Adventures in Val Chisone and Around

Berlusconi the embarrasing clown of Italy

2011-02-15T20:28:00.000+01:00

Berlusconi is again making the news worldwide. This time for sleeping with an underage prostitute. Whether or not this is true is not really the point. The fact that a man of his political level is even accused of such a situation is a reflection on the rest of the nation. In other countries this situation would not be tollerated and he would have been forced to stand down.
We have to ask why the most powerful man in Italy and one of the world's richest men (surely this should attract enough women alone) has to pay for sexual services. We have to ask why in a technically catholic country that is still heavily influenced by the Vatican is this situation tollerated?
We have to ask why in a country that claims to be a democracy with a "modern and well written constitution" is he still permitted to stay in power.
The answers are many but a lot has to do with apathy and the phrase I hear often.."It is always like this here. This is Italy!"
However I am very interested in Italian history and especially leading up to the formation of Italy 150 years ago. It has not always been like this. Men like Camillo Benso of Caovour would be spinning in his grave as I write. Garibaldi, a patriot who fought to build the Italian state would be hopping mad if he could see the current situation. How has Italy descended into this circus?
It is difficult to say why but when you see how the politicians behave ( and are allowed to behave) you can begin to see why. They are nothing but a bunch of self interested freeloaders who are on to a good thing. When given the perfect opportunity to oust Mr B just before the end of December some of these representatives of the people decided that their own pockets held more sway than the people. B. payed of a large number of them and strangely they voted in favour. Nobody has since investigated this. Certain parties seem to be more interested in having a share of power rather than sticking to their political principles. Changing sides although an Italian habit, has never been honourable. Those that sold out should stand down.

However it is not just the politicians who should be blamed. The people themselves must take their share of guilt. There are however mitigating circumstances for the people. They have been so divided, demoralised, mislead and confused for the last 50 years or so that now no one trusts anyone else. There is no coherent group to counter Berlusconi.
This is the key to the whole process divide and conquer. Create fear and you have control. However the ony real thing in Italy that should be feared is Berlusconi. It has taken generations to arrive in this state and it will take several corragious and dedicated generations to turn things around. The future of Italy is now in the hands of the younger generations.

2012 Olympics Road race

2011-02-11T11:50:00.001+01:00

Although not exactly local news I thought it would be worth mentioning this.
Just released are the details of the 2012 Olympic road race route. The circuit starts in the Mall in London and then wids itself out of London towards Guildford and Dorking before finishing back in the Centre of London.


thanks to BBC sports news

Apart from being a very picturesque route showcasing some of the less famous parts of London
it offers an excellent route for our cyclists. The type of route that would certainly suit Cavendish with a great sprint finish. ur riders will obviously have the advantage of knowing most of the roads in the area and we should see a podium finish or two.
We have great expextations for the GB squad especially after their victories in China. Lets make sure we cyclists are out there givving them all the support they need!

Tour de France 2011

2011-02-10T14:21:00.000+01:00

This year we have a bumper year for cycling fans. Not only do we have two stages of the Tour de France with a stage finish at Pinerolo followed the next morning with a start again at Pinerolo but also we have been honored with the opening stage of the Giro at Veneria Reale and then the penultimate stage at the end of May with the Colle delle Finestra.

Our B&B is well centred to offer a cycling experience second to none. We will be running trips for all these events so that you can visit the stages as well as ride some of the other famous climbs here in the Alps. Places are limited and we require riders to be of a competent level of fitness for these climbs. The trips include a qualified guide, transport as well as transfers to and from Turin. With hearty half board accommodation there will also be the opportunity to sample the delights of many of the local bars and cafes in the area.

To reserve your place or for more information drop us a line
info@belvederebedandbreakfast.com

Yes I am still here!

2011-02-04T13:10:00.003+01:00

It has been a long time since I have updated my blog. I could say that is because I have been so busy I have not had time to. However it would be more true to say that I have just not got round to writing anything and when I have I get hit by writer's block.
Now we are entering the second month of 2011 it is about time that I put digit to keyboard and write something even if it is just to let anyone know that finds this blog that the writer is still alive. With this post there are no photos but I will hopefully be updating the page more regularly this year and most comments will have accompanying photos.
Thanks for staying with me.

French are defeated at Mutin, Piemonte wins new territory

2009-09-15T17:41:00.003+02:00

301 years ago here at Fenestrelle was a French fortress. Built to block the Chisone Valley from marauding Waldensians and the Piemontese. On Sept 12 1708 after 3 weeks of battle the fortress fell to thePiemontese thanks to the help of Austrian and Hungarian allies and the rest is as they say "History".

Fenestrelle benefits not just from having the largest fortress in Europe but also from a string of fortifications that surround the area. Fort Mutin is just the most recent of these to begin to be uncovered and made accessible.

Exactly 301 years after that siege we have celebrated the rebirth of this ill feted fortification. A fort that followed a perfect text book design but however suffered from one lethal flaw. It was built in the base of the valley, surrounded on all sides by high mountain peaks from where the enemy could shoot down into the fort.

The great Vauban visited the fort in 1701 and would have had the fortress demolished if it was not for the fact that it had cost so much to build in the first place. He did however order the construction of several redoubts and fortifications around Fenestrelle of which Elmo, Tre Denti and Fort des Aguilles became incorporated into what we now know as The fortress of Fenestrelle. Thanks to this remedial work the fortress lasted for three weeks which was no mean feat when you consider it's position and the fact that 45 Piemontese cannon were firing 200 shots each per cannon per day.

This weekend saw a reconstruction of the siege and a demonstration by the Pietro Micca Association, well known in these parts for their revocation of the siege of Turin and Battle of Assietta.

The old walls of Mutin are now visible once again from afar thanks to the clearance of the overgrowing trees and clever illumination. This has once again turned Fenestrelle into the Gateway to the Alps.

Tour De France 2009 and Next year 2010

2009-07-30T18:15:00.003+02:00

Ok the great race is over and it is fair to say that it was a great race for us Brits. Mark Cavendish winning more stages than any other rider and the great Bradley Wiggins coming 4th! I think we are going to see a bit more of these two next year in the Tour. Well done guys! We must not forget the other Brits who did well such as good old Charlie Wegelius. There is one nagging question however. Where was David Millar? Since he has been racing clean he is nowhere to be seen! Why is this? Maybe he was just not up to it? However it is certainly refreshing to see some excellent British cylists getting results and entertaining us without being prima donnas. Well done guys!

Here in Val Chisone we now wait with baited breath for the official announcement of the 2010 route which rumour has it will be passing outside our doorstep. I do hope so! Thsi years Giro was a great success even though it was marred by the fact that Di Luca was cheating- Doped on the CERA. It also means that he was cheating when he topped the Colle della Finestra in 2005. It seriously saddens me and it tarnishes the whole event.

On confirmation of next years routes our cycling holiday company Hannibal Cycling Tours will be offering a special package for the week that the tour passes through our area. Contact us to be placed on the priority mailing list for this event. We also arrange cycling and walking packages for small groups, clubs and associations.

Notte Bianca A Fenestrelle,( White night at Fenestrelle)

2009-06-28T12:14:00.006+02:00

The holiday season has got off to a flying start this year with last weekend's Valaddo and this weekend's Notte Bianca (white night).
"What is the Valaddo?" I hear you ask and also "What is a white night?"
Lets answer these two questions in order.
The Valaddo.
The Valaddo is an annual get together by groups of people who share the heritage of Occitan culture. This is a cultural and linguistic group that covered the suthern part of France, Spain and the western Italian Alpine valleys. The traces of this culture can be clearly seen in the names of the French "department" of Langue d'Oc meaning those who speak Oc the language of Occitania.
It is an event that generally involves lots of dancing, singing and generally having fun. Serious enthusiasts will dress in traditional costume and show off their traditional dancing skills as well as talking in the almost lost language of Oc.

White nights
A white night or Notte Bianca as it is properly called is simply a great excuse for a good night out. It is a night that the shops stay open extra late and the streets are filled with music, entertainment and side shows. They have been very successful in the big cities with even the museums stayig open until the early hours. Here in Fenestrelle we have just held our own Notte Bianca. It may have been on a smaller scale but it still does not stop us having a good time!
The night was warm and balmy, the street was full of people and one of the great things about our little town is that all age groups were present and enjoying themselves. We had music, entertainers, good food and wine as well as being able to wander in and out of the shops that not only stayed open later but had made a special effort to welcome visitors.

apologies for the photo quality. These were taken by mobile phone camera.

Certianly Fenestrelle is not a Grand City with sophisticated entertainment but it is certainly a quiet little town that knows how to entertain and provide a relaxing location for a holiday!

2009-06-19T19:19:00.002+02:00

Giro d'Monte

I finally remembered to take the GPS with me on this trail! A great way to take in the views around he mountains in Val Chisone.

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Alps in bloom

2009-05-29T17:48:00.002+02:00

Alps in bloom
Originally uploaded by Hannibal Cycle tours / Belvedere B&B

The sun is shining. There has been plenty of snow melt and the mountain pastures are lush with vegetation. The Alps are blooming lie they have never done before. At this time of year the alpine pastures become full of Gentians, orchids, daisies and other colourful flowers. It is an ideal time to explore the area just before the farmers take their cattle up to graze. A floraphile's delight!

Mark Cavendish Top Sprinter

2009-05-23T07:41:00.007+02:00

Mark did it again at Florence. This time Petacchi even admitted that he could not keep up with Cavendish. The Italian press however were not as gracious. They claimed that Petacchi had caught some wind as he tried to sprint for the line. obviously Cavendish had found the only non windy bit on the whole track?
Mark's career has really only just begun and he has many more years of development ahead of him. My prediction is that Cippolini's record of sprint victories will be beaten by the "Manx Thunderbolt". I think this year will be sen in Yellow during the Tour and he will certainly be winning a few more stages this year in both main tours.
British cycling is at it's best ever. Lets not loose this by being complacent. I hope that Cavendish is inspiring the younger generation as much as he is inspiring mine.

Giro comes to Fenestrelle

2009-05-20T16:14:00.002+02:00

Giro d'Italia 09 Cuneo Pinerolo at Fenestrelle
Originally uploaded by Hannibal Cycle tours / Belvedere B&B

I am fortunate that I live in an area where the Giro and Tour visit regularly. Maybe that is why I run a cycle holiday company. It may have something to do with the fact that I love cycling as well?

This Tuesday saw the longest stage of the Giro d'Italia pass right through our town of Fenestrelle and we wrer in the right place to get some fantastic photos. The stage saw an epic battle between the top riders with Di Luca coming out on top. Lance was doing OK but should have been up at the front on this stage. The course also hosted the Cima Coppi of this years Giro at Sestriere. Only a paltry 2035m above sea level. However, the 260km stage certainly took its toll with the last riders passing through Fenestrelle a good twenty five minutes after the leaders.

I think that baring anything serious then the trophy for the Giro will have Danilo Di Luca's name on it in Rome.
Pinerolo saw the finish and the coverage on the TV certainly seemed to be a good advert for Val Chisone. It looked so good I want to go and visit!

Cavendish wins amidst controversy

2009-05-17T18:37:00.004+02:00

Mark has won again! Well done Cav! This time he caught Petacchi napping in the sprint. However this stage of the Giro will probably be remembered more for the fact that all the riders came to a halt over the fact that this years stages are dangerous. This is the day after Horillo had his terrible accident.
Personally I think the riders were right to stop in mid race for this issue. At the end of the day we ask these guys to do incredible things but the one thing I would not ask any of them to do is risk their lives. It was appalling to see a car parked halfway on and off the road in what was a circuit race on closed roads. It should have been removed before they started.
Tomorrow is a rest day and then...... and then ...........the real mountain stage where we hope to see the serious mountan climbers come to the fore. Tuesday sees the Cuneo Pinerolo stage and I wll be there at Fenestrelle to watch them fly past.
Go Cav, Go Lance, Go Basso!

My latest GPS trail on Everytrail.com

2009-05-15T19:17:00.003+02:00

The Fantastic Fortress of Fenestrelle

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Petacchi can climb but Cavendish can't!

2009-05-11T18:43:00.004+02:00

Today's stage saw Cavendish loose the Maglia Rosa Not because Petacchi beat him in the sprint but because he was beaten by the final climb. A great shame but hopefully Cavendish will take this on board and do some work to improve his climbing skills.
It should not be forgotten however thathe not only won the maglia rosa but managed to hold on to it for two days. This is a fantastic achievement for a Brit and I am sure that we will be seeing his name as a stage winner again over the next three weeks.
My money is on Lance Armstrong for stage 10 Cuneo to Pinerolo May 19th. Here he has the opportunity to really show us his climbing ability on a climb that he knows very well. The climb to Sestriere where in 99 he beat Marco Pantani on his home ground in the Tour de France. This time however he will not be stopping at the top but descending all the way to Pinerolo via a "little" cat 2 climb at Pra Martino.
I am sure this stage will go down in history. You too can come and ride this route. Just book a holiday with Hannibal Cycle Tours and this and many other great cols could be on your "Done" list

Petacchi wins the stage but Cavendish is still in Pink

2009-05-10T17:26:00.003+02:00

Mark Cavendish was pipped at the post by Allessandro Petacchi today at Trieste. He still holds the Maglia Rosa however after an excellently ridden stage. Today Petacchi's experience showed through. However I think Cav will not let it happen again. Cavendish has made history in being the first Brit to hold the Maglia Rosa. He has already made his mark as one of cycling's greats. He is young enough and good enough to go much further.
Over the next few stages he is still in a good position to hold onto the jersey designed by Dolce&Gabbana which this year carries the Italian tricola in recognition of the 100th anniversary of the Giro.
In the post race interview Mark showed true British sportsmanship by admitting that "Petacchi won today not because he was lucky but because he was better when it counts".

Once again well done Mark! We look forward to seeing you as you pass through Fenestrelle on the 19th.
British cycling kicks ass!

Mark Cavendish No1 in 100th Giro

2009-05-10T00:01:00.003+02:00

Just a quick entry. Manxman Mark Cavendish wins the first stage of the Giro. What a hero!!!!!!!! Well done and keep up the good work!
He is looking set to retain the maglia rosa for the next couple of days with a series of stages suited to the serious sprinters. No one who rides clean can beat this guy in a sprint but today he showed that he was more than fast enough on the time trial.
Cav has reached the highest heights already from a British perspective and the only way is up!
I will be watching for more action from this superhero.

Open Season at the Fortress of Fenestrelle

2009-05-03T18:41:00.002+02:00

The view to Assietta

Originally uploaded by Hannibal Cycle tours / Belvedere B&B

This weekend the Fortress of Fenestrelle has opened it's gates with the possibility of doing the full 6 hour "Guida Reale" tour. This is after the heavy snowfall over the winter. Even this weekend there was a bit of snow at the top but with the last few days being sunny and warm most of the ice and snow has melted. In fact the patches that remain up at the top now provide a refreshing coolness after the climb of 800m!

In the last three days I have had my baptism of fire in that I as a guide have completed my first solo trip around the fortress with a group of tourists. This may not sound too difficult but when you bare in mind that not only was it my first unaccompanied trip with a group, it was also my first trip totally in Italian!

I must admit that they were very kind and patient as I bulldozed my way through their language and seemed to enjoy the trip. Maybe it was the English perspective that made it interesting for them? I know for certain that my language must be improving a s they seemed to understand what I was saying and 6 hours later they were still talking to me.

A day of glorious sunshine, clear blue skies and an itinerary that covers over 300 years of history, architecture and pleasant views up and down the valley is certainly a great way of unwinding. Throw in a picnic at 1800m and a stroll back through woodland and you have a great way to spend the day.

For those who do not like the prospect of climbing to the top of the fortresses' 3996 steps there is the shorter 3 hour trip that can still give you a sense of the dimensions of this massive place.

The fortress of Fenestrelle is one of the worlds most important historical military sights and is a must see for any serious military historian who wants to know why this little place tucked away in the Alps played such an important role in forming our modern world.

Now that the Fortress of Fenestrelle has English mother tongue guides available means that a much higher level of service can be offered to foreign tourists and especially those who have English as their first or second language.

Our B&B (Belvedere Bed and Breakfast) at the foot of the fortress is the ideal place to stay. Not only do you get great accommodation and a fantastic breakfast you also benefit from a resident guide!

HOW CAN YOU HELP US?

At the Fortress of Fenestrelle "Progetto San Carlo" ONLUS (non profit association) we are searching for cannon to place on exhibiton in their original gun emplacements. If you happen to know anyone who could help with this we would be most greatful if you would contact us. We are looking for cannon that date from the 1690s to 1900s. They would ideally be of Italian, French or Austrian in origin.

Winter is over but nobody has told the snow to go away!

2009-04-20T23:04:00.002+02:00

The ski season has now ended and at the bottom of the mountains spring has sprung! However the top half of the mountain still thinks it is winter. We are still getting a mixture of snow and rain even here at 1000m .
This is now playing havoc with my training schedule preparing for the summer season on the bike. At the moment the only option I have is to go down on to the Turin plain where the grass is green and the sun is shining. It is still hard to say when the mountains will be clear enough of snow to get out onto the peaks with the bike. At the current rate it could be well into June!

The conditions are already playing havoc with the Giro d'Italia. The stage from Cuneo to Pinerolo has had to be changed due to high avalanche risk on colle del Vars and Agnello. The new stage route has been somewhat tamed down with a loop through the Susa Valley to Sestriere and then a descent via Val Chisone to Pinerolo.
To add insult to injury the Gran Fondo planned for the Sunday before the stage has been cancelled due to "logistical problems". There is no real reason for this other than usual inefficient Italian bureaucracy and inability to do anything properly.

I could never imagine the French messing around with the Etap or the Tour like this at such a late stage.
On a more positive side this season I will be tracing many of my cycle routes with a GPS and uploading them to an excellent site Everytrail and another called www.gpsies.com so you can get an idea of our trips.
There are a couple of routes already on them so why not take a look?

Making your pound go further on a winter holiday

2008-12-20T10:33:00.004+01:00

With the pound reaching an all time low against the Euro it is becoming ever more expensive to go on a skiing holiday in Europe, especially in France and Austria. However there are places such as here in Italy that are just as easy to get to and your money will go at least 30% further than in France and a lot more in other resorts.

When you read in the press about places to ski you might as well pick up last years pages (or the year before) as you only read the same old stuff year in year out. The journalists just churn out the same stuff about the same places because it would reqiure far too much work to explore the real alternatives.
Better value for your pound is not the only advantage you get by coming to Italy. You get better food, superior wine and un- crowded ski slopes. Some of you may have been tainted by school trips to Italian resorts when you were younger. However time has moved on and the Italians have invested a lot of money in developing resorts that are more than a match of any other European piste with good lifts, no queues and good service.

Here for example at Sestriere we have over 400km of pistes, up to date ski lifts and world class compettition slopes. After all we did hold the 2006 Winter Olympics, 2008 and 2009 world cup events! The ski instructors are some of the best in Europe and most have a good grasp of English.

If the big resorts are not to your liking then there is always Pragelato with its mountain top pistes with lovely fresh natural snow or if downhill is not your scene then there is the reknowned cross country circuit offering over 30km of unspiolt natural trails whwhich weave through the Troncea Natural Park. Cross sountry has the advantages that it is very easy to learn the basics, costs very little and is not damaging to the environment. In fact it is one of the few ways to get into the mountains and see wildlife in its natural state.

For a weekend or short break Prali is a little gem! A real local resort but with some excellent pistes and some of the best scenery in the Alps.

If you are looking to buy ski gear then it also makes sense to do your shopping here. A great proportion of ski boots are made here in Italy and they will certainly cost less than in the UK. The same goes for designer ski suits and all the other paraphanalia.

All of these sites are only a short flight from the UK and then a short transfer (60 to 90 mins) from Turin or Cuneo airports. (Easyjet, Ryanair, BA and others)
Things may be tight as far as budgets go but you can be sure to make your money go further here than many other places.

This season the smart money is on Italy!

Snow, snow and more snow!

2008-12-15T12:56:00.008+01:00

A great excuse to write another blog. There is over two metres of snow outside our windows or should I say over our windows! I have never seen so much snow in my life! In the last 24 hrs we have recieved over 1.5m of snow and it shows no sign of stopping.This morning I tried to get to Sestriere. I had to dig the panda out of the snow, then dig a channel to the part that had been cleared by the snowplough. It is at times like these that I am grateful that the panda is so small. Our little car is literally unstoppable in this weather. The only thing that stopped me getting to Sestriere was the fact that an avalanche half way up the mountain had completely blocked the road and it had officially been closed.

I had to turn back. No problem. Just stick the car back into two wheel drive, handbrake on, full left lock and plenty of revs and the car turns on the spot. Once facing back down hill put it back into 4x4 and away we go.
The only problem when I got back to Chambons was where to park the car? Apart from the roads cleared by the plough there was no open space to leave it. On the basis that I do not plan to go anywhere else today I just stuck it into some soft snow out ouf the way of the plough.Once back at home the next task was to clear some of the snow off our roof. Every cucbic metre of snow weighs 700kg so with 40 m2 of roof there had been quite a substantial addition to our old roof with it being nearly 2m deep.

The good news is that there is allready enough snow to last through the winter season. The local council will be building the crosscountry ski circuit through our village and there is plenty of snowshoeing to be had. (in fact for the next couple of days skiing and snow shoeing will be the only feasable modes of transport.

WELCOME TO OUR WINTER WONDERLAND!

Heavy snowfall celebrates 5 Years!

2008-11-28T11:25:00.004+01:00

I have been a naughty boy and not kept my blog up to date. You know what it is like, real life just gets in the way and the blog gets put on the "will do later" pile. Well, later has arrived and the blog has to be done.
We have just celebrated our fifth anniversary of being in Italy. It seems only yesterday we were packing everything to be shipped out here. How time flies and especially when you are having fun.

So much has happened in the last 5 years. How our lives have changed. We have transformed from busy frenetic "professionals" busting a gut just to keep our heads above water in the home counties
to relaxed eco friendly business owners living a dream come true.
Sometimes the dream can seem a nightmare but on the whole it appears to be a much more positive and healthy step in the right direction.

Italy has changed in the 5 years we have been here and our view of Italy has also changed. The initial frendliness of the country is a veneer and it takes a lot of hard work to break through this and make real friends. The Italians distrust each other to the degree that you have to do the same. They hardly ever say "no" directly. They will often say yes but you soon discover that it often means "no". They are afraid of direct confrontation. This can be seen in Italy's history where they are always trying to "back the winner", changing sides whenever they feel the advantage has gone the other way. Italy is full of etremely stupid and pointless legislation yet they are still unable to prevent schoolchildren from dying when their buildings collapse or the road users from killing themselves on the roads. Being an "Anglo Saxon" as they refer to us Northern Europeans means that we can see things in black and white. However being Italian you can only interperate shades of grey. Again this is because no one can ever commit themselves to say NO. or Yes and actually mean what they say.
Enough of my ranting!

I would not stay here in Italy if I did not enjoy it here. For us there are manty things which are far more positive. The option to live a healthy life, eat quality food, enjoy clean air and most of do what we enjoy for a living instead of working for someone else so that they can enjoy their life.
We are fortunate here in the mountains, we are close enough to large cities to benefit from their amenities when we want, yet also far enough away that their problems don't inflict themselves on us.

Now that the snow is falling in abundance we are moving into the winter season with enthusiasm. Tomorrow we will be out skiing. This is something we used to look forward to once a year for a weeks holiday. Now of course we still look forward to it once a year. However for a whole season of skiing!
I must admit that we don't ski every day. There is also snow shoeing and cross country skiing as well.
This winter we are looking forward to plenty of guests coming over to discover these "alternative" snow activities. The beauty of Cross Country and snowshoing is that they do not require the dexterity and hours of instruction that is required for down hill skiing. In a morning you can pick up the basics and be out in unspoilt countryside, away from the crowds and lift queues and enjoying the real mountains.

When I look back over the 5 years I just have to look around me to remind me of why we are here. The views and ever changing scenery allied to the freedom to explore is more than enough to put a smile on my face. Why not make your escape (however brief) and join us in our little bit of winter wonderland. You will not be dissappointed!

Emma Pooley

2008-08-13T18:31:00.003+02:00

Emma Pooley well done! Another cycling medal for the UK! Our cyclists are really showing the rest of our athletes how they should be doing it.
Thank you for raising the profile of cycling in the UK. Maybe this will encourage others into the sport.

We are beginning to show the world that we ARE a great cycling nation.

Britain's First Gold Thank you Nicole Cook

2008-08-10T11:45:00.002+02:00

Grand Boucle Femenile 2008 Sestriere
Originally uploaded by Hannibal Cycle tours

Nicole Cook has just won Gold in the women's road race at the Olympics. What a great rider she is! Well done Nicole. This will be the first of many golds that our cycling squad will be bringing home from the olympics in Bejing.

From all of us cycling fans WELL DONE NICOLE!!!!!!!!!!!

Watch out there is a Nuovo Mussolini!

2008-08-04T17:35:00.003+02:00

I usually do not talk politics on this blog and I am not into conspiracy theories but here in Italy there has been an interesting development on the political front.
Firstly I find it strange that we have a right wing government when so many people used to profess to be socialists or even communists. How do these people change ideologies overnight? The other more worrying situation and the reason for writing is the fact that Berlusconi has deployed troops in what would normally be police roles.
Many people would say "Oh don't worry it is only to get crime under control and to improve security" however I cannot ignore the fact that it seems remarkably similar to Mussolini's rise to power in the late 20s to 30s. Just get the population used too seeing troops on the streets and then slowly increase their numbers and range of powers. The signs were missed then and I fear they are going to be missed again.
If they need to improve security then why not increase the numbers of Carabinieri or state police. Get rid of stupid legislation and actually give the Police the tools to do the job properly and allow active patrolling. After all the Carabinieri are part of the Military. This introduction of troops is an insult to these forces of law and order as well as a more sinister jostle for power.

What is more worrying is the connection with Berlusconi and the pseudo masonic group Propaganda due which had one of Mussolini's advisers Licio Gelli as a member. There are links with this organisation and Roberto Calvi who was found hung under Black friars Bridge in London.

Are the troop postings just an increase in security? Or are there other "Developments" waiting in the wings? Only time will tell.

Getting a taste of Pussey

2008-06-26T17:20:00.008+02:00

I do love the English language. Yesterday after during one of our many visits to Eataly, the Slowfood emporium I came across a new drink called Pussy (ooh er fnar fnar!) I just had to write a blog to tell the world about it. Maybe I just liked the innuendo of it's name and the games that could be played with it. I will just leave it at that and say that having tasted Pussy it was quite pleasant and I would happily do it again!

Eataly is an amazing place for serious foodies and if you are ever in or around Turin it should be a "must see". I have written about it before but when a place has so much to offer it deserves another mention. Built in what was one of Turin's original Vermouth distilleries and retaining much of the original structure including the large wine tanks and courtyards, it has now become an extremely light and airy building full of charm, character and atmosphere.

Amongst the delights they have on offer we have recently tried a rather special cheese produced by Baladin in Cuneo. What they have done is take a good quality mountain "toma" cheese and during it's manufacturing process have soaked it in one of their exceptional real ales. This beer washing of the cheese has given a silky creamy cheese an extra dimension. It just has to be tried to be appreciated. You just have to get to it before I do!

With all this food around you it is easy to work up an appetite. No problem as they have cleverly included a pizzeria, vegetable servery, salami and cheese bar as well as a fish bar and a fantastic meat bar where they serve some exquisite meals. You can just roam from one to the next creating your own roaming lunch or dinner. If you prefer something a little more structured then book yourself into their evening dinners or cook and eat lessons with top chefs.

Once you have sampled the main meal then move on to the Gelataria which provides organic icecream and sorbets as well as other amazing deserts and then there is the bar where they serve excellent coffee or you could sample one of the many digestivi as well as partake in aperetivi in the true Torinese style in the early evening.
A trip to this part of town is not complete without a visit to the Lingotto building which was originally a Fiat factory with a race track built on the roof. Today you can go up to the roof to see the banked corners as well as view what was the Agnelli Family private art collection which includes , Picasso, Manet and my personal favourite Canaletto.

If you want a trip around this amazing city consider a stay at The Belvedere B&B. We can organise and show you around!

The story of a bike and a stubborn cyclist: Cycling Quotes

2008-06-16T14:24:00.001+02:00

The story of a bike and a stubborn cyclist: Cycling Quotes: "'Bicycling is a big part of the future. It has to be. There is something wrong with a society that drives a car to work out in a gym.'
~ Bill Nye"

This is another blog site that I came across and thought it was suitable to publish this link.

Tour de France 2010

2008-06-16T13:05:00.007+02:00

It is TRUE!
I have known for a couple of weeks that Gap-Pinerolo is now an official candidate stage for the Tour de France 2010.
Why am I so excited?
The tour is coming past my house! Literally past my doorstep. This is a childhood dream of immutable value to me. Now don't get me wrong as I am lucky enough to get to see the Tour de France every year. Not only that but I also get to ride many of the historic climbs that have been frequented by the heroes of cycling. What makes this special is I will only have to go outside my door to see it. This, and the fact that the route will be using the Colle Delle Finestre will make it possibly one of the most dramatic stages in modern history. The colle is Europe's third hardest climb in terms of distance, gradient and altitude. Half of the climb is on a dirt track, an old military road that winds its way up the side of the mountain. It makes d'Huez seem a piece of cake (I should know as I do both often enough.) It is set to become one of the great heroic climbs and benefits from fantastic breathtaking scenery. It has been used once before by the Giro d'Italia in 2005. Danilo di Luca was first to the top closely followed by Gilberto Simoni and proved to be one of the most exciting stage finishes in Giro history. To quote Simoni, "that climb took 10 years off me!"

The only difficulty is where to watch it. Do I watch it from home and dash outside as it whizzes past, do I ride to the summit of the Colle delle Finestre and watch the pros struggle up from Suza or do I get some VIP tickets for the finish in Pinerolo? I have plenty of time to decide. Where will you be watching it from?
In the meantime check out the official Tour website for this years race. LETOUR.COM

Floods and disasters

2008-05-31T12:34:00.004+02:00

Well it has been a very long time since I have written a blog! I have a sack of excuses but at the end of it I have been far too busy with other projects to have time to write. I suppose that is a good thing? We have had plenty of guests and they need looking after. On top of this I have been working on a new website which will hopefully be live by the end of June and I have been away exploring other parts of this glorious country called Italy.

The main reason for writing at the moment is to explain what has been happening locally. You may (or probably have not) heard that Northern Italy has been hit by severe rain storms, landslides and floods. Our area was hit hard with over three weeks of continual rain which led to the river and many of its feeder streams to overflow. It can certainly be described as a disaster and some reckon it to be on a par or worse than the floods of 2000.
Some of the disaster could have been averted but we live in Italy where things are never done as they should, work is never finished properly and it is never properly thought through in the first place. Here at Chambons the river burst its banks just below the main bridge causing the river to create a new path through a meadow and close to some buildings. The "authorities" sent 3 large excavators that worked very hard building a wall on the bank of the river. Only they were working on the wrong side of the river!!!! Not only did this wall fail to protect the area it actually aggravated the problem on the other bank. The operators were not entirely to blame after all they were digging where they were told to by the local surveyors and engineers told them to even though after 5 hours of work it was obvious that the wall was making the situation worse.

The only thing that saved the day was the fact that the rain had stopped and the flow was relenting. This morning they had managed to close the breach by placing large boulders in the right place.

Other parts of the riverbank were eroded due to the failure to understand that if you strengthen one part you have to do it all. Otherwise one just transfers the problem.
I sincerely hope that they learn from this experience(but doubt that they will) and look to nature to redesign the defences.
We now live in a village with only one bridge accross the river and two paths which are currently unpassable.

Globes Balls and Tate(rs)

2007-12-15T21:37:00.000+01:00

I am getting a bit slack on updating our blog. However I have finally got round to writing something new. Today I write with a definite spherical theme.

We took a trip back to London last weekend. The motivation for this was a family wedding. The wedding went well and was held at Browns in Covent Garden. The food and company was excellent and the evening went well. The highlight of the evening was an entertainer called Mr Woo. He currently holds the world record for bouncing a ball on his head! At first I wondered what he would do that could keep a hundred or so people entertained. (Bouncing a ball on your head is not what I would call entertaining.) He is also an accomplished “football juggler” and actually kept us entertained for quite some time with his tricks. The control he had over the football was incredible. Often he seemed to defy the laws of physics with the ball just stopping on the tip of his foot, thigh, elbow or head. I am not into football in any way and it kept me entertained! To see what he can do

demo video of mr woo
website

The rest of the weekend we played “tourist” and visited the Globe Theatre and the Tate Modern. The Globe is a fantastic place, A reconstruction of William Shakespeare’s original Globe theatre in the 1500s. It has been faithfully reconstructed using traditional methods and techniques. From afar it appears a little out of context amongst the buildings of modern London but that contrast helps to accentuate the difference made by time.

Globe Theatre website Here!

Alongside the Globe is of course a building that represents the industrial age. Again this is a building that has been rebuilt but with a totally different use today than it had 80 years ago. Now it is known as the Tate Modern. It is a huge space ideal for showing large pieces of modern art. This is accessed from the north bank via the infamous Millennium Bridge. I can certainly say that it no longer wobbles. Unfortunately we did not get any photos of Tate Modern but have vowed to go again and spend some more time there.

Tate Modern link

We had a great time back in a “proper city.” There seemed to be a real buzz around London. Perhaps after working there for so many years the “novelty” had worn off. However on returning after a few years the “magic” seemed to have returned. One thing that hadn’t changed was the weather. Windy, wet and grey.

It was also a nice feeling to get back home. Here it had snowed again and our village looked like a Christmas card. The slopes are in perfect condition and we can now get out skiing. Hooray!

Old Soldiers, Tarts and Fast Cars

2007-06-24T14:59:00.000+02:00

What a day! Up here in our little corner of the Italian alps it is usually quiet and peaceful with only the sound of cow bells and budding Julie Andrews impersonators running over the mountain pastures. Today, however, it was a different story.

Fast Cars

Firstly it was the annual "Sestrierestorico" classic car rally. Chambons plays host to a time keeping checkpoint. This gives us the benefit of seeing a collection of over 250 classic cars dating from vintage models to modern "classics". There is a heavy bias towards Italian cars (after all we are in Italy!) with Alfa Romeo and Lancia taking pride of place. The Italians always had a flair for sports car design. However, there were a good few British classics such as Triumph, Mini, and Morgan present. At one point it looked as if the Italian Police were still chasing Micheal Caine in his mini from the "Italian Job" .The event is organised by the Lancia Owners Club in Turin.

Old Soldiers

After watching this it was time to go to Fenestrelle where there was a remembrance parade for the local Alpine regiment 3a Alpini. This is an old comrades remembrance for those who fought during WWII and in other fields of battle. This is supported by the magnificent organization known as the Alpi. A sort of Italian version of the British Legion combined with Rotary and Round Table ideologies. To be a member you have to have served in an Alpine Regiment. The group organises various events, civil protection in time of disaster and various alpine activities.
This meant that Fenestrelle was buzzing with people and had a festive atmosphere.

Tasty Tarts

The third event and a very simple one was bread baking at the communal bread oven at Champs. Communal bread ovens were quite common in villages and towns up here in the mountains. They provided the focus of the village and in some ways played the role of "village Pub" where people could meet up and have a gossip. Very few of these ovens now survive. We are fortunate in that we have three or four that are still working in our area. It was the turn of Champs to make the bread and some excellent local "Crostate" or tarts. It is a great way to get some traditionally made bread and support a local fund raising event to conserve a historically important building.

Champs is a little village just outside Fenestrelle. It has an important place in history that is little known. During the time of Napoleon virtually all of western Europe was under French control directly or had "puppet" government that were pro Napoleon. Tiny little Champs however, defied the emperor and was one of the few places that was independent of Paris. They achieved this without going to war. All they did was to refuse to pay French Taxes and obey French law. Napoleon decided that Champs was so small that it was not worth bothering about and it was left to become it's own republic. Even to this day you will see the village sign which declares "Republike di Champs".

Mountainboy visits "Big City"

2007-06-23T15:56:00.000+02:00

Yesterday I had an excuse to go into Turin. The "Big City". ("Oh you don't want to go there cos there's lots of people and traffic! Not the big bad city?" say the locals) Turin has a population of nearly 1,000,000.
Well I had to go down to Turin mainy because our B&B has just been awarded the "marchio collettivo di Qualità dei B&B"
The what? I hear you ask. In English it means that we have passed a quality standard rating. We now rate as one of the best B&Bs in the Provincia of Turin. In typical Italian beurocracy we can now apply to the provincia for permission to use the quality standard mark logo on our stationary, website etc. Unlike in the rest of the world where passing a standard automatically allows you to use the logos. I can only assume this is to keep some irritating little desk pilot in a job but it is typically Italian. After wasting an hour or so whilst the regional assessor for tourism could not even remember the name of the tourism office for the Olympic mountains (Montagnadoc for those and Sigra. Manica's benefit), I was then able to escape and enjoy the delights of Turin.

Turin is where they make cars, isn't it?

Yes it is the Home of FIAT, Alfa Romeo, Lancia and others but it is also one of the most beautiful cities in Europe with a lot to offer. Some of the best cafes in Italy can be found here as well as some fantastic examples of Baroque archiatecture. Historically it was the first capital city of Italy, was the seat of the Italian film industry (I am sure you can name a few Italian film directors) , the main stage of the original "Italian Job"and home to the Winter Olympics 2006.

Slowfood has it's flagship food shop "EATALY" where all gourmets can find some of the most tasteful food in the world as well as attend special chef lessons/dinners . Why not come and stay with us and let us organise an itinerary?

Drugs & Cycling

2007-06-20T13:57:00.000+02:00

With all the talk at the moment about professional cycling and drugs I thought I would add my thoughts on the matter.

For some reason there seem to be many sports journalists out there who obviously do not like cycling or really have no idea what efforts are involved on a one day race let alone a three week race. Quite often the only sport they partake in is bandwagon jumping!

Firstly let me make this part clear.
I am a cyclist and have always supported and practiced drug free sport. I have competed in many events from 10 mile time trials, hill climbs, track racing, road racing, marathon mountain biking and Ironman triathlons. I have NEVER resorted to "Drug" assistance in any of these.
and Tour I follow professional cycling with interest and am lucky to live in an area where the Giro d'Italia & Tour de France pass regularly. I have ridden many of the routes these races cover and can fully appreciate the effort these guys put in. I am always disappointed when a rider is found to be a drugs cheat.

However there is part of me that can understand why they do it. After all how many people can honestly say that they can get through a "normal day" without some form of chemical stimulation. Can you wake up without your morning coffee? Can you get to sleep without a relaxing glass of wine/spirits/sedative?
Can you manage you sex life without a helping "Hand" from that most popular drug "Viagra"?
Every day people "Drug Cheat" on ordinary natural, daily functions. How do you expect an endurance sportsman who rides 200km per day for three weeks over all terrain and in all conditions under pressure from his sponsors and fans to "perform" not to be tempted? These guys may seem superhuman but they are only human and suffer from human weaknesses.

Cycling as a sport has two options.
1) It carries on as it is now and tries to eliminate drug in the sport (The fact that it is often in the news is good evidence that it is taking action)
2) It allows and controls certain performance enhancing drugs so that all riders have a level playing field and the doses can be controlled within "safe" limits.

If you are still not convinced then come and take a ride up one of the famous cols and tell me you do not need an aspirin afterwards (or a cold beer, coke, coffee, spliff etc.) to help recover.

Before you hammer cycling and proffessional cyclists think about your own life and how often you "cheat" just to get through it.

For more info on drug free sport look at these links:-

Drug free sport manifesto
What can or cannot be taken
100%ME

Simple Mountain Fun

2007-06-18T09:17:00.000+02:00

I have been watching a fantastic programme on BBC World called "The Happiness Formula". I believe that it is being shown on BBC2 back in the UK.
Having escaped from the Consumer Crazy world to live a more fulfilling life I can agree on a lot of what has been said.
An excellent example for me occurred this weekend here in Fenestrelle. (A simple mountain town with a history over 2000 years old!)

This weekend saw a simple tradition that dates back to obscurity here in the mountains. Known as the Race on the Avalanche. Normally this entails anyone daft enough and in possession of a pair of skis to ski a slalom course on a very narrow strip of snow usually left after the winter. This year there was not enough snow, so the slalom race was simply turned into a 2.5km run (at 1800m).
About 20 people took part in this event (The race is not taken too seriously). After the race comes the best part.....Salsiccia and Polenta. This is where we all get together on the mountain cook up some simple food and then enjoy it. We even have the local priest come up and hold a little service for those who are interested.

This event may not sound that exciting but it is simply good fun and a good social get together. Prizes are awarded to the runners and others but it is certainly not taken too seriously and everyone goes home happy and full.

During this event I felt myself falling into the trap of thinking how we could make this event bigger, possibly international and then I realized that it would take away the essence of what it was all about. Fun good old fashioned simple fun.

Thanks to the people of Fenestrelle for making me realise that bigger is not always better!

Keep life simple. Keep it happy! :-)

Latest Update

2007-06-14T14:58:00.000+02:00

Firstly I must apologise to all of you who have been following our blog for not updating it on a regular basis. This is down to the following:-
1) The Dog ate my computer.
2) We suffered an alien invasion from Mars
3) There has been so much going on that I haven't had time to update it.
4) My camera got broken and I have not been able to take any inspiring photos to go with the blogs.

I am hoping to be able to post some more updates very shortly. Especially if I can find the time and the local phone lines do not get dug up again by clumsy contractors. The summer season is beginning to get started here and the village is beginning to repopulate with the weekend 2nd homers or "villagianti" as they are known in these parts.

Balconies are being decorated with the traditional red geraniums and the mountains are showing off their new green summer coat. The shepherds are bringing their sheep up to the mountain pastures and the only thing missing at the moment is Julie Andrews singing over the mountain meadows.

Photos will follow shortly. If you cannot wait for the photos why not book a flight and come and see the scenery for yourselves!

Via Lattea saves the world cup!

2007-01-19T15:20:00.000+01:00

Here in the Via Lattea we still have snow! It is just about surviving the record temperatures witnessed recently. Where most of the alps seems bereft of snow the Italian Alps just west of Turin has managed to keep the little that arrived over Christmas. Due to this and the great work by the staff of the Via Lattea we are able to hold some of the world cup skiing events that have been cancelled elsewhere due to the poor snow conditions. Next weekend sees the FIS womens downhill and Super G events and Friday sees the Mens Super G that was cancelled last weekend in Austria.
Also over the next two weeks we are hosting the Student winter games with cross country racing at Pragelato where last year they held the Winter Olympics.
For us mere mortals there is over 400km of skiable pistes of all levels and private lessons start at just €35 per hour!

The local weather forcast is predicting a good snowfall over Monday to Wednesday so this is really the place to come! If you want to be sure of getting your annual dose of snow we would suggest that now is the time to get it!

Check out our skiing packages on our website

Green Winter Sports Holidays

2006-12-11T21:14:00.000+01:00

We all love skiing but the damage that is done to the environment in building down hill slopes is horrendous! For those of you who care about our planet but still love the idea of being out in the snow there are alternatives! You can still go skiing without creating such a massive impact on our precious alpine habitats.

How can you do this I hear you ask? The answer is simple! Give cross country skiing a go! You do not have to be super fit or even a particularly good skier to enjoy this sport. Also it doesn't damage your pocket as much as downhill. All you need is a bit of an introduction and within a morning you can be off exploring natural parks, or trying your skills on an Olympic circuit.

There are no crowds, no queues at the lifts (No lifts!) and you can take all day! Wild animals, frozen waterfalls, fabulous mountain scenery is all yours.

If you do not like the idea of skiing at all then why not try a snow shoe trek? This is a great way to enjoy the magical winter landscape and is as simple to learn as walking.

Where can I do these activities? Spooky you should ask that!
It just happens that we can organise a short break or a week-long holiday that can introduce you to both of these activities . We can even throw in some down hill if that is what you want. Just take a look at the packages on our website http://www.belvederebedandbreakfast.com to find out more.

Try something new and discover a whole new world of winter activity!

Sestriere. The Galactic Empire's No 1 ski resort!

2006-12-11T20:40:00.000+01:00

Sestriere is the coolest ski resort in the galaxy! This is official!

This weekend saw the “Galactic Empire” making a state visit to the resort. Darth Vader himself even made an appearance. Of all the places in the Galaxy he chooses Sestriere! How cool is that?

Not to be outdone Obi Wan and various other Jedi Lords were on hand to keep the Stormtroopers of the Dark Side in check. I was however a little disappointed not to see R2D2 or C3P0 around but perhaps they had not yet had their winter service?

Also Friday brought the long awaited snow and was the first opportunity to get the snow shoes out this season. We took a walk around Monte Rotta at Sestriere. The views were fantastic and it was quite a relief to see that the Alps were comprehensively covered with a white blanket. They now look as they should do for this time of year and not like the Spanish plain.

As I write there is more snow falling and more predicted over the weekend. Over the next few days I will be reporting on the conditions of our part of the Italian Alps.

If you want to try an alternative to downhill skiing then check out our introduction to snowshoe and cross country skiing then check out our packages on our website.

http://www.belvederebedandbreakfast.com

Catching up

2006-11-29T17:44:00.000+01:00

Well not much to say at the moment. We have had some fantastic walks with our guests over the last few days. The weather has been quite mild for this time of the year and the views unseasonally spectacular.

The wildlife spotting has been fantastic and virtually every group has seen a good selection of our local animals. There has been two independent sightings of wolves in the area. They are difficult to spot unless you get up really early in the morning. We know that they drink in the local river because their footprints are there to be seen in the sand.

Our blog has not been updated for a few days mainly due to our old steam powered laptop giving up the ghost. This has meant about 3 days of acquiring and setting up our new one as well as making the most of the good weather.

So far this winter the snow has not arrived in quantity. The tops of our mountains have a small sprinkling but not a great deal. Our main ski resort at Sestriere has just enough snow to open on the 8th of December but we really could do with a good fresh dump in the next few weeks.

The question has to be asked as to whether this is yet anther example of global warming caused by mankind or whether it is just part of the natural fluctuations in nature?
I will leave the answer to you and your conscience, but do you really need your thermostat turned up to 22 degrees when you complain that a "hot" day in the summer is only 20?

If we are to help the earth then we need to be doing something about it NOW! Offsetting you carbon emissions is simply not going to work. Switch of your TVs, computers(only after reading this!) and get out side and enjoy it before it is all too late.
Sorry to get on "my box" but with a little bit of thought we could all make a difference!

Art at the Fort of Fenestrelle

2006-11-09T21:37:00.001+01:00

Abitare il Confine (living the border) is a "Must See" exhibition! A collection of works from young artists from Europe. A clever mix of sculpture, painting and installation works cunningly juxtaposed amongst the stuffed animal collection in the Governors Palace.

Irony seems to play a strong role be it the "wall" made of wire frame "bricks" or the barbed wire made from papier mache to the "alternative" hunting trophies hidden amongst the real taxidermy. There is something for everyone.

The exhibition is on show until the 30th November so time is limited. Just hop on a plane,train or bike and hot foot it to Fenestrelle just an hour from Turin. You could even stay for a few days and take in the delights that the val Chisone can offer, stroll in the mountains or visit a museum or two. There is always plenty to do!

Autumn Walks in the Italian Alps

2006-11-09T21:16:00.000+01:00

The weather at the moment is being very good to us. After a short cold snap it has remained very dry and fantastically sunny. This has meant that we can get out on the mountains and enjoy the beauty of the autumnal colours. Also now that the cattle farmers and shepherds have brought down their animals form the pastures the wild livestock can regain their territory.

It has been a fabulous chance to see large herds of Chamois as well as deer and the odd "Muflone" (A type of wild sheep). Over the past few days the elusive Stembok have remained just that! The marmots have already tucked themselves up for the winter with only the occasional squeal from one or two suffering from insomnia.

This time of year when the weather is good is possibly the best time to be on the mountains. It is possible to be walking around in short sleeves in brilliant sunshine and admiring clear views over the Cottian alps and further south the Ligurian alps and even the Apennines can be seen. at the same time in the shadier spots large icicles are forming around the waterfalls and streams to remind you that winter is on its way.

The other great advantage at this time of year is that you get the mountains almost to your self. Peace, tranquility and silence. A great place for contemplation and relaxation.

For me one of the greatest and most satisfying pleasures is seeing the animals enjoying themselves and roaming free. Not there because a farmer has put them there but there because nature put them there. It just makes you feel great to be alive!

Winter Has Arrived!

2006-11-03T19:20:00.000+01:00

Two days a go it was 20 C and now we are lucky if we hit 2! Winter has arrived! The local shepherds are bringing their sheep off the mountains and our friend Fulvio is beginning his long walk back to the winter grazing pastures in Asti. He will be walking all the way with his 1300 sheep and lambs, several donkeys, countless goats and numerous dogs. A distance of around 120km! This is traditional farming at it's finest. On his way down, the sheep pass through our village. For a short few seconds it reminds me of the "old days" working in London and then 5 minutes later it is peaceful again.

The donkeys are there to provide transport for the newborn lambs, the goats help protect the sheep with the Abruzzeze sheep dogs. The border collies guide and control the flock on its journey. In this area they have to contend with wolves which roam wild and have developed some amazing tactics to take out the odd sheep. The sharp cold snap will bring the wolves down off the mountains as well so they have to keep their wits about them.

The white Abbruzzeze dogs are fabulous. They look similar to Labrador or Newfoundlands. They have a lovely temperament and live their lives amongst the sheep. You have to look hard to spot them in the flock. However if you get too close when the shepherd is not in sight then you will discover that they are not always friendly. They are extremely loyal to their masters and their sheep.

The beauty of living up here in the Italian Alps is that you get to see these things first hand. Not just a well filmed piece of wildlife documentary. The wolves are there to be seen if you know when and where to look, along with the stembok, deer and chamois. Also you get to see a way of life that has been almost lost in the lands of factory farming and mass production. The other advantage is that you get to eat some of the best lamb you could ever imagine. Lamb that tastes of herbs even though it has not been cooked with any! In France at Mont Saint Michel you can eat Mouton "pre sale" because the sheep there graze on seaweed and the meat takes on the taste. Here you get the taste of rare herbs such as genepy, serpoul and wild thyme for the same reasons.

To try this exceptional flavour why not come and stay at The Belvedere? With enough advanced booking we can arrange the freshest roast lamb you will ever have!

To follow the routes of the local shepherds please click on the link at the top of the page.

Slow food Salone del Gusto

2006-10-30T10:10:00.000+01:00

Those of you who have read our blogs so far may notice that there is a "slight" bias towards food. Well we have to admit that we do love food. It is virtually impossible to live in Italy and not be interested in food. If you come to Italy without knowing anything about food you will certainly leave with a much broader knowledge.

This weekend we attended the holy of holies of the food world: Salone del Gusto in Turin, a festival and exhibition of the worlds finest foods. Obviously the Italian representation is extremely high but you can also get a taste of foods from the rest of the world. English cheddar, Indian spices, South American Potatoes, Spanish olives, Polish meats etc. All exhibited by the producers of the products, producers that care about what they make. All of their products are offered to sample and it is down to you to try them!
For us the highlight is always a meal prepared by one of the regional catering schools. Essentially they offer a sample of their regions finest foods and wines. This is often accompanied by a detailed description of what you are offered by the chef that produced it. A great way to learn about what you are eating and also a great way to try something new.
The only downside to this festival? It takes place only every two years! The next one will be in 2008 and is a must for your diary.

Art exhibiton at the Fort of Fenestrelle

2006-10-24T13:47:00.000+02:00

All these posts in so few days! I need to get out more!
Seriously though as much as we live in a wonderful place, real life still has to happen.
Whilst checking e-mails this morning we received an invite to the inauguration of an exhibition at the Fort. Now firstly I should explain what I mean by the fort.

The fort is the fortress at Fenestrelle. It is big! In fact big is an understatement! Imagine a fort that rises up one whole side of a mountain. Not any mountain but one that climbs to 1800m!. That is Fenestrelle. you can see some of it in our profile photo. It is over 3km long and has a staircase to the top with over 4000 steps. If you want a full guided tour bring a packed lunch and expect to spend up to 8 hours going round it! It is the largest fortification of its type in Europe and second only to The Great Wall of China.

The exhibition, which starts on 4th November is entitled "Abitare il Confine" this is translasted as "Life on the border" and will be exhibiting artists such as Gian Luigi Braggio, Orietta Brombin,Andrea Chidichimo, Sara Grazio, Meta Grgurevic, Hans-Herman Koopman, Kamite Sato, Angelo Volpe and many more.

If you want to visit the exhibition and need somewhere to stay then we at the Belvedere Bed & Breakfast are in the ideal spot.

The show is on from 5th November until 30th November.
Forte di Fenestrelle

Slow Food Salone del Gusto

2006-10-23T21:59:00.000+02:00

Every two years Turin hosts what must be the greatest food festival on the planet! This event is promoted by the "Slowfood Movement" an organization of which we are fully paid up card carrying members.
Essentially Slowfood came about as a response to the growing presence of fast food chains that sell the same low quality GM products around the world with the sole aim to make a profit. Slow food is the antithesis of this idea. They promote organic food, quality of food, diversity of food and also the pleasure of food. You can find out more by going to their website http://www.slowfood.com.
They also run a university of taste as well as supporting a fantastic and essential biodiversity project. Their Salone Del Gusto is an incredible event and this weekend is when it is happening! Jump on a jet and get over to Turin to experience the best food you could ever eat. The show runs from the 26th - 30 October and most of the worlds best known quality foods will be on show and available for tasting and purchase. If you cannot get to the show then at least take a look at their site and think about supporting the movement and join your local group.
We are lucky in that we live only a short drive from Turin so we will be going on Sunday. If you get chance to book a flight and need somewhere to stay then drop us a line!

Castagne festival @ Ossasco

2006-10-22T21:37:00.000+02:00

The weather today was a bit grey. hey it cannot be sunny every day. That would get boring. However we took a trip to a little town at the end of the valley where they were having a little festa. Ossasco is a typical farming town on the edge of the Po plain. Their big winning factor today was the fact that they were roasting chestnuts! Oh yummy! There were also great displays of the towns finest vegetables. Apples, squashes, mushrooms, you name it! Good food is Very important in this part of the world and great pride is taken in producing it. There is none of the GM or factory farm produced rubbish here. These farmers may not be the wealthiest in the world but at least they are happy and healthy! Along with the food there were vintage cars and tractors and many stalls selling home produced honey and other conserves . Local honeys are fantastic. Acacia is exceptional and the dark Castagna honey is perfect fro making tasty cakes and biscuits.

New update

2006-10-21T16:54:00.000+02:00

A second entry in one day! Well it is a new toy! As I sit here waiting for our newly redesigned website to upload on good old fashioned steam powered 56k dial up( We don't get broadband in this part of the alps) I thought I would mention a few things that we intend to do on this blog. They may or may not happen. You will just have to wait and see.
We will be occasionally posting recepies of things we have tried or like. Most of these will be based on local specialties.
We will also try and post little snippets of anything else we think might be of interest in respect to Italian and mountain culture. For example I am currently experimenting with making Genepy which is a trditional liquer. I wll be letting you know how it turns out and may even tell you how it is done!

At this time of year we come into chestnut season. Unlike the ones in the UK that we use to play conkers; the ones here are roasted and eaten. It makes the onset of colder weather more bearable and for me is something I look forward to. Seasonal food is always so much nicer than being able to have it all year round! Tomorrow we have our first "castagnata" or roast chestnut fair. We will be adding photos and details tomorrow! Yummmmmmmmy!

Our first posting HELLO!

2006-10-21T14:31:00.000+02:00

Well here we are! We are going to try to run a blog about us and the area in which we live.
I suppose we should start by introducing ourselves.
We are
Kent Benson
Michelle Benson
George Benson.
Together with our cat Charlie we run the Belvedere B&B in Chambons Italy.
To find out more about the B&B and us please take a look at our site :-
Belvedere B&B
This is a rather short entry but we intend to update this blog very soon.