Italian Dolomites and the Lakes Region
June 21 - 30 Exploring Italy’s lake region and then the romantic beauty of the Dolomites juxtaposed with the alpine valley filled with wildflowers was a stunningly beautiful conclusion to our time in Italy.
We arrived in Italy’s beautiful Lakes region. We had to pass on a dinner invitation for George and Amal Clooney as we had a busy schedule of exploration.
Orta San Guilio illuminated at night is a lovely sight. We enjoyed exploring this island and exploring the spiritual walk and church and the nearby Sacro Monte pilgrimage site.
Lake Maggiore was truly lovely and we explored three islands including Isola Bella with its spectacular palace and gardens.
Always, one to exhibit the latest fashion trends, Terry found some new wardrobe accessories (a bib) for the remainder of his travels.
While visiting the botanical gardens on Isola Bella we were privileged to see these breathtaking white peacocks that live in the gardens.
After a long drive, we were rewarded by our first glimpse of the Italian Dolomites.
The Dolomites region we explored (Alpe di Suisi) is the largest high alpine pasture in Europe and is well-known all over the world for its colourful flowers in the summer and its glittering blanket of snow in the winter. We marveled at the flowers in full bloom.
The various mountain ranges are unique and each one is exquisite in its own way.
As if these mountains were not breathtaking by day, they reflect the sunset and exhibit a golden hue in the evening. Wow!!
Stacy couldn’t find enough time to explore the hundreds of hiking trails as she was too busy taking photos of the breathtaking scenery.
Terry, on the other hand, was happy to rest in his custom chair and assume his rightful role as king of the mountains.
Many do not know that Stacy’s first professional dream was to be an archeologist. Terry was a bit nervous about why she spent so much time with her first love Oetzi who she apparently met when he lived 5,500 years ago. His autopsy shows he was stabbed in the back. Very suspicious, don’t you think. ;-)
Our last dinner in Italy was at a high altitude restaurant, more German than Italian feeling where we enjoyed a bottle of local wine and a spirit distilled from Caraway. We were encouraged by the owner to drink both daily as he does to improve our health.
The food was tasty and beautifully prepared. Terry enjoyed the wild boar with potato pancakes.
Stacy enjoyed the homemade lamb ravioli.
Desserts during our last weeks were exceptional and so our walking and hiking of 70 miles was essential.
After 2 1/2 months in Italy we walked 530 miles (this is the equivalent of 1/2 of Italy’s total border length including the islands of Sardinia and Sicily), sampled dozens of wines, relished gelato and pastries, sampled new pastas, pizzas and seafood and explored hundreds of churches. We leave this cherished place (Italy) changed people- chubbier and happier. Hope you enjoy this last picture of us from Italy - Stacy (left) and Terry (right). Our next blog will be from Croatia.
The map above shows the terrain we have traversed during our 2 1/2 month adventure in Italy. In Italy (including Sicily), we drove a whopping 7, 120 kilometers or 4,425 miles. Kudos to Terry for braving the driving. Heavenly!
