Via Francigena: Canterbury to Rome
fjrburns
Posts: 29
Cycle pilgrimage: Canterbury to Rome
I am sending this short summary from Rome, where I arrived just 48 hours ago, after a journey of 1,300 miles through four countries, following the ancient route of the Via Francigena. The journey was all that I expected: varied, beautiful, very demanding, but above all very fulfilling. Not only have I passed through, and discovered, a lot of fascinating places (many of them little-known to the average tourist), but I have also encountered many people who have been liberal with their kindness and generosity. I have spent a night in several monasteries, convents and pilgrim's bunkrooms, some of them free of charge, frequently with meals, and always with the convenience of a shower and a comfortable bed. In one instance, I was even given the keys to a cavernous, medieval castle where I spent the night on my own!
I arrived in Rome on Sept 17th, in the company of a Portuguese cyclist who will continue on to Jerusalem, and finished my journey in the Piazza di San Pietro in the Vatican (at which point the cable of my cycle computer snapped, telling me that my journey had truly finished!).
If you would like to read an illustrated account of the whole journey, please visit my blog: http://www.frankburns.wordpress.comIf you would like to make a contribution to the re-building of a Claretian School in Haiti, you may either do it online at: http://www.justgiving.com/frankburns or send it to me at 26, Aragon Place, Kimbolton, Cambs PE28 0JD (cheques payable to Claretian Missionaries Trust).
Frank Burns
I am sending this short summary from Rome, where I arrived just 48 hours ago, after a journey of 1,300 miles through four countries, following the ancient route of the Via Francigena. The journey was all that I expected: varied, beautiful, very demanding, but above all very fulfilling. Not only have I passed through, and discovered, a lot of fascinating places (many of them little-known to the average tourist), but I have also encountered many people who have been liberal with their kindness and generosity. I have spent a night in several monasteries, convents and pilgrim's bunkrooms, some of them free of charge, frequently with meals, and always with the convenience of a shower and a comfortable bed. In one instance, I was even given the keys to a cavernous, medieval castle where I spent the night on my own!
I arrived in Rome on Sept 17th, in the company of a Portuguese cyclist who will continue on to Jerusalem, and finished my journey in the Piazza di San Pietro in the Vatican (at which point the cable of my cycle computer snapped, telling me that my journey had truly finished!).
If you would like to read an illustrated account of the whole journey, please visit my blog: http://www.frankburns.wordpress.comIf you would like to make a contribution to the re-building of a Claretian School in Haiti, you may either do it online at: http://www.justgiving.com/frankburns or send it to me at 26, Aragon Place, Kimbolton, Cambs PE28 0JD (cheques payable to Claretian Missionaries Trust).
Frank Burns
Enjoy reading cycling journals?
Then visit: www.frankburns.wordpress.com
Then visit: www.frankburns.wordpress.com
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