This year’s adventure brings us to Italy where we begin our trek of “Way of St Francis”. The route begins among the Renaissance masterpieces of Florence, continues through the forests of Tuscany, passes through the mountains of Umbria to Assisi and ends in Rome. This 550 km (~ 350 mile) journey takes us through many of the cherished sites from the life of St. Francis of Assisi.
We arrived in Florence last night and went to our daughter’s favorite pizza place near the Church of Santa Croce.
Today was our day to explore the sites of Florence. We started our day along the Arno River walking by Ponte Vecchio to Santa Croce.
In the afternoon we visited Michelangelo’s masterpiece “David” at the Accademia Gallery.
On the way back we explored the famous landmark of Florence, the Duomo.
Of course no visit to Italy would be complete without the taste of Gelato! Today was our first of many encounters with the reward of long walking days.
We begin our first stage of the Trek tomorrow morning as we walk 14.5 miles to Pontassieve.
As we walk through this journey we will be trying to live the famous prayer of St Francis. Hope we can all contribute just a little bit to make this world a bit better every day.
The Prayer of St. Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is dispair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy;
O Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Camino Mystic 
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