Tuesday 31st May - The Community for the Community

We were all up early hoping to beat the bad weather, which was due later in the day, and after a little breakfast we headed out into the damp countryside!! 

Again I was walking through the rice paddy fields surrounding me, by 9 am I was already being greeted by a cheery coffee in Gambolo:

and looking in its church, with very own Lourdes shrine (like we have at home!)

It was nice easy walking along the sandy earthen lanes, with the birds of the air sweeping overhead and diving into the fields, their constant calls my companions! 

Late morning I could see in the distance Gambolo looking over the wheat fields, laced with poppies...

 















The church had unusual lamps/candle holders on the altar, I've still not figured out the reasons for them:

Whilst there the promised thunderstorm arrived, so I had lunch in a bar, hoping to 'sit it out ', but it carried on and on, lightning bouncing around and thunder echoing around the plain!! 

It eased off after around an hour, so donning my Ponco I headed out into the rain hoping to have missed the worst of it... Wrong!! 
I was caught in another hailstorm as I crossed a field, and was soon soaked... Although it was still warm!! 

I carried on, rain squelching inside my boots as I found my way to Garlasco, and then on to 'Casa del Pellegrini', which was way out of town, on the route, in an old farm, now run by the Exodus foundation, headed by a priest - Don Antonio Mazzi, with communities all across Italy helping the 'disadvantaged'.

It seemed we were in a community where young men go to break their bad habits and addictions, spending 18 months there to turn their lives around - a very inspiring small group of workers, and the men / boys themselves who all helped each other!! 
Not a prison, more a place to gain the strength to help themselves, taking part in activities which I imagine they would never get the opportunity to do where they come from! 

We had dinner and breakfast with them all, very friendly and welcoming, some of them even proudly speaking a few words in English... although we had our own separate accommodation! 

The canal rushing through the sluice gates was a constant peaceful sound all night, and I slept well!