I want to hang with them

In Venice...these look like a bunch of fun ladies. Do you think they will let me hang with them?

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Bolzano

Today we left Ortisei to Bolzano to see Ötzi (the Iceman). They didn’t let us photograph inside the museum so instead, I’ll show you what the town looks like. We happened upon a street market which was very colorful, and a merry-go-round!

Food!

Way up high

Today we took the SAD bus from the hotel to town centre, from there we picked up a pair of trekking poles and took the moving walkway up to the cableway. It was a two cable car journey to reach Seceda. Once at the top, we did nothing — for a minute or two — but take in spectacular views before us. During these moments I felt grateful for being able to do this.

We walked a popular path toward Pana-Scharte then back to overlook Sofie Hutte. We ate yet another meat & cheese plate before descending back into the town of Ortisei just in time for riposo (siesta). Still there was much to see and at 3pm we did the obligatory look inside of a church off the city center before heading there catch our bus back to the hotel at 3:40pm. 

The trip back on the SAD bus was an adventure. Even though it was the same driver, and more than 10 minutes behind schedule, we hopped on. A minute later we realized something was wrong as we careened at high speeds on a single lane road with two-way traffic. Luckily the views were so spectacular that it took our minds away from the potential peril before us. Around and around we went, and it appeared that the driver couldn’t communicate with any of the other passengers’ inquiries. It just seemed like no one was getting to where they needed to be. More than a few times I heard the phrase “strada caputo” which even I understood especially with the slicing gesture that accompanied it (and what made his rapid speed even more frightening). An hour later we arrived back to the hotel in one piece and with laughter shared between us and our driver. Thank goodness for the iTranslate App.

Hello, Ortisei

Well, we lucked out on this one. The view from our room at the Alpen Hotel in Ortisei is spectacular!  When booking this room, we were told that tourists do not usually frequent this part of Italy. Tom & I looked at each other and said “sign us up!” 

After tearing ourselves away from this view, we swam in the infinity pool then ate a fancy dinner in the hotel restaurant. We look forward to taking the cableway tomorrow and exploring the trails and vistas!

Infinity Pool

A drive with a view

If there’s a more beautiful drive, I don’t know it. We left Varenna this morning toward the Dolomites. The drive is slow and meandering and filled with motorcycles showing us how it is really meant that be done. 

Here, we stop in Passo Del Tonale for a mid-day snack. We believe the owner of the ristorante of Hotel Sole speaks mostly German. Still, somehow with a mixture of offensively bad German and hopefully non-offensive hand gestures, Tom arranged for a cheese & meat plate, mineral water and vino. A ski town, it’s not crowded during its off season but gets a steady stream of traffic through the town. It’s a good place to take a break. Did I mention how beautiful it is here?

Varenna from another perspective

I love the colorful pillow squares scattered on the steps that make up this cobbled passageway between neighborhoods. I also adore the thoughtfulness of the scarves left beside some of the pillows. Sitting here would give you the view from the previous post. 

Many small walkways such as this can be found as you walk along the lake trail. Some have tiny cafes squeezed in, others have hotels, all of them beckoning you.


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Hello, Varenna

Drove the Fiat 500L to the Lake Como region today (only got honked at a couple times). Driving rules seem interpretive and not for the diminutive.Thankful to get out of Milan and onto the autostrata unscathed. Headed to Lecco on SS36 then SS62 into Varenna, passing through numerous long dark tunnels along the way. The approach into Varenna was exciting; the full beauty of the lake revealed itself as we snaked down through twists and hairpin turns. Arriving around 2:30, the town was a flurry of people and cars.

The host at Hotel Villa Cipressi was wonderful, stowed our bags and sent us to the garden bar while our room was getting ready. Later after a nap, Tom and I explored this small gem of a town, walking alongside the lake on a cobblestone pathway. We fell in love with the view shown here, returning to eat dinner at an outdoor cafe overlooking this vista. 

Tomorrow we plan to take the ferry to the village of Bellagio before heading to the Dolomites (Italian Alps).

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Galleria Vittorio Emanuele

Here's a picture tajen inside of  Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. Just outside is the Duomo di Milano, the large cathedral in Milan.

Hello, Milano

We arrived to Milan MXP Aeroporto and traveled 50 minutes by tren to Stazoine Centrale.The architectural beauty mixed with the movement of hurried travelers was much to take in. We then traversed city streets by foot (~15 minutes walk) to neighborhood Buenos Aires, and onto WorldHotel Cristoforo Colombo. After a quick shower to rid ourselves of the sticky layer that seems to come from long haul travel, we went out into the night. We decided to eat at a local favorite, Pizzium, which at 8:30pm had a several boisterous clusters of people outside waiting to be seated. We joined, albeit as a much more subdued addition.Twice we were treated with thickly sliced warm rustic prosciutto bread while we waited. Once inside, the movement and lively conversations surrounded us. We managed through the menu and ended up with two absolutely delicious pizzas.

FOOD

Calabria Pizza (Pomodoro San Marzano Agrigenus, Fior di Latte Caseificio Fior d'Agerola, Spianata Calabra Piccante Salumi del Sannio)

Tuscano (Fior di Latte Caseificio Fior d'Agerola, Prosciutto Crudo Salumificio Simonini, Fichi Freschi di Stagione).

And we ended with the Cannolo Siciliano.

Here's the menu:

https://www.pizzium.com/it/menu/ 

PLANS

Returning around 10:30pm, it was lights out. I slept a solid 7 hours straight. Tom didn't fare as well, sleeping only a small amount. Today we will walk to the Duomo and then back to the train station to pickup our car rental. We have a short (1-2 hour) drive to Lake Como region this afternoon. 

Here's a map of Milan neighborhoods:

https://goo.gl/images/eAagm7 

Ciao!

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Have bag will travel

Carry on only ...fits under 22x14x9!

Planning: Italy Itinerary

Day 1 - Milan (WorldHotel Cristoforo Colombo) 

Day 2 - Varenna (Villa Cipressi Hotel) 

Day 3 & 4  Ortisei (AlpenHotel Rainell) 

Day 5 Venice 
We were planning to stay on the glass-blowing island (Murano) but given our short stay, we decided to stay just on a smaller canal in San Marco.

Here are the advertised views from the place where we are staying:

Day 6-7 Florence 
We are staying 2 days steps away from Florence Cathedral (Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore). Here are the advertised views from the place where we are staying:

Day 8 San Gimignano 
Heading deeper into Tuscany on Day 8. Previously we planned to stay in Siena on this day.  But after Venice and Florence, thought we needed something more relaxed.  Will visit Siena before we arrive in Terni to start our trip.

Day 9 Terni
We drop off our rental car in Terni, sleep and then meet our guide the next day to start our pilgrimage.

Day 10-16 Walking from Terni to Assisi 

Day 17 Assisi (Hotel Alexander)

Day 18-20 Rome 

Staying steps away from Fontana di Trevi in a small apartment. We plan a day of visiting Ancient Rome (Colosseum, Forum, Pantheon, etc) and then a day in Vatican City (St. Peter's Basilica, Sistine Chapel, Vatican Museums).

Day 21 - Flying home!

Just a night under the stars

Our first couple nights were sans electricity and sans heat, it dipped to the mid 30s! I brought some battery operated twinkle lights and I felt so connected to the writer in me that I wrote for pages, the sky and fresh air as my muse