And what a mystery it was. We met in the piazza at 6.00 am with a bar well into the day’s work and then we left under the light of the street lamps and out onto a busy highway.
Our French friends had Monica’s guide book and we had Babette’s and while sometimes they agreed, today they didn’t. And I think the 4 of us were more interested in getting to know each other that we missed vital clues. We ended up walking in circles and causing the mirth of locals who realised what we had done. Of course it was impossible now to reach our destination so we caught a taxi!!! We had him drop us off where we went wrong and started again … so eventually did the kms.
We moved onto tracks and farm lanes, across 2 rivers in bare feet (which meant a quick change of blister dressing for Corrie), over small bridges, through more ripe tomato crops, quiet villages, asking farmers and villagers for directions which they love to give. Lots of barking dogs locked up and probably begging us for their freedom, a few cats, a rabbit and not many birds. We wondered at the absence of nature sounds then realised it was the lack of birds because mostly there weren’t many, or any, trees.
Somewhat like the Tour de France, we travelled in pairs, taking the lead when needed, then dropping back to travel with others on the same team – the Aussie-French mixed pairs. Another long track without shade areas and we were in our new home in an old village and being spoilt by our wonderful friends who made our booking.
Past the local cemetery which we now call ‘bed without breakfast’, and for us also, but hopefully we will wake up in the morning and have ours in the piazza.
