Apricale (and Doleacqua)

Since we've been in Ventimiglia, the Minx has talked about driving up to Dolceacqua. I have kept my counsel on this, mainly because I wasn't sure what is special about the place, but was nervous that she might have told me at some point.

Anyway, we had the afternoon off, today, and took the drive out. It was a beautiful route up along the valley whose foot is at the eastern end of Ventimiglia.

We reached Dolceacqua while we were still enjoying the drive, so we decided to go a bit further up the road. At Isolabona, we took at turn off to the right but didn't go too far as the road was getting narrower and windier. 

We got far enough to see Apricale, though, as featured in today's Blip. We did drive up as far as the town, actually, not least to see the crazy architecture up close. It's a town that looks like it has grown rather than been planned.

After that, we drove back down to Dolceacqua. The Minx went to find a café while I had a quick call with the lady who is handling the publishing for the album, and then I joined her for a beer and an ice cream before we explored the town. 

It turned out to be very much like a gentrified Ventimiglia Alta; a hilltop town of winding, narrow streets, but much cleaned up and with some money clearly spent. Perhaps this is the vision of the Marina Development Company!