Pavia 14/8/17 and Pavia to Montale 15/8/17

14/8/17 Monday

Day off in Pavia

Full sun and hot

Visit churches. Reproachful stares remind me to cover naked skin.

Riverside under-developed, a boat-restaurant is closed. Prolific graffiti!
Public holiday (Catholic feast-day) tomorrow so Pavia is quiet today and the holiday extends over the entire week.
Delicious lunch of saffron risotto/tomato husk/cheese wafer and Tiramisu.
Take a dip in the Ticino River where the bronzed Italians in all (but mainly lean) forms clad in Speedos and bikinis gather, swim and slumber.
Delicious dinner of vegetables, fries and soup.
Many people out and about.

5 Supplies
23 Lunch at piazza
25 Dinner
156 2 nights at La Stanza B&B


15/8/17 Tuesday
Full sun, hot.

Pavia- Milano regional train->Piacenza. Piacenza- Montale 5 km

Waiting. Waiting.
Waving.
Ciao ciao Stefano.

Up to Milan. Down to Piacenza!
There's an assumption I speak Italian (?)
I meet an Italian pilgrim at Piacenza called Sisi who though small and stout, is a formidable force.
We walk together at her pace in temperatures searing to 37 degrees to Montale where after an animated conversation punctuated with gestures, she procures the key to the parish hostel.

I meet my new companion: as yet just known as Blister.
I meet Brazilian pilgrims called Alini and Lillian with whom Sisi also shares a melon she has (again) procured from a vegetable garden.
28 degrees at 8pm.
Fruit and nuts for dinner.
A hot night with church bells clattering and clanging.

14 Supplies
6 Lunch
7 Train to Piacenza
10 San Pietro Apostolo Ostello










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