The day starts out clear. We again met and head out to the longest chair lift in the Alta Badia area. Advil onboard so we are ready to go. Many lessons were learned after day 1. Uphill is a pain, no need to pee because you are really dehydrated no matter how much you drink and eat light at lunch otherwise you feel like a slug all afternoon.
After yesterday I am saying what did I get myself in for? The place for lunch was pointed out and I am sure there is no way we are going to go that far. Our group splits and this will be the norm for the week with the fast group getting to a stopping point and doing an additional hour or so since the tortoise (me) takes forever on the up hills.
Our guide seems to be walking the trail twice because he comes back for me or to make sure I am still upright. Today's hiking is less distance but more uphill. The scenery is amazing. Our guide also spend time talking about the history of the area apparently the Italians spent 3 winters in the hills fighting the Austrians during WWI.
We do make the lunch point, much to my surprise. We take the gondola back down and hike into town. Since we get back a little early than the speedy group, there is time to poke around some of the stores, always something to spend a few euros on!
Dinner is at family owned restaurant, the food is amazing with use of lots of fresh herbs from the restaurant garden. Our guide always orders appetizers and then we finish dinner. Tonight was the grappa experiment. The restaurant provided regular grappa which is an Italian liqueur made from grape based wine brandy that contains 35 to 60% alcohol by volume and a homemade plum grappa which was very tolerable and not as strong. Apparently grappa is medicinal as it calms the stomach and promotes digestion after a meal. Those Italians are so smart. Dan made sure he had all the medicinal effects and helped empty any shot glasses.
No comments:
Post a Comment