The Lac de Serre-Poncon at Rousset was amazing but the campsite was one of these large holiday-camp types which we’re not enamoured with (we may already have mentioned this!). We wanted to spend a couple more days in France before crossing into Italy in more tranquil surroundings. Driving higher up still and more north east towards Briancon, past Chorges, Clamensane, Embrun, Chateauroux-les-Alpes and Risoul, we chanced upon the Camping Villard, 2kms from the picturesque Alpine village of Guillestre.  It’s amazing how even in summer Alpine villages make you think of Christmas – something about all those Christmas trees.

We were aiming for another campsite along the same road but something about Camping Villard attracted us.  An extremely energetic and affable man welcomed us and made us feel immediately at home and when we said we’d stay two nights he said he hoped we’d like it so much we’d stay two weeks (I almost heard the phrase ‘inshallah’ sotto voce!) He introduced himself as ‘Mam’ and when we looked puzzled he said it was actually short for ‘Mahmoud’ in a way which suggested he hadn’t had to explain this for a while. Mam and his wife Domininique had bought the failing site 5 years ago and had turned it around.  Running a campsite involves a great deal of hard work, staff is expensive and for people like Mam and Dominique who are prepared to put in a major part of the work themselves it can be a rewarding and profitable enterprise. Mahmoud had travelled to Paris 30 years ago at his father’s insistence to join his older brother for studies but had soon started working as a mechanical engineer and it was his wife Dominique who had come up with the idea of buying a campsite.  They and their lovely staff have worked very hard to turn the site into a charming, relaxing and very welcoming place and one we would highly recommend.

Talking of issues of the day, a quick look Saturday the 18th’s issue of Le Monde featured the following:

– Donald Tusk, President of the Council of Europe saying that the political and economic conditions we’re currently going through are very similar to Europe in 1968.

– A leader on the real implications of the ‘Greek tragedy’ and Donald Tusk again saying ‘there’s nothing humiliating about an 86 bn Euro loan.

– Hissene Habre on trial in Senegal 30 years after he was held responsible for the death of 40,000 people.

– An article on Ramadan not necessarily meaning the end of fasting.

– An leader on the Vienna Accord with Iran representing a real chance for peace in the ME.

– Something on indignant locals in Vallauris campaigning against the Saudi Royals and 500 people retinue persuading the authorities to close a local beach for them.

– Something on the ‘secret radicalisation’ of the extremist who killed 4 soldiers in Tenessee.

– A double-page spread on the art of efficient packing your holiday bags!

It was here we decided to get rid of surplus items/assorted clutter we thought we couldn’t live without!  This meant going uphill to Guillestre centre and catch the post office before it closed at midday.  We’d strapped the two boxes on the back of Judith’s bike (which has a rack) but Dominique saw us struggle and promptly rescued us by dropping what she was doing to kindly give us a lift.  We then spent a an hour or so taking a look at Guillestre.  Someone we got talking to told us she had been made redundant from the hotel she’d been working in because times were hard and the trend was now moving towards camping (or ‘glamping’ as the new expression goes) as people were feeling the pinch.

Guillestre advertises itself as a very ‘sporty’ place.  That was clear from the procession of keen cyclists we saw heading for the hills while we were sipping our ‘allonge.