From the vineyards to the Alps

What a spectacular drive. Mostly Autoroute driving but coming off the freeway into the deep valley just outside Grenoble, was breathtaking. The size of the rugged mountain tops was awesome. Every corner had a new and exciting view Then we reached the Alps. We stopped and took quite a few photos, each one more impressive than the last. The road was sometimes narrow and hair-raising. But the views... One of the tunnels into Briancon was closed and the detour was very

scary in parts. Sharing narrow dirt roads with huge trucks. The alps are amazing.

At an altitude of 1,326 metres (4,350 feet) and the highest city in France, Briancon is only 14 km from Claviere on the Italian Border. Our home for the next three nights is the downstairs apartment of Christophe and Veronique. We overlook the town of Briancon, with sweeping views of the surrounding mountains. We are in the French Alps, 6 pm at night, 24° and drinking wine and eating french cheese on the terrace. How Does it get any better than this?