G.P.S.

One of the experiences that every pilgrim has is that of being dependent on others for help. Even if you are traveling alone, you still need assistance from people at countless points along the way. On our journey to Rome, one of the biggest needs we had each day was to be directed toward our destination. Way markers for the Via Francigena were quite clear in most places along the way, but there were many times when we had to stop and ask people to point us in the right direction. Soon, we began to make references to our new GPS system that was proving to be invaluable. We weren’t referring to the one on my smart phone that showed us waypoints all along the path. Rather, given the average age of most people who happened to be sitting on porches, in squares, at cafés, and in plastic chairs in front of their homes during the hours that we were walking, we were talking about the “Geriatric Positioning System” that worked well throughout Italy. Of course, this was the generation that was least likely to speak English, so this also gave me many opportunities to practice the little bit of Italian I had learned before the trip began. On one occasion, a old woman pointed us in a direction that was very different from the one indicated on my map and in my guidebook to the Via Francigena. We hesitated at first, because we were hot and tired and we knew that we would have to retrace our steps if she was wrong. By trusting her, however, we discovered a shorter and more scenic way into the city that had been established since the guidebook was written. This route also avoided some busy streets which are always undesirable for walkers. So, to all you elderly people out there who show us the way each day, in more ways that we can count, Grazie!