A journey of discovery through the landscapes, art, food, and people of Italy
Day 4: The Dolomites
We were the most excited about this stop, so we were really hoping for nice weather. We woke up to beautiful, clear blue skies and warm sun but cool air - perfect for hiking! We were so excited! After a quick breakfast, we rode our bus up to the nearest village. David and I broke off from the group at that point and rode a chairlift up to a spot called “Panorama.” And that it was! The Dolomites are unlike anything we have seen, and the beauty took our breath away. There is no way to describe this area in words. We spent all day wandering in the sunshine looking at peak after peak, listening to cowbells in the meadows, and checking out the wildflowers. We took a hike through many meadows on mostly level ground, but with a few vigorous ups and downs thrown in for good measure. We hiked to Zallinger where we had a great german meal of weiner schnitzel and frankfurters before taking the Floralpina lift to Saltria and then catching a bus to Compatsch. Since it is so impossible to describe the beauty, I will let some of the photos we took do the talking for this portion.
On our tour in Switzerland last year our guide Hans made a joke that the estimated hiking times on the signs in the region were based on the time it would take a Swiss grandmother to do the trail, so we should all add extra time. We laughed, but boy is it true! We saw so many seniors in their 80's out on the trails with their hiking sticks looking completely unfazed while we were puffing away. I aspire to that for sure!
The trails in the area are very easy to follow. There are signs with numbered trails everywhere. We were a little undecided on which ones to take, so we asked Donald for some suggestions and he helped us put together a plan. Between his plan, a map and the signs, we had no trouble navigating the region! There are little huts dotted throughout the region, so there is always a place to stop for a meal and a restroom break. And if you get tired, there are a number of cable car and bus stops so you can cut your hike short.
We joined back up with our tour mates at the hotel for buddy introductions and another delicious German meal before heading to bed early. On to Venice tomorrow! So thankful for such a perfect day here in the mountains!