24.
Altotting
It is afternoon when I walk into Altotting.
To me, all Bavarian villages are beautiful but even in this land of chocolate box towns Altotting is precious.
In the center of town are several gorgeous old churches and attractive hotels devoted to caring for the material needs of the thousands of pilgrims of all sorts that converge on this holy place.
I had no idea that Altotting was so famous or so awfully pretty.
But it is not far enough from Kolbermoor for me to call it the ultimate goal of my pilgrimage.
I am still too fresh—too alert, too curious about the countryside—too rested and too well fed. The walking has not been long enough, monotonous enough, tiring enough for long enough to wear me down so that I am finally forced to concentrate fully on the Prayer of the Heart— but it has been a wonderful, peaceful walk.
When I remember that my plan was to walk the 200 kilometers to Straubing, I feel kind of guilty to be so fascinated by this place so soon in my travels.
Tomasito 2009
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