Hot walk … cool vibes

First settlements arose along the Roman Via delle Gallie. In the crypt of the parish church other side the road, traces of the 10th-century building can be seen, with columns from the Carlingian Period.
In local parlance, the two sides of the valley, separated by the Dora Baltea River, are called “adret” and “envers”. Adret being the hot sun exposed side I am walking on, and envers being the cooler often snow bound slopes where I would rather be today, at 30 degrees C and not much shade. Abandoned villages and orchards a sign of changed economics and society and now the hot heat. Castles built by the House of Challant now crumbling bell towers and fallen times. At times now morphed into a new age of arty abodes with wood sculptures and colour. See photos.
Staggered into an absolutely gorgeous hotel; checked in; put the feet up and a cup of black tea ‘cos they use all the milk for cheese; caught up on the day. Outside my window the old citadel built on the remnants of Roman habitation. Photo.
Wandered around. Saint Vincent is a happening place - clearly the community have invested in the visitor trade. A happy buzz in the streets. I walk a couple of block to see far my new Belgian mates have gone for a beer. Not far it turns out. They speak French; I speak anglofrancoitaliano twaddle and drink a bit more to make myself better understood. It works and we have a reasonable conversation and a laugh. They pay for my drinks. I like them. Turns out they are on pretty much the same itinerary. Could get expensive.
Anyway, where was I …

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