“fran-chee-jen-na” is the pronunciation of Francigena, or the Via Francigena, the roughly thousand mile trail from Canterbury, England to Rome, Italy. That is on page four of Timothy Eagan’s book A Pilgrimage To Eternity. I am just about done, a handful of chapters to go. It is that bitter sweet time as on the Camino when the end is near and you really don’t want anything to ever change in your life again.

Not that it is an easy book to read, like a pilgrimage there is roughness to traverse along with the creamy dreamy stuff. Him being a lapsed Catholic and writing this book about looking for faith on this once famous Way is helpful. He is just the right amount a skeptic. History looms up and the Good, the Bad and the Ugly are hashed out leaving just enough room in the end for, “well maybe”.

I guess there were years in this trail’s long existence where millions of pilgrims walked. And there are the ever present Camino buddies Charlemagne and Napoleon for good measure. One of the most famous walkers was Siguric the Serious who walked both ways in 990. OK, I had never heard of him either. But he kept a detailed journal on his return trip which is the main document used today to reestablish parts of the trail that have since been civilized over.

Anyway fascinating read on a number of levels. Highly recommended by Felipé for one. This may even be my book of the year for 2020 but I hope not as we are just started on that pilgrimage.

loves, Felipé the Serious.