
seen from United States
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Italy in 3D
As ice transforms to life, Conducted through the rus An ancient ingenuity Long not confused by strife.
A belvedere of gaia, Alongside energy and urge A prosperity of purpose and grit Now manifest by wire.
A wend to the level, A grid of road and field Following a Cisterian dictate To countenance the devil.
A vista shaped by God’s hand, Of water wealth and light Evoking pride not envy A blessed coloured land.
Now woven into the people A sense of continuum A nuggety resolve More steely than any steeple.
A polyglot of race colour and creed, United by faith wine and food Where churches and cascinas Sit side by side in deed.
A line of castellos on a hill, Solid brooding yet lively Old and new in balance Preserved by strength of form, and will.
Closing to orchards nuts and trees, An increased hum of density A modernity wrapped Around 2000 years of frieze.
To reflect upon the feeling Dimensions manifest or to appear Is a satisfaction There has been some healing.
Glenn
Remember this is what I looked like before the walk. Will let you know the after. Will let you know the after.? Did I already say that? Anyway I will let you know.
It is done. Fantastic overwhelming.
Well folks it is done. 66 days after leaving Canterbury I have arrived in Rome on a Sunday during a mass. I did not do this for religious reasons but it is a respect for the church and it’s historical and current role in the Francigena partly underpinning the selection of the day. Equally as mentioned day 66 is coincidental to a birthday I would rather not be having but one of the truly astonishing things about this walk is how bloody fit i have become and how good I feel. Beer does that. I have had a great exerience and will round out these blogs with a measured summary later. My overwhelming emotion at the moment , because as they say in the classics ” it’s been emotional folks ” is it has been such a privilege to do it, to be capable of doing it, to actually do it and to be so successful in attracting interest and raising awareness of the medical research matters we will focus the money raised on. THANK YOU one and all from Newcastle, the Hunter, Australia, New Zealand, UK, USA, France Italy and special thanks to my extended family for your generous support. Most of all thank you Leda and all my children for encouragement and unconditional suipport. Now some interesting facts. I wore shorts on all days except day one in the UK. I shipped wet weather gear home in France. I fell over twice last time two days ago going up the steps to a bar. I ate an aple every day and will never eat another. I ate an orange every day and will eat them in future with aperol and prosecco. I met 20 other pellegrine, none to my knowledge ahead of me save possibly Phillipe, but he walked the VF in two stages. My spelling and punctuation has improved immeasurably as has my short term memory. My spelling and punctuation has improved immeasurably as has my short term memory. Now where did i say that before? I can say i am so pleased to have done this and contrary to what i had thought i would say i would do it again, but only the Swiss italy leg because it is so much more ready than France. That said i will not do it again but certainly recommend it to others, esp on your own. I have been blessed with the weather . The hardest part is not sharing a meal with some one. I can easily drink alone but eating alone sucks. For those times we shared a meal and time together a special thank you to Michele, the OG, ( Oregon girl ) and more recently Katleen from Belgium. I dips me lid to you two for your resoluteness, sense of humour and fondness for beer. Girls doing the VF on their own command respect. Finally my experiences have eclipsed my expectations. I set out to make it hard and went hard to the finish. My feeling of achievement is strengthened by that. THANK YOU. A healthy 78 kilos, but about to strangle Moretti and commence the slow climb back. Glenn Ps. Italy i love you, but you are like a partner who no longer cares. The rubbish I have seen , the absolute lack of care for your own environment will bite you on the arse. For your own sakes get a care factor will you. You would not believe the things I have seen dumped in rivers, parks, by the road, just anywhere. PPS I have one or two more songs in Italian but i am told they are not uploading well. We will see what can be done.
Thrilled that so many people there to greet me. I had no idea.
My first sight coming into Rome approx 30 min out
Rome at last. It is done.
What a pleasure!