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Tuesday May 12. Lausanne. 23 km.

Just noted I got my dates wrong for the last few days in the blog.  Living outside time a bit!

A day of sun and light rain showers.  The path was muddy, the tall grass got my pants all wet, but the shoes stayed dry.  

Clouds sometimes looked scary, but it didn’t pour rain.


Nothing much to talk about from the walk. There were several classes of elementary school children out for group jogs - lots of excitement but also some tired faces!  I took a shortcut from the Via to get to the cathedral faster. That meant suburban walking. New apartment buildings going up.


And finally at my starting point.  The cathedral and a final pilgrim stamp - the same as my very first stamp.


I stood for a while on the terrace in front of the Cathedral. I remember this terrace so very well from the first time I was here (I think 2023, but I’m hopeless with dates).  I was ready to start walking - had got my pilgrim stamp, had my backpack, knew I had to start by walking down to the lake. Then Alice phoned me from home. Perfect timing!  I will never forget how encouraging that first call was as I was leaving to walk to Rome. 


It felt strange to be here again, and sad, and underwhelming. I had barely slept at all the previous night, so I went to my nearby hotel and rested a while.  Then I thought I should really spend some time in the Cathedral, and when I got back there, a concert was being set up.  I bought a sandwich for a quick supper then got a ticket and heard Gustave Holst’s ‘Hymn of Jesus’, composed as WWI was ending, and Duruflé’s ‘Requiem’ composed just after WWII.  A full orchestra and three choirs, over 130 voices.


The first time I was here I had sat for a long time listening to an organist practicing.  So music has book-ended my pilgrimage.

What more to say?  It will have to wait as I seem emptied out tonight. The Via has been a big part of my life, and a living link to Michael as it all started with his idea and his gift one Christmas of a set of guide books for the Via. 

I will tally up the kilometres walked when I get home: London to the very south-eastern tip of Italy at Santa Maria de Leuca.  I will make a fourth photo book with these blogs and photos.  I will think of the people met, the churches visited, the history learned. And hopefully the calm of the walk, the conviction it brought me that we and all living things are one and the same, that the spirit of the Divine moves through and unites all the universe will somehow stay with me and sustain me for the rest of my life.

Comments

  1. RitaMay 14, 2026 at 7:38 AM

    Congratulations on your extraordinary achievement, Celia! I know it is meaningful for you on several levels and I'm so happy that you found such insight and enjoyment during your travels. Michael would be very proud.

    ReplyDelete
  2. RitaMay 14, 2026 at 7:40 AM

    And I really enjoyed tagging along on with you through your blog. I will miss your daily history, geography, theology and culinary lessons!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Linda S GMay 16, 2026 at 2:40 PM

    So interested that this has reinforced your belief that we and all living things are one.♥️♥️♥️

    ReplyDelete
  4. Linda S GMay 16, 2026 at 2:41 PM

    Your blog is wonderful

    ReplyDelete
  5. LindaMay 23, 2026 at 7:11 PM

    Wonderful reading and great photos, Celia!

    ReplyDelete

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