French hand basin … ?

One of the challenges travelling like this is the laundry department. Opportunities for washing and drying clothes is limited and due to the nature of the activity, the demand on this service is quite high. You just cannot carry 30 pairs of socks and undies with you. Well you could, but it would be stupid.
Fortunately, they have an ingenious solution here - they have a special sock-washing basin in the bathroom which has hot water and its own plug and everything. It is a bit low down so you have to get on your knees if your back is crook, otherwise marvellous. I even brought my own laundry detergent sheets so don’t have to use the hotel shampoo. Bonza. And then you put the sock over the end of the hair dryer like a condom and hang that from the towel rail and go for a beer and when you come back your sock is dry. Repeat exercise for each sock so if you have inner socks as well that is quite a few beers.
Anyway, once the washing was done, this being a rest day, I went for a walk promising myself not to climb any mountains which was hard because the Italian flag was just on the next peak ahead. Given that I had no water, food or jacket, uncharacteristic common sense prevailed and I just took some photos and went back for a beer and espresso.
Question: what is that thing in the photo? About 3 cm long and found up on the side of the mountain I did not climb.
If you get it right I will give you a trophy sock when I get back, yay.
See you later for the descent into the Aosta valley and Piedmont and wine and cheese and all things yummy.
Gotta go … Negroni timeRead more