Afterthoughts

                                                 Afterthoughts

Italians will still drink coffee when it's hot and eat Gelato when it's cold.

Everything in the backpack must be of use and used along the way otherwise ditch it.

Bars open at 0530 and sell alcohol, coffee, snacks, croissants and little else.

Italian is a very sexy language.

Default language is French.

All Italian women wear bikinis. Showing a lot of leg is OK but cleavage less so. Definitely cover shoulders, neck and knees in churches.

There are many opportunities to interact with Italians on the VF.

It is vital to have WiFi, GPS, various sources for navigation and the phone number of at least one other pilgrim if traveling alone.

A whistle is imperative for safety if out of phone coverage area and wounded/lost/stuck (particularly on a never-used river-bed).

Pharmacies are air conditioned, staff speak English and the floor tiles are so cool and comforting to ease swollen, aching, throbbing feet.

The She-wee will overflow if the volume of pee is too great and it will run down one of your legs.

Be bold. Be fearless. Cut open blisters through all layers of skin. Squirt Betadine inside. Allow to drain constantly, wound edges will unite. The wound will hurt but heal quickly.

Generally the first thing people ask when told about the pilgrimage is, "How long did it take you?".