P2 Stage 15 and 16 – Aulla to Sarzana, 17 km; Sarzana to Massa, 30km

Catching up on 2 very similar stages along the Ligurian coast.

Aulla to Sarzana was short but included 2 very steep ascents and even steeper descents. It was all worth while when we arrived at the surprisingly captivating Sarzana, a small but meticulously well preserved medieval town where good living is practiced 24×7. The Duomo houses an 11th century multi media depiction of the crucifixion by Master Guglielmo and reputed to have drops of Christs blood.

Sarzana to Massa offered the first views of the Ligurian sea and of the ghostly white peaks of Carrara marble mountains. We are on the shore, the waves almost audible. Dinner at da Ricca where Domenico, the owner, informed that he did the walk from Massa to Rome and became quite emotional when describing how beautiful it was.

We are clocking Kms and taking hills with some ease. The last 2 weeks were good training. We run or walk into some difficult predicaments but somehow things work out. As Domenico said tonight: “Just let it happen.”