Sunday 5th June - Like Pilgrims of Old!

What views from my bedroom window looking at the church next door and my bedroom... 

With plenty of spare beds - if they were all taken up it would at least double the population of the Hamlet!! 

We were out by 8 am to go to the bar to return the key, and have breakfast, visiting the already open church as we did so.

Then down to the banks of the river Po, at the spot where Archbishop Sederic once stopped, awaiting his transport over the river... And how many countless pilgrims since (and in the future) will do the same?!

 



















Other pilgrims also turned up for the ferry - 2 Frenchmen, and an English girl, all waiting around in anticipation of a famous crossing...

Shortly before 10 the loud roar of the motors of a boat were heard, and the famous ferryman - Danilo Parisi arrived to transport us all 7 kms up and across the river, towards Piacenza 

 
















We were soon loaded, and zooming across the river, with the startling skies above, and the quickly flowing river beneath... only a few minutes, and we were being landed on the other bank, and Danilo with his boat 'Segeric' was off to collect more people!! 

We all trooped along the river bank and towards Collasco, soon depressing into our different speeds (me last!) 
I had hoped to catch mass in Collasco, but no, not for another hour:

So I continued along the hot asphalt in towards, and eventually reaching Piacenza, crossing the very busy River bridge as I did so, with a Roman pillar at the side:

 


















Carrying on into the lovely old city of Piacenza, with its Cathedral and major church.... closed!! Although there were nicer, smaller and peaceful ones open, where I was able to rest and pray, listening to some Taize music, very relaxing!! 

Having had a whopping helping of ice cream, I continued then about 5 kms out of the city to Montale, to the lovely recently refurbished hostel of St Pietro:

Next to the church was an ancient pilgrims rest place, operated by the Knights of Malta... It wasn't all plain sailing though... We had to walk 4 kms back to evening mass... And food... However, a good days walking in the footsteps (and wake) of many pilgrims!!