Slovenia Italy Tour 2019 - 3

Before I really leave Como, I fogot to post the picture of the parking pipe and chain. When I finally got it to set back into the hole, the dirty water came gushing up like an oil well!

And we're off to the Dolomiti!  At least we thought so. :)  We had a hard time getting out of Varenna due to some falling rocks on the main road. It took a little time to figure that out, then we were on the way.  We mapped out a course and assumed it would be the most direct route. GPS had another idea, and we ended up driving into Switzerland through St. Moritz and then back into Italy. We wanted to see a little village Rick Steves - the wine bibber guy - recommended, and I guess that's what took us a more scenic route. So here's the map of the drive:

We got around the road block at Lake Como/Varenna and headed north, stopping for gas in Chiavenna (the L bottom corner red circle). Note the terraces in the mountain - those were all residences with orchards and vineyards. It was steep and looked impossible, but this is how they live - my guess is for centuries.

This sent us through a narrow mountain valley - both sides were as steep as this picture - and after we were up the road  about 45 min. we realized we were headed to Switzerland.

We passed water falls, continually driving along the Mera River. As we drove the color of the water intensified to this incredible opaque aquamarine - yet there were places where it was translucent. So unique. I tried to capture it in photos - hopefully you will be able to get a sense of it.

This waterfall was beautiful, so was the red hydrangea - I've never seen this color!

The small towns were built right on the edge of the road. I finally couldn't stand it and asked Dad to pull off and let me walk the street a little in the village of Dogana. Such a mix of ancient, old, and new. They just adapt when they need to, keeping the charm and history. Also very practical.

All of this was right on the road we were driving - hardly room to walk. It was breathtaking to me - I could have stay to drink it in for a long time.  This cute little woman poked her nose out of her window to water the flowers and Aunt Lynnie and I looked up just in time - I asked if I could take her picture. :)  Shameless...And how would it be? Would those old structures be hard to live in for us modern folks?

Many of the buildings were carved or painted...

The roofs were made of stone slate.

Above you'll see bundles of slate slabs for roof repair.

These small villages were along the Mera River. I caught a glimpse of it as I explored. You can see a hint of the color that deepens as we drive along side all day.

We were driving the Via Nazionale, and came to and open part of the valley, the area of Bregaglia - it seemed to be a water district. We stopped at a water"plant" on the river. These pics will give you an idea of the color transformation and the opaque vs clear differences.

Check out the mountains in the distance. This is where we are headed...


There was a bridge across where Lynnie and I played just a little. :)

So we head into those mountains and do some switchbacks.

There were beautiful farms everywhere.

Then we caught glimpses of what was ahead...

 Look closer...!

We had to go through those monsters...  along the was there was this fascinating bridge. :)

Then some even crazier switchbacks...

If you look closely you can see the trucks on the turn below. these were harrowing! And a bus!

 You can see the sharp turn he has ahead...

After making it to the top - Maloja Pass we were rewarded with a wide open mountain valley,

  and the city of Maloja, home of the Maloja Palace (look it up - it was a place for aristocrats and the rich and famous...) We stopped but the only pic I got was of this fascinating church as we drove by; the Palace is the cream colored bldg in the background. :) 

 We drove along the linked Silersee and Silvaplanersee

This beautiful church was in Silvaplana, just before Sankt Moritz.

 My treat for being so patient.  **Aunt Lynnie should get it because she's the one who had to wait for a potty break all the time.**

 A short and amazingly scenic drive left to Sankt Moritz, where I will pick up again in the next blog.  This one got long - but, hey... it was an incredible morning!