After more than seven hours on the train, there is nothing like a delicious dinner to revive you and make you feel like a person again. Here is my table at the Blue Moon sidewalk restaurant in Bolzano, Italy. When we passed through the Brenner Pass today we left the clouds behind, and this evening was breezy and languid, shirt sleeve weather. Let me describe my evening meal. Salad: arugula with cherry tomatoes and cherry mozzarella; main course: lamb chops with roasted potatoes and chanterelle mushrooms in season. Then I walked some of that off while enjoying a scoop of coffee gelato.
Bolzano is down in a valley surrounded by steeply sloping vineyards on all sides. And as I had learned previously, all signs are in two languages–German and Italian, but almost everybody speaks English, the international language. It is unfortunate for me, because I really would like to practice my German.
Here I am enjoying my main course:
I have a very slow Internet connection in my hotel, so there will only be several photographs.
High end shopping in Der Lauben, but not the reason I am here.
Beautiful Italianate frescoed buildings, but not the reason I am here.
Picturesque narrow streets, but not the reason I am here.
Fertile valley of vineyards, but not the reason I am here.
Look above the traffic and buildings and you will see the reason I am here. The Dolomites are calling to me and I will get to know them tomorrow.
Rosemarie in Europe 2013 
Benvenuti!
Sent from my iPhone
Grazie.
I love the Dolomites… I get goosebumps every time I look at a picture of them. It’s been almost ten years since I saw them in the flesh, as it were. There’ll better be plenty of pics, slow internet or not! 😉
My pointer finger is ready for its job.
And zooooom zooooooooom zooooooooooooom that lens!!! 😉
That’s the problem with mountain vacations. You get started, hiking, or bicycling, which draws you away from all of the fantastic scenery. That’s why you need to rest a lot to take pics, then, pay particular attention to your feet and where you are stepping so you don’t injure an appendage. That’s all I’m say’in!
I’m hoping my expensive boots and hiking poles will keep me upright.
I’m glad that the weather has turned around for you. Should be good hiking ahead.
The great adventure begins.
Wish I was there with you!!! We’re cheering you on from afar!! : )
Keep cheering. The hard part starts tomorrow.
Wow! And now I feel like I’m in Italy, too! (Kinda sorta!) great pics….
Thank you, Linda.
You are so close! How does it feel?
Excited, a little nervous.
Give me an H, h, give me a I, i, give me a K, k, give me an E, e. HIKE, Hike, hike.
Now the physical work begins. The beauty will keep me going.
Impressive mountain range, and I liked your teasers… happy hiking, I hope the weather remains fair for you.
Beautiful weather today. STEEP hiking paths up to the Seiser Alm. Scenery is unbelievable.
What a delicious supper, your description has made me quite hungry.
Yay! There come the mountains at last! 🙂
I have not been able to post anything on wordpress for the last three days.
Yes, I noticed – and I have been wondering about that. Glad to hear that you are alright though.
Stunning!! I feel like I am traveling with you!
I am sorry that I have not been able to continue posting, because I have not had access to a strong Internet connection. Now in Salzburg I have only a few more days in Europe. I don’t know if I will be able to make further posts until I arrive back home. Once I am home though I will fill in the blanks. Thank you for the compliment. Rosemarie
No worries! Enjoy and post when you can!