A young woman came out of the house opposite the café and seeing we were alone asked if we would like a warming drink as by now it was raining and a slight chill was settling, high at the top of this mountain. We followed her into the farm kitchen where an old lady sat by a wood fire over which washing hung, a light steam hissed from shorts and T shirts, the previous days had been sunny and hot.
Pans gleamed on a traditional dresser and in front of the window through which the mountains looked like a particularly lush and verdant painting, was a large cage with several canaries cheeping away.
The old lady is Alexia Bibollet, at 89 years young she has a permanent smile and a twinkle in her eyes. The young woman who invited us in, is Raphaëlle, her granddaughter. She makes us hot chocolate with freshly pulled milk from her cows, it’s delicious and for the first time that day I’m happy the sun has gone in.
"Would you like to see how we make the cheese" asks Raphaëlle, and grandmère adds "then come back and try some!"
I don't have to be asked twice, this farm is very well-known for its delicious cheeses and we traipse out across the wet courtyard and into a barn.
They make the cheese by hand - grandmother and granddaughter, together with several family members.
"I try to make my grandmother slow down" says Rafaëlle "but she won't".