12-13/07/2014 : Lets go to Italy! (via Montgenevre)

Saturday

The plan today was to go to the other side of the lake, book onto the Municipal Site and spend some time at our old holiday haunts. But it rained – so we devised plan B. We decided to head for Italy via Briancon. This was a good decision! The drive through the mountains was spectacular, even in torrential rain.

Before we hit the road, we visited the market at Riez to have a wander round and get some fresh fruit and salad. Jo got a bit emotional as it her reminded her of the market at Aups and holidays with the kids. It was a nice atmosphere, and Jo bought a bag of apricots which she loved!

A very wet drive up through the mountains

Drove, through the rain to Briancon, which according to ‘The Rough Guide’, is the highest town in Europe. It was a spectacular place looking like it was hanging off the mountains. Our overnight stop was a further nine miles of hair raising driving at Montgenevre where we parked up underneath a ski lift with wonderful views across the Alps, watching the sunset. The Italian border is only a mile or so up the road.

View across Montgenevre from the aire

We will spend tomorrow exploring here on foot and on the bikes, and give Frank a well earned rest! He coped really well with hairpin bends, heartstopping drops, and steep steep hills. You would not want to make a mistake on these roads!!

Miles today 166.

Aire at Montgenevre €10

Exploring Mongenevre
by bike

Sunday - Montgenevre - And Jo conquers her fear of heights!

We got the bikes out today and went off to explore, the bonus being clear blue skies and sunshine – and what views we had woken up to! We mooched around town and stopped for coffee in a café on the main street. I ordered what we wanted in my best French, but my best is clearly not good enough, as the waiter responded with heavily Northern accented English ‘No problem.’

On the Ski Lift
Is that a smile - or a grimace?

Later in the day Jo conquered her terror of heights by jumping on the ski lift to the top of the mountain. It was great. We had a fantastic walk back down what would, in the winter, be ski runs.

The view from the top

Italy tomorrow!!

No miles today.

Aire : €9