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 13 May, Sunday - Walk the World in Tuscany
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13 May 2007, Sunday (Day 23) - San Gimignano. Though I thought yesterday had the perfect Tuscan landscapes, that was just a warm up for today. I'll let the photos at the bottom of this post do the talking (be sure to also check out the photo gallery under the blog menu for a foto-tour recap of the entire trip so far).
The late starting time (11 a.m.) was designed to allow for a morning walk around San Gimignano, which is stunningly beautiful, but also stunningly overrun by tourists. The very un-Carl like start also gave me time to meet with Franco Alessandri who came from Florence to chat with me. He works with the Comunita' Toscana Il Pellegrino, an organization that looks after the Via Francigena in Tuscany.
The late start became later as we waited for Andrea, a friend who came down from Milan for the walk. The group today also included Simone and Lucia from Montecatini Terme, Valentina visiting from Milan and of course Carl and Claire.
My walk today was part of a worldwide initiative of the World Food Program called Walk the World that aims to raise money and awareness to fight hunger in the world. I have raised 165 euros so far (thanks to Franco, Cesare, Otta, Emilio, Carla, Valentina, Andrea, Carl, and Claire) and hope to do better before I arrive in Rome. To find out more about Walk the World, check out the "Walk With Me" part of this website.
Simone, Lucia and Andrea broke from the group after our long stop in Colle Val d'Elsa leaving Valentina, Carl, Claire and me to push on. We all felt pretty good in Monteriggioni so after a quick stop in the fortified hilltop town we moved on to Siena, a piece I had planned for the next day. With the extra stage already done a free day to visit Siena is in the cards for tomorrow.
We didn't arrive at the convent in Siena until 10:15 p.m., but Sister Ginetta received us as kindly as anyone could possibly hope for and she prepared dinner for us while we washed up.
Tip for the day: take time to see San Gimignano, but be aware that the place can be a zoo.
Trip details: San Gimignano to Siena, 40 K. Altitude change: 682 meters up and 693 meters down. Walked so far: 676.4 K. Left to Rome: 247.1 K.
State of the route: San Gimignano to Colle Val d'Elsa - phenomenal, perfect, on dirt trails most of the way. Colle Val d'Elsa to Monteriggioni - all asphalt and not pleasant, but some nice Tuscan views and it's great to see Monteriggioni in the distant and then as it gets progressively closer. Monteriggioni to Siena - wonderful trail through a forest and across the hills. The last 6 kilometers to Siena are on a narrow busy road and often there is no shoulder. The trail is well marked the entire way from San Gimignano to Siena with the exception of the piece on the way out of Colle Val d'Elsa.
Weather report: hot hot hot.
Medical report: all good. |
 Valentina took this photo |
 Monteriggioni |
 San Gimignano |
 The Walk the World group |
 With Andrea, Carl, Claire, Valentina, Simone and Lucia |
 There are still some locals left in San Gimignano |
 Claire and Valentina |
 South of San Gimignano |
 San Gimignano between the trees |
 Poppies |
 My house some day |
 I'll settle for this house too |
 San Gimignano, a bit over run |
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Supporting the Project: |
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In collaboration with: |
Assessorato al Turismo e alle Attività Termali della Provincia di Pavia |
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Viaggiare in Puglia |
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L'Arte di Vivere
con Lentezza |
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