Little Green Tracs

Pilgrim Preparations in Piestany

It has been almost a week since we arrived in Europe. We spent the first week visiting our 84 year old aunt in Piestany Slovakia, a small spa town about an hour east of Bratislava. In between social visits, we managed to take the train to nearby Trencin to visit the 1,000 year old castle, try out some of the local eateries and cafes, and coffee houses. Yesterday to end our stay we indulged in a mirror pool ( a natural sulphuric thermal mineral water with a temperature of 38 C) and mud bath ( another mineral water pool containing 30 cm thick layer of sulphuric mud of 40 C) in the Irma Spa, one of the many spa establishments in town. Obviously returning to Piestany after our walk in France for another spa treatment is something we should do too.

When we arrived last Tuesday the temperature was hitting the high 20s and along with some humidity and sun, it felt more like 30. But on Friday, the weather changed dramatically, and temperature dropped and we forced to sit outside bundled up to have dinner. Today we will be surprised if it gets over 15 degrees C. But it is still sunny which is a nice change from cloudy Victoria BC.

Piestany is where the west and east meet, where you are as likely to meet Germans alongside Russians, where busty well dressed Slovak & Czech women pass by Arabic women dressed in full burkas. Very little English is spoken here especially by the older folk, but many of the tourist sites usually have somebody that understands some English. More so, many of the younger people do speak English well including the young woman we met on the train heading into Piestany last Tuesday, who was enthralled by our travel stories and the fact we plan to walk through France.

Today we leave Piestany for Switzerland, taking a mid day train first to Vienna, and then later an over night train to Zurich, before finally taking one more train to Thun, arriving sometime before noon on Tuesday. We will spend a couple of nights in Thun visiting some more family before heading to Le Puy France on Thursday.

PS I said I would not be caught taking any photos with my iPad, but I relented. Please excuse the quality.

Lolo's BGEE

Post Breakfast Walk is Mandatory

A breakfast for pilgrims - Biscuits Gravy Eggs Extravaganza

After a breakfast like this, we will need to go for a long walk just to work off all those calories - maybe a walk through France might do the trick

"An Italian Odyssey" available on Amazon’s Kindle

A delightful travel memoir blends one couple's experience of a journey along the Via Francigena through Italy, with the wonderful food, wine, culture and history, one footstep at a time.

Canadian authors Julie Burk and Neville Tencer share their story in their new book  "An Italian Odyssey: One Couple’s Culinary and Cultural Pilgrimage" about their great adventure — walking 1,000 km on the Via Francigena, an ancient, elusive pilgrim trail through the heart of Italy.

In the book "An Italian Odyssey,” the couple’s initial plan was to walk and eat their way through Italy using their own homemade guide and map books. But their adventure takes on a life of its own as they face unexpected challenges. With both themselves and each other, they struggle with the constant physical and emotional demands and outcomes of navigating an arduous route. However, with dollops of Roman and medieval history, a dash of contemporary culture, plenty of sensual food and wine, and gracious Italian hospitality, they also share many romantic and magical moments.
 
Only after they endure sweat, tears, and frustration, when the strange concoction comes to a boil and the flavours and juices ooze out, do they realize and discover the true meaning of their journey.   In the end, the Italian Odyssey is a classic bittersweet tale of the couple’s experience of walking and eating through Italy — a unique culinary and walking pilgrimage. 

Editorial Praise

James Martin of “wanderingitaly.com” calls “An Italian Odyssey” a bittersweet journey…What you have here is the grubby truth about pilgrimage, the yin and yang of it, the supreme lows interspersed with moments of enlightenment. That’s what makes the book compelling.

Brandon Wilson, author of “Over the Top & Back Again: Hiking X the Alps” says “An Italian Odyssey” is uniquely personal exploit, told by both travelers in their own voices.

As usual, in our quest to discover the unknown, we learn just as much about ourselves. Blisters and all, it is a banquet to be slowly savored and best accompanied by a glass of Chianti and pasta with pesto.

** The kindle version of "An Italian Odyssey" includes additional images (and in color too - viewable using a color kindle enabled device).

To purchase your Kindle Edition of “An Italian Odyssey: One Couple’s Culinary and Cultural Pilgrimage”, please visit the following sites:

Amazon.com   
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.de