walking & adventure holidays

In honour of the three (energy crammed) mousquataires, we present an Italy (plus) special. Never for a moment forgetting our heartland, the Mercantour, of course.
Wanna see some firm evidence of why? Get your eyes on the images that Bruno has taken - big WOW!!!!

However a big big thanks to the plucky girls, the great Genzianella hotel in Valsavarenche for hosting us all, able and less so able, bodied! We had a fab time and, two out of three, ain't bad. See here for some training antics!! A feast of mountains - just an hour away from Turin airport. We already have a Tour de Gran Paradiso trip for 2011 - knocks spots of the Mont Blanc motorway that is for sure - and all the benefits of Italian grub!!

It is stunning in the Aosta valley, and we were SO pleased to see the tops on our third visit!!
On our way home to the Mercantour we sneaked a night in the Langhe - imagining a Po valley type experience - NONE of that - instead rolling hills and vines in a landscape to die for. Thanks so much to Chiara and Paolo for their fab welcome! We will be back....
This year has also finally seen us back into the Merveilles valley with some very keen beans. Thanks to Christian as ever for making it all come to life. Revelations - welcoming attitude and service above the average (!) - thanks to the new owners of the Fleur des Alpes hotel and Jan's apartments in La Brigue. Another chance to see this Bronze Age rarity awaits you - get there before the snow does!
We will be lurking about in August - cutting hedges, getting fitter, preparing for the next tranche of DIY....may consider getting out to a green event in Correns - oh for sure latterly known as one abode of the over-egged Jolie/Pitt brood - but an immensely pretty village in the Var and the first organic village in France. Have a shuftie at this and see what you think!

You didn't mean to send it out like that did you?? For those of you who receive a bizarre looking newsletter - NO - we have not lost all sense of taste and decorum - just have a look at it, as bidden, on your browser!
You know it makes sense! Exercise - the panacea? - probably!!

*Finally a Cicerone book about the Alpes Maritimes - rather Italy side biased but it is out there. Nope - regrettably we didn't have the time to do it ourselves...... shame!
*Watch out for the sch.....sch.... you know who?!! Who mentioned wild camping? Exciting reveal very soon...
*Prog rock on its way back? Was it ever away? Not over the over 40s!!
*The METT ( Morocco, Egypt, Turkey and Tunisia) beats the MED? Perhaps for a time while the € (bless) remains strong, but watch those people rush back to pastures old....
*Needing a place to stay on the long drive south?? This is a goodly recommendation for a friendly (and great value) Burgundy B&B on four wheels, two wheels and undoubtably four legs!

To stay somewhere where you see nothing but green - fabulous. We'll be back. La famille Baude July 2010.