Ricains à La Muzelle

Wednesday 11th July

A wooden house, 2 stores, one big terrace in the sun. Sheeps running around the lake. Glaciers up in the sky shining. As we take a look at the surroundings, 2 donkeys follow us to the balcony, walking with difficulty through the stairs.
They're searching for caress, I think.

But one starts drinking and eating from bowls placed on the floor.
A few seconds later, the hostess comes out shouting "No way! They're stealing the dog's food again !!" The dog was locked inside, and is clearly not happy. He pursues the donkeys that clumsily go down the stairs, terrified. Stairs obviously are not made for donkeys.
But the dog is not satisfied yet, he keeps running after the proud donkeys, not letting them in peace. They've got to learn. Dog food is not for donkeys...

My friend L and I stay on the balcony to watch the show. I notice a garden close by the house.

We are not in a hippie or a bobo place. It's a chalet "refuge", in the National Park Les Ecrins high up at 2200m. For 40 euros, you've got bed & breakfast, and dinner.
After half day of hike to reach it, we just relax drinking a canned beer close to the lake, and we enjoy the animals fighting.
Perfect spot.

It feels like there's not much people staying for the night. We will figure out when going inside for the dinner: Soup, lamb gigot (from the sheeps that are running outside- the best lamb ever)  vegetables, cheese and tiramisu.
An older group of 4 and a couple sit next to us. It's a "community dinner" as Bobos restaurants in Santa Cruz just do not know how to make.
I'm tired from the day. Don't speak a word, but listen. All the lakes, passes, peaks from nearby are mentionned in an 1 hour-talk. I don't know 80% of it. They all look like typical mountain local guys that just cannot speak of anything else than that. The Mountain.

But suddenly between 2 names of lakes: " So you're living in the States?".
Hum Hum.
"Oh, the Americans, they don't eat cheese or just this horrible melted one... What's that name? Cheddar?
And they don't hike over there.. Right?  But I've heard they've got good meat. At least."

I say almost nothing, in fact he does not even listen to me. But I think to myself : Cheese , yes they eat cheese. Cheese is tendance and blue cheese is everywhere surprisingly!
Another guy tries to save me: "No, man! I've been to the States, The westside, Huge national parks, Gorgeous! And people are really friendly. They've got some good wine too... Have you been there?".
"Good wine!? Everything is too much industrial over there.... No, I've never been and I will not. I'm not interested".

So many people think that way!!.. Why being interested? There are beautiful landscapes everywhere. Seing the American craziness on TV is enough! Massacres, cannibalism, proud people that think they manage the world.
Who will want to visit this kind of country that does not even have good food?