Monteroni d'Arbia

This morning was all about getting the timing right. I would like to say that I had arranged months ago for the balloons to be travelling over the Piazza del Campo as I reached it but you know me better than that. All seemed to work well. Suspect it gets rather busier later in the day. Moved on to the Siena Duomo where they had opened the main door which let me get a photo showing the front and through to the stained glass window at the far end. And then I could see the inside of the Duomo, again devoid of all tourists. Those who have been there themselves might appreciate the rarity of these photos. You are saved from seeing my whole collection because Penguin limit me to only 20 photos per footprint. Probably as well. Suffice to say my phone battery had dropped to 77% by the time I left Siena. And all before 8.30am including grabbing breakfast en route. Really don’t know what’s coming over me these days.

Things calmed down as I got out of town. A lot of ridge walking today. Not the Scottish Munro-style along between mountain tops this was the Tuscan variety. A pleasant track or unpaved road winding along the top of gentle rolling hills, giving lovely views on both sides. Luckily for you they don’t photograph very well but trust me, very easy on the eye.

Tonight’s village is very small, only two possible accommodations, either a pilgrim’s hostel with dormitories or a 3 bed-roomed B&B. Luckily, because I booked weeks ago, I was in the B&B. 40€ very well spent. Lovely quiet room, big double bed to myself with an en-suite, breakfast supplied in the morning as compared to hell on earth over the road. Smug? Me? Why ever would you think that?

Only one restaurant and I was told there was no need to book but I didn’t take any chances. Went there half an hour before it opened and asked if I could sit having a drink before the kitchen opened. Got my bum on a seat. True enough those arriving half an hour after opening time had to wait until the first lot had eaten and left. Pleasant enough pizza but nothing special. White chocolate profiteroles to follow were very good though.

I am having a slight clothes issue that I need to share. I have 2 polo shirts for wearing when not walking. You need 2 because every blue moon one gets washed and you need to wear the other one while it dries. And I have one t-shirt that gets worn every day for walking. On arrival I shower and wash the t-shirt. It always dries by the next day. It is getting very faded but I can happily ignore that. Sartorial elegance never my speciality. But it is also getting worn in places where the rucksack straps have rubbed and this looks like stains and then there are genuine stains from sun tan lotion etc that don’t come out with hand-washing. Getting embarrassing but what can a chap do?Les mer