Friday, 13 June 2008

The Dolomites

We are in South Tyrol in the Dolomite region which is a mountainous area in Northern Italy bordering Austria. Being here is more like being in Germany than Italy. Laden, a germanic language is dominant and all signs are in 2 languages German and Italian, and some in 3. Everyone is bilingual. The houses are very cute Swiss – german style, flower boxes, wooded shutters and railings, wood piles neatly organised.


Our caravan park entrance

Alpine meadow and mountain backdrop

We have done some great long walks in the most beautiful country including high alpine meadows, pine forest, along raging streams and past waterfalls too many to photograph. We are walking for about 4 hours and regularly climbing 800m. Two hours uphill seems to be our limit but the stairs on the lighthouse walk are going to look piss easy when we get back. We have also been rained and hailed on as well. Every day at about 2pm a storm has come through to wet us. Our wet weather gear has proved adequate, just. I really do like my umbrella which doesn’t really match the trekkers gear.


Pine trees and Ron

We caught one gondola and one chairlift and then walked for about an hour to have coffee and apple strudel in this alpine cafe. It is not possible to drive here. The small ski resort of Compatch / Compaccio has no car access.

Ron has bought some walking poles. Everyone has them here. He thinks he is pretty special and we both think they should be sold with safety goggles for the owner’s partner. Seriously they seem to make him go faster and take some of the strain of his knees.

Ron is dangerous with poles


One of the walks was a representation of the Station of the Cross (12 I think??). Every couple of kilometers there was a monument depicting the next station. I particularly liked this crucifix made from a few sticks we found on another walk. Religious monuments are very common.




Alpine cow which live in small houses all winter

Below is short video of finch feeding on dandelion seed.


The background noise is a raging stream. This has lost some colour in the copying, this bird was a brilliant rose colour.

Female finch feeding nearby

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