Tag: Italy

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Dolomites Hiking, D5

On Friday 27th of May we had a kind of an advantage, actually more of them. First, we pick up a track and made up a plan upon the recommendations from friends. Second, we did not need to drive any long distance. Third, we could fill in some of the sources and clean up the waste.  Moreover we were full of energy and eager for new adventures.

From Passo Falzarego where we left our camper, straight under the gondolas passing by we headed towards Lago di Limides.

https://www.bergfex.com/sommer/venetien/touren/wanderung/3703629,passo-falzarego–rifugio-averau–torre-grande–rifugio-col-gallina

On the crossroad under Averau 2648, we decided to turn north towards Sentiero dele Trice, because of another exposed and very narrow path. Later we reached Rifugio Scoiattoli for a delicious late lunch. From here it was just a stone throw to the wonderful Cinque Torre excursion. For us the walk around the towers was even more special as at that time (between 4 to 5 pm) there were no other tourists except of few guys climbing the rocks.

This track took us 5,48h, 13km 699eg

Considering all the hiking aspects, does was arguable the best track to accomplish the Dolomites adventure.

In the evening we needed to make a final transfer to a parking called Panoramico Tre Cime where we overslept before leaving the Dolomites on Saturday morning.

On Saturday we managed to return the camper on time in Graz, although we had to clean it additionally. At the end we got also the full deposit back as the broken sun blind was covered with the Full Insurance coverage for which I opted just at the check in day.

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Dolomites Break, D4

For Thursday 26th we agreed to visit our friends, who were staying in a camp but we also did not plan any track as we just needed to rest.

So we made a booking for a night in Camping Sas Dlacia, btw the highest campground in Dolomites and I think it was me, who then came up with a plan.

I found a place with a big lake called Alleghe, just under Monte Civeta with 3220m, being the 6th highest peak of Dolomites. The plan was accepted so we enjoyed the camping times at our lovely place before leaving it in peace.

Upon our arrival to Alleghe, we still considered an uphill cable car ride and a down hill hike. But as it was already afternoon and weather was not ideal, we decided to walk around the lake instead. From its banks we had various great views on Monte Civeta and the settlement around the lake.

https://www.bergfex.com/sommer/venetien/touren/wanderung/3904774,piani-di-pezze–restaurant-bar–terrasse–chiesa-di-san-biagio-in-alleghe–alleghe

Later back in the village we managed only a sweet break as all the kitchens were closed. On our way to the camp we stop by medieval castle ruins of Castello di Andraz.

In the evening we then enjoyed lovely company of our friends and the cosy atmosphere of the  Sas Dlacia cap, even though it was raining.

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Dolomites Hiking, D3

We enjoyed our new spot below the Passo Pordoi so much that we managed to get ready for the hike only at 11:00.

For Wednesday 25th of May we have chosen the Passo Pordoi Loop.

https://www.bergfex.it/sommer/venetien/touren/wanderung/486470,passo-pordoi-loop

 The track starts at the main parking place and goes uphill towards south east. It first reaches Rifugio Sass Bece. We wanted to change it little bit and started to ascent on the ridge towards Sass Ciapel 2557 m. It turned out to be a bad idea, as the path was very narrow and exposed on both ridge sides. We had to go back to the original track and took a rest in the next Rifugio Viel del Pan 2432. The route then continued towards east, always overlooking Marmolada. Suddenly the path was again narrow and under the last steep part towards Rifugio Luigi Gorza we hesitated if we will manage to proceed. At the end we have done it, with some pain, but still. From Porta Vescovo (Rifugio Luigi Gorza) it was then a long descending track back towards Passo Pordoi but now overlooking Piz Boe.    

This track took us 6h, 15,17km 750eg

I clearly remember how thirsty hungry and wasted I was when we finaly reached our camper at the Parking space. We only prayed for our great spot from last night to be free. And luckily it was! This time we got a bath in the fresh spring and enjoyed the camping time even more.

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Dolomites Hiking, D2

The dedicated caravan parking by Rifugio Carlo Valentini was a great choice and we had a memorable evening with a romantic dinner having the whole Sasso Lungo within the reach and only for ourselves.

In the morning we hesitated though and after some parking dilemma, parked luckily on the road, just next to the pass point (Passo).

Our track for Tuesday was the Sasso Lungo runde.

https://www.bergfex.it/sommer/suedtirol/touren/wanderung/4533228,plattkofel-umrundung

We started the track with a ride on an very old fashioned cable car, cabin for 2 persons only (Forcella del Sassolungo Telecabine). In fact this was the only case we used a cable car for hiking, but what an special ride. In some 20 minutes we arrive to Rifugio Toni Demetz 2685m. From there we were descending to Rifugio Vicenza 2180 m and further towards the bottom crossroad where we turned to left. Next we made a break by Rifugio Zallinger and then continued passing by Rifugio Sasso Piatto, Rifugio Sandro Pertini back towards the Sella Pass.   

The track took us 6,5h, 16,1km 620 eg

As it was already quite late we decided to move on to the next based swiftly. It was a short but beautiful curvy drive to Passo Pordoi. Few minutes down the Pass, we noticed a small turn off the main road and we drove back to explore it. It led to a house – Casa Cantoniera with a small lake and a fresh spring else surrounded by a forest. A perfect spot for our camper.

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Dolomites Hiking, D1

Our hiking adventures in Dolomites started on Monday, 23rd June at the Pampeago parking space, 1750m, where we overslept for the first time in our camper. This huge parking space dedicated to the ski slopes around was completely empty. We parked on its edge, closer to forest and just next to a lively spring. I personally slept like a baby.

The track we have chosen as a starter was supposed to start with a short cable car. That one was off, so we added some meters to the route before starting it.

https://www.bergfex.it/sommer/trentino/touren/wanderung/59647,torre-di-pisa-huette

Leaving our camper, we firstly reached Zichgalm then passing by lift station at Seggiovia Residenza we continued towards Rifugio Torre di Pisa 2671 m and to the main target Torre di Pisa.

Descenting we headed towards Oberholz, passed Malga Mayrl and rejterjoch and crossing one of the slope reached over camper just before the rain started.

The track took us 5h, 14,3km, 958 eg

We took a short break and get ready for transfer to our next hiking stage. Driving down the Pampeago pass, I had an idea to save some petrol and roll down without a gear. Suddenly some bad smell and a smoke was appeared by the wheels. Luckily there was a place to stop where we watched the brakes burning.

It might have been in the nick of time, we stopped the car and could still continue in the journey.

In one hour we arrived to Sella Pass 2218m and the caravan parking by Rifugio Carlo Valentini.

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Wedding

Sea – Wedding – Hiking

It was a well deserved sleep until the breakfast on Saturday 21st of June a day D for our friends Miska and Tomas who invited us to their wonderful Tuscany wedding.

From the night driving before, there is at least 1 thing to remember. That’s when we saw a porcupine on the road, the first one in a wild life, yes in Tuscany as well as the second one minutes later.

As usually we needed to hurry also for the wedding ceremony. Getting off the parking shelter I managed to damage our sun blind, but got into the church on time for the ceremony.

The wedding celebration took place in the mentioned Castello di Meleto and its surrounding terraces. With great music, super tasty food and nice weather, this was a perfect outdoor wedding.

A live music band, applied also in the church was changed by a DJ from time to time to ignite even more people for dancing. A group of about 20 Macedonian guys were dancing nonstop.

The dinner also served on a terrace outside by the castle which was nicely illuminated, created even more of the Italian wedding atmosphere. The highlight of the celebration came after the dinner, with very popular Slovak music band = Para performing full half unplugged concert connecting all the guests for another entertainment.  

We did not last until the very end, but enjoyed the whole wedding day as much as we could.

Next day on Sunday, we decided to rest at the villa premises bit longer before leaving the Tuscany for next adventure. In the late afternoon we headed towards Dolomites, Latemar and specifically Pampeago.

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Sea

Sea – Wedding – Hiking

Before our June adventure could even start, a bit of a research had to been done. As we knew we wanted to try a trip with a camper a firstly we reviewed some of the caravan renting companies. Very easily we decided for roadsurfer and booked our camper for 10 days from 18th of June until 28th in advance. We studied all the camper functionality, gathered the needed equipment and were looking forward.

My ECMS project was successfully deployed to PROD on 15th of June, so on Wednesday, 18th roughly at 16:30 were already ready to pick up our camper. There were some technical difficulties at the office some at the end we lost almost 1,5 hours prior to departure from Graz. As usually, I need to hurry on the highway, this time driving a camper. Yes, we were very lucky to arrive to Garden Paradiso camp in Cavallino, IT some 10 minutes before 23:00 – a checking deadline. It took us some time to find our spot, which turned out to be one of the best places overall, but we managed.

During Thursday we rested well and enjoyed the great campsite as well as its beach.  Cavallino, or Cavallino – Treporti is a sea side resort of Veneto district just by the Laguna Veneta with several campsites and actually only few hotels.

On Friday we received some more sunbathing treatment as well as relax on the beach beds. Recharged all of our sources we got ready for Cavallino departure. Goal of our evening journey was more 350km away, a place called Castello di Meleto in Chianti, in Tuscany.

We arrived very late, approximately at 01:00 and needed to wake up a staff member in a villa to guide us to another villa where we had our room.

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Alta Badia – Dolomiti Superski

Visiting Cortina last year, we somehow fall in love with the Dolimiti mountains. And as we’re living in Graz, it’s pretty convenient to take an advantage of it’s proximity to Italy.

For this year’s skiing vacation from 22nd of February to 1st of March we decided for Dolomiti Superski resort of Alta Badia  and reserved an apartment called La Varela at the Maso Ranch, just above the Badia Abtai village. At that time, we didn’t know, we are coming just into the middle of the great mountain people culture, named Ladin.

There are 2 long slopes in Alta Badia with new modern lifts reaching to Unesco site Sas dla Crusc (2907m) with Santa Croce on its foot. Wonderful rocky massive, stretching wide just opposite of our apartment.

In few minutes’ drive, you soon arrive to Corvara, Colfosco, La Villa or San Cassiano places forming the spectacular  Alta Badia ski resort offering more than 150 beautiful ski slopes. Also very well known for Sella Ronda – a 44km long skiing circuit (covering 23km of slopes) around Piz Boe (3150m) peak family. Sella Ronda also joins Alta Badia resort with Arabba – Marmolada, Val Di Fassa, Cortina D’Ampezzo and Gardena.    

Obviously in this stunning Dolomiti nature, having just perfect conditions, we did not hesitate and ride as much as we could. Starting on Sunday by 34km, MO 36km, TU 37km, resting on Wednesday then TH 34km, FR 28km and 42km on Saturday we recorded and ultimate all time record within 1 week of 211 slope kms! What a performance, absolutely amazing!

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From Caorle to Milan

Based on the previous very positive experience of an early Italian summer escape, we visited another Venetian coastal resort.

On 30th of May we arrived to Caorle, the oldest villages on the coast near by Venezia. Hotel Excelsior with a sea-view room, directly on the promenade was a decent choice for a reasonable price. The resort itself features old cathedral, Church of the Angel on the sea and the Casoni houses – favourite spot of Ernest Hemingway among the attractions. And of course, avoiding the omission, there is a beautiful several km long sandy beach too 😉

However, lying on a sunbed by the sea was not our ultimate goal for the Italian visit. Instead, we did a little bit of road trip and travelled across north Italy to Milan on 2nd of June.

The Royal Garden hotel situated on the outskirt of the city was convenient thanks to its secured parking and an underground station within a short walk. In Milan we visited some of the famous landmarks including the Duomo, La Scala, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Sforzesco Castle, Brera Art Galery, Santa Maria delle Grazie church and many more. Cherry on the pie was the awaited concert of Lana Del Rey at Hippodrome San Siro on 4th of June. Being the headliner of the whole I-Days festival, with the attendance of more than 70.000 a new high was clearly set. Even though the organisation was a bit problematic, firstly the entrance was hard to find, then the unnecessary queuing, we were still happy we made it and on time.

Last day, Wednesday 5th of June was a travel day with a long journey from Milan back to Graz a head of us. Unfortunately we did not manage all the planned stops, but that gives us a good reason for a next trip 😉

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Dream skiing in Cortina d’Ampezzo

It might be from when I first saw the FIS races years ago, but I remember, I was instantly amazed with Dolomite mountains. Since then, it was just a dream to see the beauty of the rocky nature in person.

Back in October 2023 we were talking about the next skiing vacation and the dream started to materialize slowly. Going alone, without our friends, Dolomites with its proximity to Graz, where also reasonable choice. And where exactly in Dolomites? For sure to Cortina d’Ampezzo – the most famous skiing resort in Italy and well known worldwide.

In fact It’s also a very busy place during the winter times, so we actually decided for a wonderful apartment in Chalet Alpenrose by Lake Misurina, just few minutes drive away from Cortina.

On the24th of February we were stunned by the volume of fresh snow while approaching Dolomites. And just to remember, it was heavily snowing also couple of the following days. We were told, the biggest amount of snow was recorded during our stay 😊

First days we were exploring the slopes under Monte Cristallo and Faloria as well as Tofana tracks. For a midweek break we did some snow hiking from Lago Antorno via Strada Tre Cime (covered with at least 1m of snow). Later we went for a day on Tre Cime slopes from Sexten and then got a great wellness treatment in Caravan Park Sexten. This is the most naturally beautiful wellness we have seen so far. Just by an accident we got a “Solo Per Due”private wellness for free 😃

For the rest of the week we stayed around Cortina, visited the town several times (it is really full of fashion boutiques – what a surprise 🙂 and enjoyed the slopes until our stay.

Overall until 2nd of March we managed to ride down more than 140 slope km! But it was definitely that Italian flair combined by old fashioned houses with a dash of prominent atmosphere and the wonderful rocky scenery, which made our vacation great. Dream came true.

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Eine kurze Reise

Was für eine Reise!? Ja, ich weiß was ich brauche… no, I won’t continue in that, not yet at least 😊

The most important part in the planning of a trip as usual is the destination. And the pick I’ve made, turned out to be a good one.

As of a preparation I even managed to change the tyres, so on Wednesday evening, 17th of May we were heading to Italy full of expectations. Btw. it was approximately 1000 km, I’ve driven in 3 days from Monday to Wednesday. But we arrived to Jesolo – or as Miška correctly noticed – Lido di Jesolo well and still within a reasonable timing. (Not to forget the tunnels that were closed in Graz 😁

The welcoming in Mariver hotel couldn’t be any better! Well, yes originally Miška thought it could, but no, not really. We definitely got the best room in there! Remember, its room nr.: 409

So on Thursday tough, when I had to work, at least you could already relax 😉 Renting out the bikes later in the afternoon was a great idea. We easily get to know the area.

The long walks on the beach were those I desired. And when it came to run, something very special has happened. The priest blessed me directly on the beach! I want to remember and keep that forever. Pretty high in memories shall also be the Michelin restaurant, Michalka has chosen -> then I chose the meals based on their numbers (but that’s a different story)… And then yes, another thing to remember.. its called Iper (iper tosano), the greatest groceries we’ve ever seen.

So after all, Ich weiß was ich brauche… eine kurze Pause, das ist was ich brauche… paar Tage am Meer.

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Home office in Padua

What a lovely business trip this was! Definitely some of the best working days so far!! But it was Miska who need to be in Padova between 19th and 22nd of May. She attended her first profession course (dedicated to special surgery accesses) held in the University with some of the oldest anatomic premises in the world.

For our stay we picked up the Metropole hotel in nearby Abano Terme boasting with 5 swimming pools and a wellness area. So just imagine me on a sun bed, under the palm trees, in between those pools… working hard 😊 We did enjoy the town of Padova too. Historical centre, with beautiful architectonical landmarks, biggest square in western Europe = il Prato, has it’s grace.

And on Saturday afternoon getting some coffee and ice cream by the swimming pool, we just decided to go to Venice. It turned out to be a perfect timing.  Venice is stunning, unique, for sure. Our cherry on the pie 😋

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Sorrento, Italy

In between of 23rd and 30th of May, this was finally some attractive home-office week!! As it was so much well-earned Miska’s vacation, she took care of all the planning. At the end she’s the one to take rest and relax, I only changed the premisses 😉

Upon the arrival to Roma CIA Airport, we picked up our Lancia Ypsilon and decided to drive it off the highway towards south. Slowly approaching Napoli, streets got more ruined, narrow and dirtier. The hell of a road connecting Sorrento peninsula with Napoli was remarkable. I lost my half year old beard completely! Next morning, we changed the noisy hotel for a remote appartement near Nerano, hopping to get more peace. Unfortunately, the nearby houses were under reconstructions. Considering the ultimate sea views and stone throw beach, it was still a fair deal. Better than any ordinary office.  

From here we explored beautiful, picturesque places like Positano, Amalfi and Ravello. Then, for the last 2 days we moved to Oasi Olimpia Relais villa. This wonderful 5 star hilltop place, made our trip bit more special. Well known island Capri was the last delicacy on our tasty Italian menu.