Ferry 7/7

IToday I took the ferry across the River Po. It seems that this has been a traditional part of the pilgrimage to Rome for millennia. The man who runs this service gave a special stamp, timbro in Italian, in my pilgrim passport, or credenziale. One young man from Belgiium, a young couple from France, another older married couple from France  and myself called the night before, as you are supposed to do, to arrange the passage. We were all staying at the very pleasant ostello in Orio-Litta and left at different times in the morning to all meet at the boat landing for 9:00. At the opposite bank the ferryman welcomed all the pilgrims to his home and explained some of the history of the Via Francigena.

 

Walking to Piacenza was very difficult and I don't think my feet like me too much for going a bit further to try to cut down on a long stage to next day.