Viva la Via Degli Dei

June 2, 2016

So, we're at it again.  After last year's damp and cool start in Scotland (and along bits of England's  Coast-to-Coast), the seduction of a drier, warmer hike was simply irresistible when planning time for the 2016 trek came around.  For that reason, we suppressed our previous chatter of a Slovenian Adventure for a return to Italy (or as Cliff calls it Eat-aly).  Our memories of our apres Haute Route visit to the Cinque Terre (the Italian Riviera) recalled the balmy climes, gracious hospitality and passion (yes passion) for food and wine that for us is Italy.

This year we'll walk what is known as the path of the gods (La Via Degli Dei) -- proceeding from a city renowned for its culinary tradition, Bologna (yes, birthplace of Bolognese Sauce and the original Bologna sausage) to the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance,  Florence.  The hiking itself covers (give or take) 100 miles over seven hiking days.  And recalling Seals and Crofts admonishment that  "we may never pass this way again," we'll take a few days on each end of the hike to explore the anchor cities.

9 lb Munro and my Italy Bag!

This year, thanks to Eagle Creek compression cubes, I'm traveling to Italy for two weeks of hiking with a carry-on bag the size of a gym bag.  OK, it's a little scary, but really, we hop inns every evening so no one except my travel companions (there are four of us) will detect my many repeat trail fashion statements.  And remember, I'm the same gal who wore one pair of trousers for 28 days on the Snowman Trek in Bhutan and who thought it a good idea to experience 30 days of (voluntary) cold showers last spring.  Let's just say comfort and style are not high on my list when there's an adventure to be had.

There are a couple of "tweaks" for the blog this year.  First of all, I have a new camera and so will be taking at least some of the blog photos myself.  Second, somewhere within each day's post, I'll log my response to an as-yet unrevealed question from my 5-Year Memory Journal for the days we travel.  Never heard of this journal?  Each page of the journal presents a new question (some amusing, some surprising, some deeply personal).  And each year (for five years), the journalist answers the same questions on the same days. This iterative process creates a retrospective map chronicling change.  Maybe you'll choose to join us on the trail by logging in with your own answers? Whatever you decide, we are glad to have you along!
 
See you on the trail soon!