The Catholics certainly seem to put some effort into their religion. Justine joined Jan, 2000 others and the Maria Alm band (carrying their instruments, tubas and bass drums included) on Saturday for a 20 kilometre, 9 hour, 1300m up, 1500m down, pilgrimage to St Bartholomä Church on the Königssee, across the Steinernes Meer. Climbing the treacherous mountain path to the Riemannhaus (2177m) in the black of night to get to a communion service at 8.00am certainly gets everyone praying - that they will just make it alive. Towards the end of the whole ordeal subsequent prayers are for helicopter rescue, or deliverance through death. Next time she thinks she'll just opt for a couple of hours of self-flaggelation.
