda. Bravissimo."

At this point you could hear a pin drop. And some sobbing in the crowd. Then I hit them with the big punchline: 

"La saggezza e', come la saggezza fa". This means 'Wisdom is, as wisdom does'. 

At first there was silence. Then the clapping started, and the people rose to their feet in unison and gave me a standing ovation. For 15 minutes. And then I continued on my way, for it was all that I knew. 

Part 1- Cunning Disguise

Many villages have heard of my sacrifice and tortuous walk (for the sins of others) and prepare a welcome commitee. However this is not my style so I go to great lengths to disguise myself and blend in so I can pass through the village and continue with the journey, and my burden. 

How do I do this I hear you all ask? How can I pass through without detection? In the words of Peter Sellers ' they cannot see what is directly in front of them'. Taking this on board I disguise myself as something that they see every day, and without fail, they miss me. 

I become a bird, as the wind, I become free !