9. Babel Fish

Lucignano d’Arbia to Buonconvento

One of may favourite bits of writing of all time is the BBC4 Radio script for the original Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. If you haven’t listened to it (much better than the movies, tv versions or book in my opinion), then do yourself a favour. Anyway, the reason it was on my mind today was due to the Babel Fish. In HGTTG there is a sudden pressing need to speak Vogong. That is solved by inserting a small fish in one’s ear which then miraculously translates whatever language you are hearing. The discomfort of a fish in the ear is a consideration, but darn handy in a tight spot when all your Italian rushes out of your brain and you have a great need for a beer.

Grant and I worked deligently on our Duolingdo Italian before coming here and I’m really glad we did. I can get by now with the reading side of things quite well and the most rudimentary of speech, but gosh the verbal comprehension is challenging as Italians talk so fast. Luckily they are very kind and tolerant people and most speak at least some English, so we get by. A babel fish would be particularly useful in situations like last night where there was a mini United Nations of languages in the restaurant- Danish, German, Swiss, Italian and then Americans and Irish (neither of which really speak English do they)? Joking, I promise. Such a great vibe and at least half are on the via Francigena. (That is pronounced via fran-CHEE-je-na by the way, with the emphasis on the second syllable which is a mental challenge to us English speakers). The hotel we were in is worth putting on your to go list and I realise I spoke of it yesterday but didn’t name it. It’s called Hotel Borgo Antico.

Today Beauty returned to the walk and we had the loveliest meander to a gorgeous little town called Buonconvento about 14km south. Buonconvento means a happy gathering. The town has a tiny but intact Medieval centre lined with restaurants and bars. It sits astride the via Francigena and that has provided its purpose since Medieval times. The walk here had a couple of biggish hills but not too challenging, with views that took the breath away more than the inclines. The green of the fields is just too green to capture on film. That, plus brilliant blue skies and wild flowers made for a lovely wander. I don’t know how anyone survives this walk in summer - it is as hot as we can handle already. Today’s exciting bird sighting was the Eurasian Jay. Google it - very cool.

We made friends with a capocuoco (chef) at a local Osteria when we stopped in for a beer earlier. He speaks no English but managed to convey that he was a MasterChef, via enthusiastic hand signals, so we are looking forward to a good meal this evening. Tomorrow is a bigger day.

The photo at the top of the page is a carving of the via Francigena pilgrim emblem that we saw as we passed through Ponte D’Arbia this morning. Below is a photo of the back streets of the old city part of Buonconvento.

Speak to you tomorrow.

love Marie