Day 49 Etroubles to Quart – 19th July

Distance: 24.2 km – Elevation +310 m -1010 m

Weather: Sunny. Temperature: High 26 degrees

It was a very enjoyable stay in the Ostello. Also staying there was Ann and her new friend Celine, and an Italian cyclist. We all enjoyed a very convivial pilgrim’s supper with both wine and conversation flowing. Having said our goodbyes to Ann and Celine, and wished the cyclist bon voyage we set out from Etroubles just after 8.00 am. It was another glorious day to be in the mountains and Aosta Valley. The path continued to descend as we followed the “Ru Neuf”, an ancient irrigation channel that has existed for over 600 years through the villages of Echevennoz and Gignod. About an hour into the walk, in a shaded area of the forest we passed by the “Je Te Salue” Grotto where a statue of the infant Christ with his mother Mary was placed by the parish priest of Gignod in 2005. Throughout our walk, to Aosta, I was entranced by the beauty of this part of Italy. We arrived in the Roman town of Aosta around midday and stopped for a snack and coffee. On our way out of Aosta, we passed by many ancient Roman monuments, ruins of the city walls, the Praetoria Gate, and the Buthier Bridge, and leaving the town the  Augustus’ Arch. On our way to our intended destination of Quart, we passed through the community of Saint-Christophe. We arrived in Quart around 4.00 pm, both hot and tired. We had not booked ahead and could not find any accommodation so we had to move on. We stopped in a cafe attached to a filling station and were advised by the owners of a guest house close by. Jean-Pierre gave them a call and after a little negotiation, we found ourselves in two very comfortable rooms with outstanding views of the surrounding mountains.