We are still on the road – after so many kilometres and so many countries I can’t get my head straight to do a diary that is linear. So here are some memories of the journey – in no order whatsoever, I’m afraid, and sent out in little portions as tonight I have internet but tomorrow perhaps will be again far from a wifi zone!
After Tuscany we traveled up to the north of Italy and arrived at Lake Maggiore to find it was an Italian holiday and the campsites were full of parties and music. We got a space near the water – close enough to hear the ‘lake water lapping with low sounds’ but there was a row of touring caravans hogging the best spots right by the edge.
There were two parties – one a Beatles revival and the other an old time dance night with a saxophone and a singer.  It made an interesting mixture of music.
We were surprised awake around midnight by the sound of one of the ‘respectable’ elderly dancers pissing over the wall rather close to our tent! 
Otherwise it was a good stop and a place to return to ….one day.

The next morning we couldn’t resist visiting the Sanctuary of Saint Catherine of Sasso. The hermitage was founded in the 12th century by a merchant who almost died in a shipwreck but was rescued after calling on Saint Catherine of Aexandria. Obviously this interests me because of our shared name but it was also a coincidence as I was talking in Tuscany to my sisters about which saint Catherine to adopt as my namesake. It is very common in Catalunya to be named after a saint and to celebrate on your saints day. Catherine of Siena seemed too rigid and pompous and I was pulling towards Catherine of Alexandria who is the patron saint of Philosophers and Preachers and who apparently asked God in her dying breath to help all who call on her name. This beautiful place seemed to suggest she is the right one for me!  My saints day will be November 25th so I am hoping for lots of messages – Per Molts Anys!!!!