Guido picks us up in the Aosta Valley, in far north-west Italy.  Guido is 33, tall, lean and has a winning smile.  He is the sheriff of his small village.

The name of Guido’s village is Brusson, which means “gold mine”, but all the gold ran out centuries ago.

As we wind along the mountain roads, Guido is keen to show us some of the local sights.  He takes us to visit the ruins of a small medieval castle, perched, literally, in the clouds.   Then we go to his home, so he can collect a bag he needs to deliver to his mother.

Guido tells us he is a climber.   He has already climbed Mont-Blanc, and he dreams of climbing Everest one day.
It is a good thing he likes steep ascents, because just getting up the laneway to Guido’s house almost requires mountaineering skills.  The houses is Guido’s village are constructed in a traditional local way, using stone for the footings with a timber frame and cladding above.   Many of the houses are crumbling with age, and it is not surprising, since the oldest were built in the mid 18th century.

After collecting his mother’s groceries, Guido takes us to a comfortable, bustling local eatery for lunch, and we have a delicious pasta dish with rich, golden, melted cheese on top, and tiramisu for desert.