Photos

2018

: Traveling in style

: In front of the Colosseum. It is on!

: Finding small bars in small streets in Rome. Freshly made orange juice, it tasted so good!

: Smile! You’re in Rome

: Leaving La Start early in the morning

: Hiking through the green fields of Lazio

: My dad pulled his muscle.

: Hiking to Formello

: Our private little pilgrim’s house in Campagnano

: This is Masto Momo in Campagnano. A true artisan making colored tiles, depicting images. We walked past his workshop and he invited us in. Probably on of the last to know this trade!

: Hiking to Sutri

: Hiking with my hiking stick (il mio bastone). The destinations of my hike from Athens to Tuscany are still carved in it.

: Surprise amphitheater at Sutri

: Surprise amphitheater at Sutri

: Leaving Viterbo to Montefiascone

: This is what a lunch break looks like.

: I guess someone lost their shoes

: Meeting other hikers on the way. Montefiascone in the background.

: On my way to Montefiascone

: Walking through Montefiascone

: Meeting other hikers in the monastry of Montefiascone.

: Sheep! And lake Bolsena in the background.

: Meeting other hikers on the trail

: Bolsena

: The view from our BnB i Carrilli in Bolsena.

: My dad inspecting the copper rain pipes in Orvieto

: On our rest day we took a road trip to Civita di Bagnoregio

: On the road from Bolsena to Acquapendente

: Hiking Selfie

: The old Italian men surrounding you on terraces (Sei bella! Sei sposata?)

: On our way to Radicofani some bikers passed us (they were heading from Rome to Lake Garda)

: Hiking paths in Tuscany

: That’s where I’m heading (Radicofani)

: Radicofani

: Castle of Ghino di Tacco, Radicofani

: Castle of Ghino di Tacco, Radicofani

: Looking back on the road from Acquapendente to Radicofani

: Castle of Ghino di Tacco, Radicofani

: Contemplating today’s hike

: New hiking team. Sytske and Anne, welcome to Tuscany!

: Hiking and drinking wine, perfect combination.

: Tuscany

: Tuscany

: Hiking in Tuscany

: Hiking here is like a dream. And after the hike we drink wine.

: So. Bloody. Beautiful.

: This sneaky little rascal took a short cut.

: Lunch with view of Siena

: Crowded Siena

: Tuscany

: Walking towards Siena

: Tuscan villages

: The red clay in the Tuscan woods

: On of the surprise castles along the road.

: Monteriggioni

: Sytske guiding me across this perilous water crossing

: Almost fell in. I’m so happy I didn’t. Damn. Like super happy.

: San Gimignano

: Hiking team switch. Sytske and Anne swopped for Jelle.

: The view from Torre Grossa in San Gimignano

: The view of San Gimignano from the museum of modern art.

: Early morning walk through San Gimignano. Empty streets, no tourists.

: My new hiking team, Jelle!

: The whole hiking team for the coming days.

: Pilgrim wine

: When there is wine, we need to taste.

: The pilgrim’s hostel, Ostello Sigerico, Gambassi Terme.

: Gambassi Terme

: Hiking through wine fields

: Our view

: Meeting a -hipster- shepherd. With 5 (!) dogs.

: It must be a joke, the girl hiking from Rome to Holland is sort of allergic to hiking.

: Leaving little traces everywhere.

: San Miniato

: Via Francigena map. So much further to walk.

: Via Francigena mural

: Hiking on asphalt a lot.

: Lucca! Love all the terraces!

2013

: Starting my trip at the Acropolis

: Starting my trip at the Acropolis

: Leaving from Vaios’ and Stella’s home

: Taking a rest in the shade in Greece

: Taking a rest in the shade in Greece. Carving the first part of the trip in my staff.

: Yannis and his sea cucumbers.

: Antonio and his roommate took me on a walking tour around Korinthos.

: And at night we grabbed a few drinks and explored Korinthos’ nightlife.

: The calm seas a the North side of Peleponnese.

: All you need is a backpack and a walking stick.

: A harbour. Everything here looks picturesque. Not a single bad sight.

: The trains run throught the gorge between Diakopto and Kalavrita. You can walk on the tracks, just beware of trains…

: The gorge and train tracks between Diakopto and Kalavrita.

: Hiking to the monastry of Zachlorou between Diakopto and Kalavrita.

: A party in Selianitika organized by baker Alexandros.

: Alexandros the baker.

: Alexandros the baker.

: Patras

: Streetart in Patras.

: The crisis hit Greece hard. Children playing for money in the streets of Patras.

: On the boat to Ithaca.

: Pit stop in Kephalonia due to predicted bad weather.

: The friendly couple I stayed with on Kephalonia. Their cat (gatzolina) is not in the picture.

: Ferry to Ithaca. (Ithaca in the background.)

: Beautiful blue water around Kephalonia.

: Vathy, capital of Ithaca.

: Vathy

: The long predicted storm arrived in Vathy.

: The ferry in the harbour of Vathy.

: Just before leaving Greece I had to learn backgammon.

: On the ferry to Italy. This was just after the Albanians boarded.

: Lecce.

: More and more items have been added to the staff.

: Some flowers, I forgot from which tree. (pear? or apple?)

: One of towers at the beach where Ale (my host in Salice Salentino) drove me. I guess it is Torre Lapillo (Torre di San Tomasso), but I’m not sure anymore.

: At the beach with Ale.

: We visited Castel Monaci, where they make delicious whine. We got a tour because Ale’s brother Massimo works here.

: Ale’s parents, two wonderful Italian people. His mom is the best cook in the world.

: Casa di Vincent Brunetti (Vincent City)

: Vincent Brunetti

: In an old pharmacy in Mesagne.

: An easter procession in Mesagne.

: On my way to Ostuni, the white city

: On my way to Ostuni, the white city.

: On my way to Ostuni, the white city.

: Ostuni, the white city.

: Ostuni

: View from Ostuni.

: What do you do if this signor and his piccola bella offer you a ride? You accept, of course! Fiat 500 for the win!

: The trulli near Alberobello.

: Checking the map somewhere in Puglia if I’m still on track. I think this might the moment that I realized I took a wrong turn and had to walk an extra 10 km!

: The roads in Puglia

: Observe! My amazing tent erecting skills! First and last time I camped during this trip.

: On the road between Gioia del Colle and Altamura. Bad weather ahead.

: Olive trees between Gioia del Colle and Altamura.

: Altamura

: Michele and his mother.

: The sassi in Matera

: Me in a cave in Matera.

: Michele and I in a cave in Matera.

: On top of a rock (of the world) near Matera.

: Cycling through the Murgia.

: Cycling through the Murgia

: In front of Castel del Monte (also depicted on the 1 eurocent coin of Italy).

: Trani harbour.

: Me in front of Trani’s church at the sea.

: Trani’s church at the sea.

: Party in Andria. (with the biggest hit “Irina, Irina, Irina” to the tune of Marina.)

: Hunting for asparagus in the Murgia.

: Looking for asparagus in the Murgia.

: The whole asparagus hunting gang. (Side story: when we first introduced ourselves, one of the guys said “Piacere”. Which I assumed was his name. I called him that for over a day, until the told me it was Italian for “Nice to meet you” and his real name is Vincent…)

: Walking around with the Andria gang in some village in the Murgia.

: Making a risotto with our freshly obtained asparagus.

: Second hand clothes shopping at a market. Doesn’t this seem like a proper fit.

: The salt winning near Margherita di Savoia.

: Continuing along the coast to Manfredonia.

: This was my life saver Antonio. Whilst cursing my bike trying to cycle up mount Gargano without gears, so eventually walking up, this guy stopped and offered my a lift in his garbage truck! First wonder of mount Gargano.

: Monte Sant’Angelo

: Monte Sant’Angelo. Where the archangel Michael appeared several times in the late 5th century AD.

: The pils bus with the Austrian pilgrims. They offered to take me around mount Gargano when I had a flat tyre. My bike fit in the luggage compartment of the bus. I was treated like a celebrity. They were all thinking I was this saint like person for hiking/cycling so long. We drank loads of Schnaps on board.

: On the bus with the Austrian pilgrims. “Look, there she is. The holy girl from Holland!”

: Third wonder of mount Gargano. I couldn’t find a place to sleep. Then suddenly my host of last night called that she knows someone in San Giovanni Rotondo and I could sleep in his Shiatsu dojo place. Awesome.

: My tire was still flat. Then this old farmer and his tiny tractor came past. He beckoned me “Vieni vieni!” (“come, come!”). And the threw my bike on this plough. We then raced to San Severo. I was sitting next to him with my waving hair. Everyone honked at him and he had a smile from ear to ear.

: I was sitting next to the farmer with my waving hair. Everyone honked at him and he had a smile from ear to ear.

: Termoli

: My host Flock in Termoli. He made me linguine a la Flock, and it was delicious.

: The trabocchi coast.

: Costa dei Trabocchi.

: Flock taking me on a sightseeing motor tour along the trabocchi coast.

: Continuing to Casoli, where my host Verino took me around the area.

: Verino and I exploring the Casoli (Laroscia) surroundings.

: Big old machines.

: Verino the rockstar.

: Protesting against an oil platform off the coast of Abruzzo in Pescara.

: Hiking up the Majella, on of the higher mountains of the area, with Verino and friends.

: Hiking the Majella.

: Hiking up the Majella. Unfortunately loads of people.

: Verino and friends in front of a fall.

: Verino

: Me

: The Majella.

: Pescara beach.

: At a school in Popoli. Met this school teacher along the way. He invited me to the school so I could inspire some children.

: Popoli school visit.

: Popoli

: The people of Sulmona.

: Sulmona. I feel it looks more Austrian than Italian with the snowy mountains in the background.

: Sulmona market square.

: Avezzano

: At the Roman excavation site of Alba Fucens. An old holiday resort for the ancient Romans.

: At the Roman excavation site of Alba Fucens.

: The Roman amphitheater of Alba Fucens.

: Roman amphitheater in Alba fucens.

: Gabriele and Diego back in Ortona.

: Partying with the gang in Ortona. Thanks for all the good times, guys!

: So, then I was suddenly speaking at this conference (gathering?). Not sure how this happened. But it was certainly fun! It was organized by the association of the Cammino di San Tomasso. The pilgrim’s route to Ortona, where the remains of Saint Thomas were laid to rest. The route is probably most famous for the fountain with red wine in Villa Caldari near Ortona ;-).

: So, then I was suddenly speaking at this conference (gathering?). Not sure how this happened. But it was certainly fun! It was organized by the association of the Cammino di San Tomasso. The pilgrim’s route to Ortona, where the remains of Saint Thomas were laid to rest. The route is probably most famous for the fountain with red wine in Villa Caldari near Ortona ;-). Oh, and speaking with a translator (my Italian is a bit rusty) is one of the harder things I’ve ever done. All your jokes have a delay, which makes them way less funny.

: Trabocco

: The local delicacy of Guardiagrele is called ‘Side delle Monache”, which means Nun’s Breasts. It is a delicious sweet pastry, only produces by two bakeries in Guardiagrele.

: Guardiagrele

: Making new friends super fast in Guardiagrele.

: As you can see, I’m getting fluent at Italian.

: And we party on in Ortona.

: Not sure why I was wearing this hat.

: Breakfast with Fausto and Diego in L’Antico Fuedo, a beautiful agroturismo.

: Avezzano in the snowy mountains.

: Giacomo, my host in Avezzano.

: And finally, Rome. In front of the Trevi Fountain.

: The Colosseum in Rome.

: Colosseum at night.

: Crazy story: it’s about me being in the restricted area of the Vatican and meeting the Pope and everything. I’ll post it later.

: Crazy story: it’s about me being in the restricted area of the Vatican and meeting the Pope and everything. I’ll post it later.

: Crazy story: it’s about me being in the restricted area of the Vatican and meeting the Pope and everything. I’ll post it later.

: Crazy story: it’s about me being in the restricted area of the Vatican and meeting the Pope and everything. I’ll post it later.

: Leaving Rome again.

: At the outskirts of Rome.

: Back in nature

: La Storta

: La Storta

: Sleeping in an old school building in Campagnano.

: A town in Italy. Don’t remember which.

: Resting at a train station. Studying my map.

: Following the signs of the Via Francigena. Drinkable water everywhere.

: Mirrors in the street.

: Viterbo

: Via Francigena. Following the signs.

: Via Francigena. Rome is that way.

: Via Francigena. Apparently these stones have been in place since the Roman time.

: Sleeping in a gym under a monastery. I was ripped off big time by some nuns. How greedy they were. Wanted to get my last coins.

: Meeting fellow pilgrims along the way.

: In the forest before Bolsena.

: Bolsena

: Bolsena

: Civita di Bagnoregio. Beautiful old town, unfortunately the edges are falling down. Every year the town gets smaller and smaller. In Bolsena I borrowed a bike from an old man, so I could take a day to visit Bagnoregio and Orvieto.

: Church of Orvieto. Some say it is one of the most beautiful churches of Italy. I didn’t see the inside, because they charged a lot.

: Orvieto

: Getting free porchetta from this guy. It was delicious.

: These old men I met at a bar in Acquapendente. They kept pointing me to things that were closed (supermarket, church). I kept returning disappointed. They bought me aperitivo eventually :-).

: These old men I met at a bar in Acquapendente. They kept pointing me to things that were closed (supermarket, church). I kept returning disappointed. They bought me aperitivo eventually :-).