Follow the Scree

Though this walk was more or less flat most of the way, it was still very long. I was always lagging behind the others, because I was the one with the camera. Around each bend or behind each boulder I found a new perspective on this fantastic landscape. The plan was for the three of us to walk the length of the Tre Cime past the rifugio. At the halfway point we would split. Marion and Vladimir would hike around the far side and I would return the way we came. The reason for that was that I have a fear of heights in exposed areas, and the far side had a number of exposed areas. I was happy with this plan, because I could take my time and make detours to take the photos I wanted. I could even take the time to change to a zoom lens. Behold the giants of the earth.

This was a beautiful green plateau with two monuments and in the morning it was a beautiful contrast to the blue hue of the mountains in the distance.

Tre Cime was also a battleground during World War I, and here are some gravestones of soldiers who never came home.

I’m feeling on top of the world.

In this rocky landscape tiny flowers still found purchase and provided a dash of color among the rocks.

We would climb up there next.

We approached Rifugio Lavaredo.

This was our view as we sat outside to have something to drink.

There had been heavy snows that season, and you can see the high wall of snow along the path.

Upward, and we left the rifugio behind.

Another beautiful Alpine wildflower in the rocks.  My only regret was that I never saw an Edelweiss in the wild. They cultivate them and in stores you can see them growing in pots, but it’s not the same thing.

One view of Tre Cime.

And the Rains Came

 

The threatening skies made it look like we were in fact on Golgotha. At this point we began to make our way back down the trail to the chair lift. Climbing up had been taxing on the leg muscles, but going down created great stress on the knees, and there was always the possibility of slipping on the loose scree. We wanted to be back before the skies opened up.

It was always a little adventure to get on the chair lift. The three of us stood in place and the chair lift came up behind us and scooped us up. I liked the knowledge that there was a safety net in case someone didn’t quite make the seat.

We could look right into a garden, a lovely garden as we reached the town station.

The rain held off until we were almost to the car. We piled in and Donatella drove us to San Martino where the Ciastel di Tor houses the Ladin Museum. Surrounded by mountains the Ladin culture has survived for centuries. Ladin language is taught in the schools and there is a great sense of national pride among the Ladin population. By the time we arrived at the museum the rain was coming down hard and the ground was soggy.

Inside we found some very modern Ladin woodcarvings.

Ciastel di Tor

A typical cooking hearth from the past.

Here is the only Edelweiss I ever saw, one made of silver in a traditional jewelry style.

Wooden toy making.

Traditional painting of chests and wardrobes.

Back once more in Colfosco we said our goodbyes to the lovely Donatella, since Marion would take over as guide for the remainder of the hike.

Changeable Weather in Luzern, Switzerland

The Chapel Bridge. This is a famous landmark with the water tower, a remnant of the old fortification of the city. This covered bridge has old triangle shaped paintings under the roof. They are irreplaceable, but a few years back, the bridge caught fire and many were destroyed. There are signs all over warning that there is no smoking on the bridge. The swan population in Luzern in huge. And the sky is clear. It didn’t stay that way.

Looking across the Rathaussteg named after that large brown building on the right, the town hall.

Looking back toward the other side of the Reuss River.

The oldest part of Luzern is a pedestrian only zone, and the poet Wolfgang von Goethe stayed here in 1779.

You know you are in Switzerland when you see store windows like this.

I was on a mission to see the Lion of Lucerne. This sculpture commemorates the Swiss mercenaries who died in Paris during the French Revolution. Missouri author Mark Twain was moved by this sculpture describing it as the most sorrowful. It is a quiet and holy place, disturbed when the busloads  of tourists descend and make silly poses in front of it. My mother always loved Luzern and I am here partly because of her. I feel she is near and with me as I walk up and down the hills and through the narrow streets.

I was hoping to see mountains in Switzerland, but it might not happen. Here is Mount Pilatus above Luzern. You can see that it is enveloped in clouds and fog.

The Chapel Bridge again from another angle and later in the day when the rains started up again.

One of the extant bridge paintings…

And some that burned up.

 

Not sure of my agenda tomorrow. I was going to go up a mountain, but the weather is not cooperating.

 

Regen und Rest

Rain and rest. We began the day with big plans, but the weather had other ideas. In the morning we drove along the Seerhein, the Rhein River as it flows from the Bodensee into the Untersee to the west. There was light mist or rain as we pulled into Gottlieb, Switzerland. This is a beautiful historically restored area as you can see from the window and the side of the building. I didn’t realize that I had been here before. See two views of this building, one taken today, and one in 1971. You will notice many more cars on the sunny day.

 

 

Here by the Untersee Hannes and Dorothee are standing near very high water. The frequent rains have made the lakes swell in size.

 

The rains have also been extremely kind to the plants and flowers, especially the roses, which are currently in full bloom.

When the weather is bad, it is a good time to visit old churches to stay inside. Here is the interior of a chapel on the residence of Napoleon’s nephew, who came to live in Ermatingen, Switzerland, canton of Thurgau.

Next we drove over the dam lined with ancient poplars to the island of Reichenau in the Untersee.

Here was the ancient church of St. Georg, who fought the dragon. This church was closed to preserve the paintings on the walls.

We did, however, visit the old monastery on the island, and we could enter here. A very beautiful church interior.

The painted arches drew my attention because they resemble so closely the painted arches in the mosque in Cordoba, Spain.

A crypt cover for one of the previous bishops.

A small side altar.

Outside the stone pavement was wet from the persistent rain.

Nearby we stopped to buy fish, and here was a fisherman hard at work on a dreary day.

 

Then we gave up on our exploration to return home, where we spent the afternoon talking about our family tree, sharing old photos, and taking a blessed nap. I’m still fighting jetlag.

Camera Play in Forest Park

With six days to go till take off, I decided to spend a while working the new camera today. I returned to Forest Park stopping at two sites. The first was a place I loved to visit as a small girl. I always loved the waterfall. It had fallen into disrepair, but was cleaned up and renovated in 2002. A short drive brought me to the Missouri History Museum with its new wing.

A statue of Thomas Jefferson gazes northward in the Atrium.

Arches and lights at the Missouri History Museum.

Thomas Jefferson again.

Lucky Lindy’s plane that flew over the Atlantic. I’m glad I’ll be traveling SwissAir.

The Geology of the Dolomites

The Geology of the Dolomites

I was going to write my own condensed geological history of the Dolomites, but then I found this website which gives a complete description. They started as seas and then became mountains.

“So, when we walk on these most majestic of mountains, we should take a moment to pause, from time to time, and just ponder on the fact that we are treading on a living landscape which breathes, moves and changes all the time – and one that guards within itself the key to better comprehend the planet we are living in.”

Day 6: Tre Cime di Lavaredo

As we travel from west to east in our hike, the last part of our hike brings us into the most famous and well-traveled area of the Dolomites. This formation, also known as Drei Zinnen auf Deutsch, is probably the most popular destination for several reasons. First , it is unique because these spires are singles. They stand alone in an area separate from other peaks. They are very accessible by vehicle with even a large parking lot nearby. They are a draw for hardy mountaineers who want to tackle climbing their sheer faces, and since they are so accessible we less adventurous folk can watch their maneuvers up close.

Here is a video of experienced mountain climbers traversing the face of one of the towers. You would never find me attempting this.
Tre Cime used to form the boundary between Austria and Italy, but after the First World War the border was pushed northward. Now these towers separate two Italian states, Belluno and South Tyrol. Heavy fighting occurred here during World War I, and the remains of encampments, tools and barbed wire are scattered throughout the area.

A Gem

Here is a great little hiking guide published by Cicerone. It gives a background about the Dolomite mountains: its geology, flora and fauna. The detailed walks with photos are very helpful in planning for your hikes. Even though I am using a hiking tour company, I find this book full of useful information.

Day 5: Lagazuoi and World War I

When I first contemplated a trip to the Dolomites, I visited websites and purchased a book of hikes to familiarize myself with the area. One thing that popped out at me was this top-of-the-world place named Lagazuoi. I yearned to go there, but I realized that I would likely have to be a seasoned alpinist, a rugged mountain climber. To my surprise I learned that an aerial tramway can take you to this pinnacle outlook. Almost unbelievable. In fact, on Day 5 this is our first destination. Weather allowing we will look out on a panorama of the Dolomites, where on clear days you can see all the way south to Venice. Lagazuoi…it sounds like Shangri-La to me. There is a well-known inn there, Rifugio Lagazuoi. It has a wide terrace with this incomparable view.

And more…

Lagazuoi on the left from a neighboring peak.

Marmolada from Refugio Lagazuoi.

A spectacular geography and geology.

It doesn’t get any better than this for me, although you would never find me standing on the edge of that prominence.

At Lagazuoi you will find the remains of encampments, utensils, tunnels (long tunnels), barbed wire, and gravesites left from battles fought during World War I. The Austrians commanded the summit of Lagazuoi and the Italians carved out tunnels to achieve control. The soldiers remained there for four long years living and fighting in intolerable conditions.

Another great Dolomite website

Another great Dolomite website

A nicely organized and visually appealing website about the magnificent and majestic Dolomites of northern Italy.