The Dolomites

What are the Dolomites? Click here to find out. Venice is about an hour from the foothills of the Dolomites. The Dolomites -is also an Unesco World Heritage Site.We arranged a ride with Miriam from Veneto tours for the day.

It was just Jim and I and after 11 days on a cruise ship we were ready for quiet and nature.We met Miriam on the dock as arranged (make sure you have her cell just in case) We loaded our luggage into her car and headed out of Venice. We went through the valley between the foothills of the Dolomites and Venice. Along the way we passed Prosecco vineyards

and light rail.

We also passed through tunnels.

 We made various stops along the way. You could appreciate the slow climb. Miriam pointed out the flatter roofs near Venice and we could see them become more peaked as we climbed (so snow could slide off)

And the road began to get curvy!

We stopped at a small restaurant for a bathroom break. It had a nice feel to it.

                                          Limon Ricotta and Struedel

                                          Grapevines growing in the back

                                           Coin operated pistachio machine

                                          The view from the restaurant

                       The menu- wish we could stay for lunch! I love that it's handwritten in chalk.

                                          The upright piano in the corner

                                          Enjoying the view getting ready to climb!

 And what a gorgeous view!

                    See how the house's roofs are starting the angle? Can you tell we are climbing?

                                          A camera doesn't do this justice

                                          The old railroad track is now a bike trail.

                                          Town of Capriana 3200 feet

                                          Town at the start of the Dolomites

                                           We climbed until we reached the town of Cortina

                                           We are about 4,000-5,000 feet above sea level, I believe

                                          This is where the 1956 Winter Olympics were held

                     This is NOT where the famous "Agony of Deafeat" was filmed on the wide
                      world of sports, as we were told , though.

                                      We shopped and had a cup of coffee and a Neapolitan

                                          Art work I tell you

We left this ski village and , you guessed it.......climbed some more!

We see the melting of the snow and it looks very Spring-like

                                  Not sure you can see the wires for the ski lift (above)

                                            Getting above the tree line now

                                           About 6700 feet getting close to Austria

                                       Switzerland is to the West, Austria to the Northeast

 We stopped for lunch at a cute place on the top of the hill. I believe she said we were around 10,000 feet?

                                         There is Miriam our guide

                                         Barley soup

                                            Dolomiti beer

                                            She had gnocchi I believe

                                          Candy bars

                                          Grappa in various flavors

 Ham and Gorgonzola pasta- awesome! This is what I had hoped the food of Italy would taste like!

                                   Jim- spaghetti and meat sauce- oh well... He liked it!

                                                 Bottled water

                                          

Down we go!

                                         They were really speeding!!!

 Luxottica is a company that makes eyewear and they just happen to have their headquarters very close to our house. Miriam wasn't sure we were serious. Here is their Italian headquarters.

                                          Park at the base.

                                              Back to Venice via boat! We had a great day.