Hello Bus Line my Old Friend; We’ve Come to Ride on You Again….

Day 43: Bolsena to Montefiascone, 16 km, rain, rain, and more rain.

We had a later than usual breakfast, having anticipated another “ bus” day. These bus days are very disconcerting for us walkers who, when confronted with rain, first have to make a decision….walk or not walk. Then, if it doesn’t rain, you’re left second guessing yourself…did we make the wrong decision. That’s what happened this morning. (And it’s not just the rain and getting wet. That’s not so bad. The worst is the mud and fording streams that are overflowing with runoff from the rain.)

We left the hotel…no rain. Bought bus tickets and went for a stroll around the sweet town of Bolsena. Soon enough it started to rain, just as we found another church to explore. Turned out to be the Basilica of Saints George and Christina. You never know when adventure will strike. Just as we were lamenting about what to do, opportunity presented itself!!!

Went inside….found a beautiful chapel…or two or three and then…. The sarcophagus of Saint Christina, a 12 year old martyr….

The church stands on the site of ancient catacombs.

Spent some time in the church…

Wandered around Bolsena some more, getting wet, ducking into a bar for a coffee, waiting for the bus which finally arrived and brought us to Montefiascone, 100 km to Rome, the official starting point for religious pilgrims wanting to get a testamonium, We pilgrims carry credentials or pilgrims passports which we get stamped all along the way. In order to get a testamonium you have to walk the last 100 km to Rome which is confirmed by checking your credential has the necessary stamps. (Not at all why we are doing this.)

It rained quite heavily all day. Montefiascone sits atop a mountain which, as I write now, is shrouded in fog and makes the whole place feel dark and a bit depressing.

And so, the next round of decision making is coming….bus or walk tomorrow?