emiGrants: Bardonecchia (second half) and the heatwave at home

The half day last Friday started quite well and we were all looking forward to a small amount of sight seeing again, as hiking was rather out of the question, because we were all totally knackered and both Rob and Alex had to spend some time preparing for their lead-offs on the Saturday.

Rob at the pub on top of the ski lift

So we went up in the ski lift to a bar where some of us sat down to drink and read, others went on a hike to the next level, where the upper ski lift usually takes people in the winter, but not in the summer. When they got back later, they told us that the bar is really lovely at the top there and that it also has a hot tub, which they couldn't try as they had too little time to spend there if they wanted to catch the last ski lift before it closed for the day.

Panoramic at the top of the ski lift

After a nice rest in the bar and the boys having done their preparations for the day after, we awaited the return of the hiking group to take the last ski lift with them. They didn't seem to arrive on time, so we went, not wanting to walk down instead of the already paid for ride down. As it happens, the guys at the ski lift waited for them and they made it down in one piece.

Alex and Rob on the way down

Canadians coming down on the ski lift

At the bottom everybody went in different directions, with Rob, Alex and me walking slowly up the valley to the pizza restaurant we saw a few days before. The village of Les Arnaud was really gorgeous. This time the light was better for photography and both the buildings and the peaks were very photogenic.

Alex in the Pizzeria Da Amadi with a glass of dry white

We ordered red and white wines by the glass, antipasti and then pizzas. Needless to say none of us could finish the pizzas, but we took them home for later. The service, the environment, the family atmosphere and especially the food was absolutely gorgeous. It was such a lovely wind down after the exhausting World School that far.

After dinner we walked further up the valley, through Melezet, another interesting and picturesque village to the French border. We walked back partly by the river which was also very pretty.

On Saturday Alex spoke on the 10 worst lies about the Russian Revolution in the morning and Rob led off on the Civil War in the afternoon. Both were excellent, although I knew full well what Alex was going to say due to having proofread his lead-off a couple of times for him. Still, his confidence, his humour and his common touch was much appreciated by his audience.

Rob's topic was a very weighty subject which he did excellent justice to. Hopefully, the Canadian section will publish it as a pamphlet, and then I will definitely buy one. Also, for me, this was a real treat, as I don't really know much about the Civil War in all its theatres of operation, so it was useful as well as enjoyable to listen to Rob.

Garlic toast with tomatoes, herbs and olive oil

Proscutto with fresh buffalo mozzarella

Happy trio on the restaurant's patio

Finally on Sunday the last day of the World School arrived and it was areal treat, with Jordi's Organisational Report and at the end Alan's wrapping up speech. His style of speaking has been described as dry and academic, but that is totally unfair. Yes, he is not your traditional rebel-rouser, but he can get a crowd going just as well as any other comrade, and occasionally a lot better.

We sang the Internationale and Bandiera Rossa, as we always do and happily trudged off to dinner, followed by preparations for the evening party.

The party went on all night, but we retired long before that. I enjoyed the singing of revolutionary songs by most sections present and joined the Canadians for a rousing rendition of I'm a Liberal! It was a great culmination of a fantastic week, during which I heard some amazing speeches, made a lot of new friends from all over the world and refreshed my enthusiasm for revolutionary work. It looks as if the world is approaching some really interesting times (fully in the Chinese sense of the word!) and I will be there to take advantage of it as much as anybody in the IMT.

On Monday morning Rob, Alex and I caught the 8:21 train to Turin and then a taxi from the station, which was barely more for the three of us than the bus fare would have been, to the Airport. My plane left before the boys' and I was very close to tears while saying good-bye, which is quite unusual for me, but getting old does that to you unfortunately.

Alex doing his lead-off

On the plane I sat next to the window for once and took some interesting photos from high up as well as in the airports I travelled through. One final fright of this trip was a totally missing Roy on my arrival, but thankfully, in spite of the heat and being very tired my brain cells - or at least some of them - were still functioning and after a while I worked out that he must be waiting for me in the other terminal. I was right and we were both very happy and relieved to lay eyes on each other.

I have spent the nearly one week since my return in the village, hiding from the nastiest heatwave I have ever experienced in my life. The temperature records have all been broken and we can't leave the house between 8am and 8pm. The top temperature in the courtyard in the sun has been nearly 50 degrees Celsius so far, but a bigger problem is that the heat is cumulative from day to day, and not even in the countryside does it really cool down at night. No wind adds to the oppressing feeling that makes me completely dizzy and surprisingly achy in my joints. Still, at least I can sleep both in the afternoon and in the night pretty well, if not for too long. I hope it breaks soon and then I can get back to town where I have a few things to do (like having my poor little travelling laptop repaired, as when I hit it with a fly swat two of its keys flew away!!), a few friends to see, visit my homeopath for a checkup and finally do some geocaching which I have been missing terribly. Next post probably next week, but who knows?