Phase 2 – Stage 3 Vercelli to Mortara – 32 km

Vercelli is a prosperous, charming, well laid-out town with broad pedestrian boulevards and upscale shops as befits the rice capital of the world. Rice brings it into contact with the globe. We had a pleasant meal, rice Vercellina, and a good night’s sleep.

On our way to Mortara we were met by a local farmer who insisted on talking to us for a half hour. She explained the problems of Italy – too may immigrants, people don’t want to work, climate change is threatening her livelihood. “If only things worked as they do in the America”, she said. We did not disabuse her. We needed to get on our way but she insisted on taking our picture. Not sure what the play was there, but we complied.