Montefiscione to Viterbo

Thursday October 11

We had asked our host if we could have breakfast at 6 and she was willing to make that happen. She was so sweet! We stayed at the LaBertina BnB. Lovely!

It took a while to get going as we had about a million steps UP to climb to get to the end of yesterday’s route! That is so not fair! Poor Suzanne didn’t feel the best and almost decided to take the bus. However today is the beginning of the last 100 km to Rome so we need to walk!

Can you say “hill”?

After leaving this hilltop town we climbed down into the valley and found several stretches of old Roman roads. It’s amazing to think of all the people and animals that have walked on these same stones. I had Suzanne take a video of me “leaping between the stones. Three tries and the last one worked!

So far this morning has been good. Sue is feeling better and we are cruising along at 2 miles per hour.

We walked past a herd of sheep and waved at the herder who waved back. He was listening to some techno music. Certainly not what his grandfather did while tending sheep!

Hello. Can you see us?

We have 2.5 miles to go before we reach the hot springs. I’m looking forward to that dip of the feet. Fingers crossed it’s a good stop with a place to sit, a toilette and a refreshment of some type!

A great stop. Vending machine espresso, pools to look at unless you wanted to shower…

Oh yes and it’s raining very lightly. I have had my poncho on since we left because the sky was gray and already misty. It’s just now, 3 hours later, actually raining.

Along the trail the two gals from UK and Holland caught up with us and we hope to find each other for a drink tonight!

Part of the REI tour group passed us. The group broke into two because some of them wanted to go to the hot springs and the others didn’t care. The German group of 5 caught up just as we entered the hot springs. Unfortunately you had to shower before entering and there really wasn’t a spot for sitting in the water to dangle your feet. We reluctantly passed on that one.

We enjoyed the stop anyway for toilette, food and an espresso for me.

After we left a young man from South Africa caught us. He had taken time out of his life to make a career change from a physical therapist to a high school teacher. He just finished walking the Camino de Santiago and Italian friends of his recommended the via francigena. He started in Siena but took an unplanned day off there which meant he had to make up a day somewhere in order to catch his flight tomorrow! Today he walked from Bolsena to Viterbo which would be about 22 miles. He was cute and super nice. Good luck to him!

The rest of the trail was flat and long. Once in the city limits the highway went on forever with no sign yet of the old centre.

There goes the South African young man… he was fast!

The long white road

Beautiful vines with red berries

We finally spotted the arched entrance to the old center and found our hotel. Sue was beat and wanted a nap. My feet hurt also and laid down for a while but was actually hungry so I showered and went in search of food. I found pizza which is what I wanted. Had to wait for the kitchen to open but I hadn’t had a chance to sit and look at my pics from even yesterday so that’s what I did. Enjoyed a glass of rosso vino and some frizzante acqua and waited for the kitchen.

Pizza was pretty good. Wine was local and the table was mine for as long as I wanted. Love the European attitude on the table service!

Here are a few more pics of Viterbo. It was a good sized town with plenty of shops and restaurants. Our hotel was roomy and bonus had an elevator to the third floor ( which is an american 4th floor).