This is where the fishermen are

Yes you can spot them in the bottom left corner of the lake of Tignes. After overheating (and overeating) in Beaune we needed some fresh air and some exercise. At an elevation of 2100 meters, with enough snow on the glacier for a few turns, that would do it.



Our first day there did not involve that much exercise though, but our heart rates did go up: at 5am or close, we took the car and drove up one of the highest road in Europe.Ominous clouds, no guard rails...

This one is a little blurry but I still like it.
Last few switch backs...
And we're on top!
Now same thing, but downhill. We are going from the valley of Tarentaise (where Tignes and Vla d'Isere are) to the valley of Maurienne (Bonneval, St Jean de Maurienne).
If you look a little close at this picture, you'll see, right in the middle, a running chamois.

And further down in the valley, the little cuties...
We're now on less winding roads, speeding past mountain villages.
Clouds are moving away.

The fortified buildings, fort Victor Emmanuel, part of the Esseillon barrier built in the early 1800s to protect the col du Mont Cenis but that was never used.
Interesting geological structures.
And here we are finally parked... but where are we? Why such an early start?