Snowfield twins
Panorama view from the outside edge
After reaching the peak of this hike, we were rewarded with quite a treat
Today’s hike was superb, more than that, really. We faced incredible scenes while crossing snow, through
forests, streams, moving along cliff edges and arriving at an alpine lake fed by glaciers, of course.
Words fail us and so we will rely on the pictures to provide superior descriptions.
We breathed a sigh of relief after meeting a couple of Germans and Austrians on the trail today. Mind you,
the trails are very quiet. We suppose this could be for a number of reasons. For one, they are difficult.
We also note there are many cyclists in the region as well as bikers, reducing the potential 'schleppers'
even further. The bikers tickle us as we have written before. We are fortunate that we don’t have any biker
friends or at least, not since we wrote of them. We have many questions for them but will leave it at one
as we have strayed from the initial topic which was…we forget.
We see the many bikers in leather gear driving this way and that way but never on the trails. They only
seem to stop for beers and then ride again but not before examining each others’ hardware. It must be the
journey that excites them. As an aside, the price of gas (petrol) in Italy is $8.50 a US gallon—they can
afford to ride compared with other motorists.
Wonderful features on this hike, a highlight.
One more glacial lake and new friends (admirers).
When we began writing, we mentioned relief. We were worried about the language barrier as we have admitted
a few times. However, now we don’t care much any longer; we are focusing again on English. When we were
talking to the Germans, they said they cannot understand the Swiss Germans, the Austrian said the same
thing, too. Both admitted they don’t even try understand the Italian mind. ‘What about the French?” we asked.
‘Firstly, we see them very seldom on the trails; it appears they sit in the restaurants and drink coffee or wine
while still basking in the glory of the early Napoleonic era.’ The Germans, if anyone, will know that. For the record,
the last thing we want to do is create European tensions. So if none of them understand each other anyway, we’ll stick
with our mother tongue.
Jenni chooses an ideal background in glacier territory.
Color on and amongst the rocks.
Recycling in this continent is a big deal. The bureaucrats in Brussels have got it taped. In the three
countries in which we rented condos, there are about six or twenty bins outside. One for glass, a
container for plastic, cans, wet foods, dry foods, not so-wet-foods, cardboard, garbage…the list goes on.
Many a night, the editor and her husband can be found at the bins sorting. It can get quite complicated
deciding whether something is recyclable, re-edible, calorie-free, garbage or near garbage. Just wait until
the Jews decide to differentiate their garbage by milk and meat products. By that stage, we hope to be on a
very high mountain.
One of the views of the Dolomites, so much more though.
Hitting up against a brick wall
When all is said and done, we cannot remember having a more uplifting, enjoyable and meaningful adventure.
Europe has been incredible. The power of most of the experiences enjoyed or endured, puts a person in
another realm, so to speak. It's a difficult concept to articulate but one feels a dramatic difference in
outlook and perspective. Some of the positions in which we find ourselves provide an opportunity to see who and
what we really are.
Cheers,
Jenni and Jeffrey
View from bedroom window. The quiet is wonderful, we saw a car pass yesterday or maybe the day before.
Another day's hike, note refugio on pinnacle—illustrating why we believe the engineers are so bold.
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