Better Late Than Never!: Slovenia Italy Tour 2019

To the DOLOMITI!

First, our detour stops in Sankt Moritz and Glorenza/Glurns.

The drive from Maloja to St. Moritz followed the incredible turquoise Inn River that would form small lakes along the way. It was hard to capture it because there weren't enough turnouts on the winding mountain road, but the color was astonishing.

It was overcast and cold.

St. Moritz is the swanky place of the stars. In season, that is - skiing or summer. We hit it at a lull, and we were glad not to have crowds. We found a lovely little hotel with great bathrooms for Aunt Lynnie, and a full candy dish for me. :) The lady at the desk was very well-read and had some strong opinions on politics (we found that just about everywhere we went, and it was half and half on ideology... just like anywhere else.) We had a lovely conversation with her while we waited for shops to open again - they take the midday off. We also went to a great little deli and had more ham and cheese, trying out several kinds. You could go nuts!

This is the posh Hotel des Bains, very similar to the Maloja Palace. I guess they need lots of these for the stars the visit.

It was a beautiful place. Aunt Lynnie dropped some $$ there on a gorgeous sweater, then we skidaddled. On with the drive to Rick Steves' Glurns (Glorenza in Italian. Everything in this area has a German and an Italian name.).

Through more towns and mountain valleys, giving us just a hint of what was ahead.

Glorenza/Glurns is like Dr. Seuss. The houses and other buildings are slanted and widen at the bottom. Not sure anyone could explain why. It was simply delightful. Not many people, so we could wander at will and peek into nooks and crannies. And there was gelato.

(Disclaimer: I have since confirmed that I didn't gain one pound on this tour. Highly unusual - it must be their calories are different than ours.)

A Plow....

Trough and fresh water.

Glurns is surrounded by a river.

This tower is part of the city wall by the river.This is one of the wall's embrasures (look that one up).

I can't pass by an old church without seeing the marvel inside... this one in Glurns was pristine. The detail was amazing...

We drove 'til dark to get to our place in Castello di Fiemme, hosted by Rodolfo. It was THE BEST ever. It was right next to this:

This was the sight from the balcony in the morning!

Our host, Rodolfo, was a beekeeper. He had 38 hives right there. He had renovated this home from the 1700s into several apartments and leaves the one we were in as nightly rental. He is in the process of renovating another apartment on the second floor, complete with trash flue.

Went out back the next morning to see the beehives and his construction. This wooden gutter was pretty cool... The fresh cut pine scent was intoxicating! They even cut wood in neat piles!