Anne and I spent 16 hours and two flights getting to Florence (via Dublin and Rome). We didn’t get too much sleep and were tired when we arrived. First we took the train from Fiumicino Airport to Roma and a taxi to the monastery hotel that we will stay at when we return to Roma on 9 Ottobre. There we extracted our backpacks and trekking poles, and left our suitcases. We walked around Trastevere section of Roma and then took a bus to Termini to catch a train to Firenze. When we arrived in Firenze we walked to our monastery hotel but took the long way there. When we finally found the right way we were fortuitously near the Basilica della SS. Annunziata, which has a Porta della Miserecordia (Door of Mercy, open during this Jubilee Year of Mercy designated by Pope Francis). We walked through the Door, said a prayer,  and walked to our hotel. See photo.  We had a very nice dinner and went back to the hotel to get some needed sleep.

After one last golf date (walking) today, we’ll be saying goodbye to the hot and humid summer of DC. Will the red fox (one of a family) miss us? 

Our first Camino was April to May 2015 when we walked the Camino de Santiago de Campostella across northern Spain. We are excited about another opportunity for walking meditation, both different and similar, to that first experience.

We are in the final stages of our preparations.  We have the route, many reservations, tickets to the Papal Audience,and we are almost packed. 

We leave Monday afternoon September 12. Arrivederla.