Today was August 14th! In exactly one month, I hope to arrive in Rome. This morning, I woke up with Cindy and Charlotte on the fourth floor of the Astoria hotel in Fidenza. The airco had kept the room cool, but had also blocked my nose. When I opened the blinds, the sun was already at full force. It was only 7h. You can't walk with an empty stomach, so we first headed to the first floor for breakfast. We were the only ones in the big room. On TV, they talked about the collapse of the Ponte Morandi exactly 5 years ago.
Around 8h30, we were ready to go. We headed to the cathedral for a short visit. An elderly couple was busy doing some cleaning. The lady saw us and offered to add a beautiful stamp in our passport. The romanesque church is stunning and dedicated to San Donnino. He was beheaded and the legend tells that he picked up his head and put it at the place where the cathedral was build. While looking for the way out of Fidenza, a man told us we could shorten 8km if we would just follow the road. No thanks, too dangerous. We walked through a residential area before following a gravel road. There was still some shade under the trees. The sky was not as clear blue as in the days before. Sadly, air pollution caused this. After 3km, we came to the church of St Thomas Becket but it was closed. The days of non stop walking along flat roads and paths were over. Today, we entered the foothills of the Apennine mountains and these hills would make us do some short but steep climbs and descents. Hard work when it is 36 degrees. After a while, we came to a ridge which we could follow for a couple of kilometers. When the concrete road turned to gravel, we dropped our backpacks and had a break in the shade. We had only done 6km, but we were sweating like we had crossed the Sahara dessert. Later the path continued and brought us deeper into the hills. The little mountains offered us already stunning panoramas. At 12h30 we stood on one hill and saw the next village Costamezzana on the summit of the next hill. To get there, you go all the way down to then go all the way back up. We really needed a break by the time we arrived in the village. To our surprise, there was a bar open. It was named scoiattolo or squirrel. Owner Oliveiro had been working here for 30 years. We sat down and ordered cold drinks. Oliveiro even had a stamp for our passports. Also handy to have a clean toilet, but I will never be a big fan of French toilets. If you take a break, do it in style. With this motto, we also ordered ice cream. Around 14h, it was time to go. Oliveiro was going to have his siesta, we still had to do 10km. The church was closed to visitors. When we continued, clouds started to appear. They came out of nowhere. The path started flat, but then made us climb steeply towards castello di Costamezzana. All that remains, is a big tower but the view over the flatlands is stunning. We continued through even higher farmland. In a meanwhile, it got overcast which gave us some relief from the burning sun. Was there a thunderstorm coming? We could hear thunder. A little concrete road took us further through the rolling fields. Every field had a different colour and the patchwork was stunning to watch. Later, we came across an old tractor. Charlotte and I went behind the steering wheel and felt like Italian farmers. Before we knew, we arrived in the little village of Cella. It looked like the thunderstorm was going to miss us. The sun stayed hidden which was a bliss. The bar in Cella was closed, so we took a break on the local playground. Nothing more fun than trying the seesaw. Time flies when you are having fun. At 16h45, we still had to walk 6km. Above Cella, you can see a cross at the top of a hill. That was where we had to go. Later the path continued on a ridge before going down to Medesano. That's where our bed was for the night. Incredible how we did get shade the whole afternoon, but no rain. The weather gods were in a good mood. After a last up and down and a finish photo, we went shopping in the little carrefour. Our hostel San Giacomo was next to the church. When we arrived, there was nobody there. So we rang the door, nobody opened. So we rang the phone number, nobody answered. What to do? At that moment, an old lady passed. She said that the mass just finished and that the priest was on his way. Surprisingly, the man who turned up was from Pakistan. He was studying in Rome but came to Medesano to help the local priest for a couple of weeks. Nobody else was booked in the hostel for tonight. The price was only 17 euro per pers. It was great with even a kitchen and a washing machine. Only downside, it was more than 30 degrees in the bedroom. We enjoyed a great shower and an apero before heading into town for food. A pizzeria must have seen us as rich tourists. The lady insisted on us buying the most expensive pizzas and even served french fries which we never asked but had to pay. Disappointing, but we had a great evening after an even better day. I'm so grateful that Cindy and Charlotte keep me company this week. Another 22km had been walked, we will do the same tomorrow. More climbing, more heat, more fun!
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AuthorMy name is Dimitri and I'm turning 40 in 2023. Through the years, I have tried to live my dreams. Everything is possible, the sky is the limit as long as you believe in your dreams and work hard to make them happen. Do what you never did before. Go where you have never been before. It will be scary, but it will also be worth it! Archives
July 2024
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