The Sins of Others (Part 2)

I walked from 1/10/24 to 31/10/24, most convenient.  The numbers are:  36932 steps x 31 days equals 1,144,832 steps. I’m guessing I lost around a stone. Not really sure. No harm I hear the masses cry.  Thanks for all the messages of support etc. Joan, as usual, was the standout and kudos to her for picking out Cicero’s tomb in Formia, a great spot. There’s not much that gets by her to be fair.  Vic chipped in with a fair few comments as befits a fellow Camino walker. What he did on the Sanabres in 2019 was truly impressive. Of course, it broke him in the end (that’s what carrying 17 kgs on concrete will do to your shins) but fair play, he went back and took care of those missing stages. Coincidentally, where we walked then is the exact location of those terrible floods in Valencia today that killed over 150 people. Drought for three months earlier this year and then flash floods as ground is to hard to absorb water, it’s all scary stuff. But I digress. Blog dedicated...

Following my post on 23 Oct about the Icelandic Tourist Board’s (ITB) negative comments on my blog and cancelling my contract there has been mass outrage at my treatment. I have received thousands of messages from all over World offering support and condemning the ITBs actions. Links to the blog have gone viral.  It turns out that the trifecta of mental wellness, zero carbon footprint and my comments about big media have struck a chord. And a loud chord at that. The ITB has reversed their decision and many more tourist boards have now signed up. Plus I have signed an even better deal with my Asian affiliates. CNN have been in contact and there is even talk of a President’s Award.  Of course I’m humbled by it all and let me just say that the misunderstanding in Lecce over my speech there has been resolved. The allegation that I only used three words of Italian with different intonations (Pizza, Prego and Pomodoro) is, of course, completely unfounded. I will be addressing a larg...

Although the guides say 30 kms a day for each you’d have to be crazy not to take some of the obvious shortcuts. Otranto nice seaside town full of French tourists. On route to Marittima I diverted to Castro, also a nice, bigger seaside town. Let the pics speak. Where’s the Valium says Mike. 

Walk was fine both days.  Felt like I was in Connemara some of the time on route to Martano They say Lecce is the ‘Florence of the South’ and very hard to argue with that. Very nice spot, especially if you are a foodie.  The Duomo, one of many churches and a familiar sight on the VF. Three days to go…