Day 2 unwelcome visitor

Today was a relatively short walk to San Giamagno (14km) but sadly I woke up with a sore throat and heavy body, so what should have been an easier day felt like an enormous slog. When we eventually got to our hotel after the usual big climb I will admit to falling on the bed fully clothed and passing out! I feel as if I am surfacing now, and hope that this is just a 24 hour thing.

Despite the less than welcome viral visitors, the walk itself was lovely. We worked our way down from Gambassi Terme and then up and down over ridges covered with vines, olive trees and some forest areas. Several convents, monasteries and old churches were nestled in beautiful countryside. Today we got to see many more of our fellow pilgrims. We had drinks with a few last night - from Holland- and bumped into Germans, Canadians, Italians and English walkers along the route today. All ages, many walking alone. People are friendly but mostly keep to themselves.

San Gimignano is a popular tourist place as it has remarkable medieval towers built by merchants and used to store their wealth as well as say ‘mine is bigger than yours.’ There used to be 75 of them but only about 11 remain. Much of the original city wall is still intact as are most of the buildings in the old city centre. The Germans did not cause as much damage here as they did in San Miniato and Gambassi.

We had a lesson on the local wines this afternoon, in a venue on top of the walls. There is a special varietal that is only grown and bottled in the San Gimignano- vernaccia- a really good white. Look out for it.

We are back from a lovely dinner - saffron chicken. Saffron is also grown in this region. The evening was finished off with a gelato which we ate sitting on the steps of the 700 year old fountain in the piazza outside our hotel. Early night and hopeful for renewed energy tomorrow .