Wrestling with pathetic internet over a relaxing breakfast applied with multiple cappuccino’s by our host (which does catch up with you during the day!) we managed to get one post uploaded, but trying to catch up with the previous day’s post (Gracciano) refused to upload (probably due to an overload of photos!)

Today’s stage was a lazy 12km from our accommodation to another walled hilltop village of Monteriggioni. This is a VERY small town/village, but still a popular stop for tourists. It was a very pleasant easy walk probably due to it being mostly flat, short and we have finally been broken in! All those niggly aches and pains and sore muscles that you propably wouldn’t have had you put some training in, but why bother when you can do it on the walk? A shame that we really only have one more serious day of walking to go! Siena here we come!

Ok, a side note... We actually caught the bus from Monteriggioni to Siena at the end of our short walk today... But no fear, we wouldn’t want to upset the purists, we will be busing it back in a couple of days to complete this stage. It’s just logistics, we really wanted to join a small group tour and experience Pienza and Montepulicano but they only run this tour on specific days, hence the Via Francigena has been put on hold until Wednesday!