Yesterday was my second last rest day in the beautiful city of Siena. And I could definitely use some rest after an intense week of hiking. I woke up around 5am feeling a bit unwell. It was hot in the room and my stomach was turning. I opened the window for some fresh air. To my surprise, street sweepers were already busy with cleaning. With only 15 degrees, it felt cold outside. I fell back asleep and only woke up just before 10h30. The nauseous feeling was gone and I was ready for a new day. My hostel room was extremely well equipped with a fridge, a sink, a desk and a drying rack. What a luxury to be able to do your laundry in the hostel. On top of that, there was a supermarket Pam Local at only 250m where I could get food. My legs were very grateful not having to walk far this morning. I took the time to book all my accommodation until Rome. It started to sink in that my final destination is getting closer, really exciting.
My fundraising for Make a Wish is still ungoing. I can't say enough how grateful I am for all your support. At the moment, we have raised 1.473 euro which is just incredible. It will allow the organisation to do something magical for children with a life threatening illness. My dream was to raise 1 euro per kilometer I would walk and that already happened. Waw! That said, the fundraising will keep running until my arrival, so 13 more days. If you would still like to help, you can. Maybe we can reach the incredible amount of 1.500 euro. That would be amazing. For more details, check the link https://www.inactievoormakeawish.be/fund.../dimitri-lanssens Every euro makes a difference. In the name of myself, Make a Wish and the children: thank you! I'm not the kind of person to lay in bed for a whole day. Siena is too stunning to not have a walk around. Without a doubt, it is one of Italy's best preserved medieval cities. In 1966, it became one of the first European cities to ban cars in its main square. Siena is a labyrinth of narrow streets. It's great to just get lost. Around every corner, there is another cool shop, café or beautiful building. If you don't have too much time, go for the two main attractions. First Piazza del Campo. You could easily spend an afternoon looking around on this majestic square. It is dominated by Torre del Mangia, with 102m Italy's highest secular tower. You can climb its 400 steps, but I decided that would be too much for a rest day. Twice a year, a famous horse race is held here with 60.000 spectators gathering on the square. After a bit of searching, I found the little tourist office where I got a new stamp in my pilgrims passport. Then it was time for the Duomo de Siena. Visiting this cathedral is more complicated than taking an airplane. First you have to find the ticket office. The counter at the back? No. Probably at the front. No, it is on the side. You have to stand in line outside. There is security at the door and only one person per group or family is allowed inside to buy tickets. I paid 8 euro. Then you head back to the front of the cathedral. First you pass security. Don't even consider taking a backpack or not covering your shoulders. Then you go through metal detection and then you scan your ticket. Congratulations, you made it! Once inside, behave! Security is everywhere. Is it worth it? Yes, the duomo is incredible. Even most of the floor is covered in stunning artwork. The 26 pillars with horizontal white and dark marble stripes make it really special. And then there is a huge dome covered in golden stars. There is music playing which creates a nice atmosphere. I almost spent an hour inside. In a meanwhile, it started raining outside but I was dry. When I came outside, the sun came through. I wandered around the streets for another hour ending at a viewpoint over the city next to the church of San Domenico. My friend Rob was still in town, so we met later in the evening for some ice cream on the piazza del campo. Always great to catch up with a friend, especially after having spent so much time alone over the last weeks. Darkness came quick and the moon came up above the city. The cooler temperatures lured me back to my comfy hostel. I would sleep well again. Today it is the first day of school for a lot of Belgian children after 2 months of summer holiday. I hope they will all have a great day. For me it is the start of my last two weeks before reaching Rome. Around 9h, I will leave Siena through the Porta Romana and walk almost 26km to Ponte d'Arbia. It is going to be sunny, I can't wait to get started.
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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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