Susa and the Colle delle Finestre

Bright and early the next morning Eileen and I left for our day trip to Susa. The plan was for us to site see, shop and catch the part of the race that went through town while the guys rode their bikes up the pass to a good vantage point and watched the racers chug up the hill. They weren't the only ones heading into the mountains...we saw quite a line a cyclists just as crazy as they were.

This guy was even trying to draft a hay wagon!

Susa is a beautiful ancient town with Roman, Medievel and Napoleonic history. It was founded by the Gauls and was an important center for connecting southern France to Italy. This beautiful church building is the Madonna del Ponte and is actually a museum now.

The town has a castle of the Countess Adelaide

Oops, it was a hot one. Had to stop for a drink...

Then we met up with Rick

and Chris who were stocking up on provisions before heading high into the hills.

Saw this cat being carried in a bird cage...interesting...

Back to the town...the Savoia Gate or Gate of Paradise

A statue of Augustus...he and Eileen are pointing to that high pass Rick is riding over.

The triumphal arch erected to Augustus in the 8th century B.C.

The Roman Aqueduct from the 3rd century B.C.

Ahhhhh, French goat cheese!!! Down here in the land of Only Italian Cheeses we yearn for this delicacy. Eileen found some at a local shop and we got it with some fresh bread and ....well, we ate it all!

Back to the Romans....an amphitheater! Oval shaped 152 Roman feet x 125 Roman feet and an incredible echo and amplification in the center.

Oh yes!!! We were there for the Giro. The swag trucks made their way through town.

Saw this great tee shirt in town. I would have got it but the shop was closed for lunch.

Love the Italian road signs.

Just as the lead car for the Giro was coming past our camera died!!!!!! I sent sms's up the hill to warn the guys when the bikers passed and they got the great pictures of the actual racers.

The next day we headed to the other side of the country and you will see the difference between the French influence and the Swiss influence.