Tuesday 8 September - San Giovanni, Ceriana

Up at a half reasonable time today, so we wouldn’t be out in the heat of the day doing our walk to the meadows of San Giovanni. This was the walk we had not completed a few days back.

It took us a very pleasant hour climbing steadily up past San Salvatore, then along a road for a bit, finally climbing along a wide stone-faced track. A mix of chestnuts and pine trees, finally giving way to lower shrubs near the top. Weather now settled at a comfortable mid-20 range, much nicer for getting out on walks. Right as we climbed up to the saddle where the old church of San Giovanni is, the scrub changed to rosehips and other berries, looking vaguely like they had been deliberately planted, which is likely to have been the case. Up a final bit of track to the old church. It was a sweety. It had been repaired by the Ceriana Alpinists Society a few years ago, so was in good condition, but clearly very old. The best part is that it is situated in wide alpine meadow. Short grass, kept this way by cows at some point judging by the evidence, but full of flowers like pinks and crocuses, and for the first time anywhere in Italy, just teeming with insect life. Grasshoppers, bees, dragonflys everywhere. It must be a stunning sight in spring when there will be a lot more out than we saw.

Crossed the meadow to the other side, where there is a perfect view down over the hills and out to the Mediterranean. Looking out to the west, there are the great lumpy peaks of the Alps. Such a lovely spot we will do this walk again before we go. Too nice to take in with a single visit.

Had our normal quiet afternoon before dinner of pasta fresca  from the supermarket, and our standard vege concoction. This evening our entertainment was to be the local Ceriana Band. This turned out to be a full brass band, which filled the stage. A lot of faces recognisable from the choir night. They played a whole range of music from classical to local, and some which we think had been arranged by one of the local young men. The standard was from average to good, but that wasn’t really the point.