Friday 1st July - Looking forward..... to Rome!!

A leisurely start this morning with a 7 am breakfast inside the convent, and as I set off the singing from within the church at the 730 am service was delightful, although I couldn't stop...

Then we were away climbing up through the hills, and woods initially:

Then it was on and in to a very large Hazlenut forest....

with an ancient and ruined tower and monastic fortress within it - Oraldno towers

Again as previous day's the sun was shining nicely, but it didn't feel too hot - I must surely be getting used to it (it'll cost a fortune in heating at home!!) 

By late morning we were arriving in Capranica, a pleasant busy little town, and where we had a leisurely drink and food:

before filling our water bottles and pushing on down and along a brilliant little track through woods, with a lovely shaded canopy of trees above us, keeping things nicely cooled! - although the pleasant horses cropping alongside the tracks weren't the most friendly, especially as we tried to pass them!!

As we got through the woods, we got back onto the ancient Via Cassia, with its side walks built from the local quarried Tuffa Rock:

 



















We then arrived early afternoon in the small town of Sutri, with its old Roman ampitheatre,

and a look around the towns Cathedral, it's Crypt and aroundabout....

We tried to get into a convent hostel in the centre of town - not too welcoming, and having found out about the Franciscan 'Oasis of Peace' a few miles out of town, a quick phone call was made, and we were collected by a nun in a minibus... With a lovely welcome once we arrived with chilled tea drinks with mint in them, sat in the garden!! 

We shared a nice meal later with another four pilgrims, and settled in for a nice quiet night!! 

Less than 70 kms to Rome... With the Good news received today that I've got a reserved place to go through the Holy Door at St Peters next Tuesday morning at 11 am... To conclude my Pilgrimage!!