A Walk into Town

Cortina…pedestrian walkway. The golden color of some of the buildings indicates a shift in culture from the greater Tyrolean influence in the towns to the west. This town feels more Italian, although there is certainly a mix of styles. The church tower has straight sloping sides rather than the onion-shaped variety in Tyrolean towns.

You would think after a long hike in the higher altitudes that I would have been ready for a rest, but I wanted to see Cortina, and I needed to find a bank to replenish my Euros. Directly behind the back lawn of my little hotel there was a bike/hiking trail (paved) that led into the downtown with a 10-minute walk. I went for a stroll.

I walked up the sloping lawn of the quaint Hotel Menardi (which I highly recommend).

Here I hopped onto the bike path. This path is a old rail line that has been transformed into a greenway. It goes for miles and miles in each direction. Speaking of rails, Cortina eliminated its trains and train station years ago. Public transportation to and from the city is only by bus.

I got an intimate view of people’s houses and yards as I walked along.

Before I hit the pedestrian zone there was a tiny little park with this small fountain.

For the first time on this trip I passed frescoed walls, so Italian.

I stopped in at the church where the organist was practicing. It was wonderful to hear the powerful sounds resounding through the church.

Several mountain bikers made their way home through the pedestrian zone late in the day.

Standing outside the Cooperativa, the big store in Cortina.

A colorful house, “Ciasa” (chyaza) is house in Ladin.

These banners represent the various allegiances of the people in this region. From Left to Right:

the flags of Veneto (state), Italy, the European Union, and the Ladin people.

Sun sets on the rooftops of Cortina.

On the way back to the hotel the surrounding mountains are lit with late afternoon Alpenglow.

So glad to be back for the night at my Cortina home, Hotel Menardi.

The Night before Takeoff

What does one do the night before embarking on a lengthy trip? Yes, I’ll be checking my lists and rearranging my packing, second guessing myself on what I will need. Will my suitcase hold all of that? But if my actor son is starring in a musical, I’ll be there with an entourage of friends sitting in the front row. I couldn’t be prouder of my son as he recreates Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch.

Day 4: Wildflowers Galore

“Edelweiss! Edelweiss! Every morning you greet me.”
I sincerely hope that Edelweiss will greet me on my hike through the Dolomites. It is elusive and grows far off the beaten path where people rarely go. If our group is to be lucky enough to discover the Edelweiss, it will likely be on Day 4 in the Natural Park of Fanes.
We start our day on the aerial tram ascending Col Rodella. From the heights we will have excellent views of the Sella group (weather cooperating), and from this vantage point we will get our first glimpses of the eastern peaks.
Views of the Sella group.

Sella hiking trails.

The hiking brochure suggests that the highlight of this day will be the wildflowers, the diverse array of wildflowers that grows in this region. Below are photos of indigenous plants..colorful, unique, and possibly Edelweiss. I’ll be on the lookout as we hike past grazing herds of sheep.

The systemic name for the Edelweiss is Leontopodium alpinum; it is a member of the sunflower family. Wikipedia describes it in this manner:

“The plant is unequally distributed and prefers rocky limestone places at about 1800–3000 m altitude. It is not toxic, and has been used traditionally in folk medicine as a remedy against abdominal and respiratory diseases. The dense hair appears to be an adaptation to high altitudes, protecting the plant from cold, aridity and ultraviolet radiation.^[2] As a scarce short-lived flower found in remote mountain areas, the plant has been used as a symbol for alpinism, for rugged beauty and purity associated with the Alps, and as a national symbol especially of Austria and of Switzerland.”

I think I must have lived a previous life in the Alps, because I never fail to experience an overpowering longing which brings a tear to my eye when I hear the beloved Rodgers and Hammerstein song bearing the flower’s name. Here is a clip of Christopher Plummer and Julie Andrews singing the song in the film The Sound of Music.

New Blog Link

New Blog Link

My new blog is Edge of the Forest. It will focus on more general topics that I like. Right now I’ve been collecting old songs from the 50’s in video.  Check it out.

Lucy Craig then…1971.

My old college friend and fabulous singer. Lucy began her career with the Early Music Quartet. Originating from Georgia she landed in Munich and never left. She has spent the majority of her career with the Bavarian State Opera. Here she is outside her apartment in 1971. I hope to reconnect with her this summer after many, many years.

The Happy Wanderer

This is going to be my theme song this summer. I love to go a-wandering along the mountain track. Valderi! Valdera! My knapsack on my back.  Hey!  Dolomites!  Here I come!

Barton Weber then…1972.

Barton on the bridge over the Isar River in Munich, Germany, his adopted home. My old college buddy spent his career as the orchestral pianist for the Bavarian Radio Orchestra. I hope to visit him this summer.