Day 3 & 4 Verona and the Dolomites
Adrian is up early keeping the bus looking sharp.
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
On Tuesday morning after breakfast, our bus was waiting to take us to Verona for a day trip before heading up to the Dolomites. Our driver Adrian was a sweet young man from Transylvania who was fluent in both English and Italian. He had been a driver for over 8 years and we soon learned we were in safe with him at the wheel. The bus was a large and comfortable Alterini tour bus equipped with wifi. There was also a supply of water and several kinds of soda available for purchase, and a bowl of candy, available to all. Lisa sat in front across from Adrian and the rest of us would take turns occupying the front seat directly behind him. We typically sat within the first few rows where we enjoyed hearing Adrian and Lisa conversing in Italian.
Pasta and wine for lunch. Does it get any better than this?
Our guide Lisa grew up in the Pacific Northwest. In the 90s she met and married an Italian man and has lived in Italy with her husband and two children ever since.
“When I first heard that our guide was an American, I’ll admit I was a little disappointed. I was hoping for someone with a more intimate knowledge of what it was to be Italian. I would come to very much appreciate Lisa’s personal experience as a bridge between our cultures.”-K
During the bus trips she would give us glimpses into life in Italy through her stories. Her knowledge of both cultures allowed her to get what it was like as an American in Italy and how this beautiful country differed from our own. We learned about the culture, language, history, education, health care and politics as we traveled from one destination to another. A great way to pass the time!. We looked forward to our bus info sessions as much as any part of the trip.
Beautiful marble floor mosaic in the church Sant’ Anastasia
Verona
As we arrived in Verona we stopped to pick up our local guide, Valeria. Also an archaeologist, Valeria gave us a wonderful tour of her town. Roman ruins were scattered here and there, old alongside even older. As a group we visited the lovely Gothic church of Sant’ Anastasia. The floors were a pattern of pink, black and white marble in designs from simple to complex. . Before departing for lunch on our own, we were given maps and Valeria highlighted some of the other attractions that were available including the Verona Arena. Lisa let us know when and where to meet for the walk back to the bus. While the arena looked intriguing, we knew we were going to see the Roman Colosseum. Our stomachs ruled out and we stopped in a lovely outdoor cafe in Piazza Dante for a lunch consisting of pasta and wine.
With a short time left to explore, we poked around one of the extensive outdoor markets, each bursting with fresh produce, dried fruit, many souvenirs, leather goods and clothing to buy.
White snow, blue skies and crisp fall air.
Onward to Compatsch
We met at the agreed time and walked back to the bus. As we drove, the scenery really changed. We passed apple orchards and watched the lovely stucco buildings change to a crisper style, eventually looking like Austrian chalets. During our ride, Lisa shared that Germanic values and language are more prevalent in the Dolomites. Now we could see the Alps and the Dolomites, already with snow-covered areas, rising around us. Sharp and craggy; they showed the massive upheavals that made them. Eons ago, the area had been under a sea that left only small islands of land uncovered….
As we climbed in elevation, the road became narrow and winding. Adrian’s ability to maneuver the large bus around the many hairpin turns with ease was comforting. He was a real pro. We were in the front seat for this part of the trip and closed our eyes more than once. (Just for a moment though. There was too much beauty to see!) We were so grateful for his skill and experience!
Sunset at Hotel Seelaus
We arrived at the Hotel Seelaus as the sun was setting. Upon arrival several of us ran to a nearby hill to capture a couple of photos. The scenery was breathtaking even in the dim light.
Our suite was beautiful. (Each couple/person had a turn getting the best room or suite. This was ours!) We had two rooms, a bathroom with a bidet, sink and a jacuzzi tub, plus a separate room with a toilet and sink. After getting checked in and settled, we met downstairs in the bar for a getting to know each other session. Afterward, we were treated to a hearty multi course dinner. “I don’t think I have ever been so stuffed.” -K
Our hosts at Seelhaus were a wonderful young couple who dressed in traditional clothing. This area was so different from the Lake Como area. It almost felt like we had arrived in another country.
Lisa giving us an orientation to the area.
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
We awoke to a cold and sunny day. Our room included a small balcony, a great place to take in the clean crisp air and greet the morning. A hike was planned and Adrian was cleaning the bus to take us up the hill where we would get started. The temperature was in the 30s, much colder than where we had been just a day before.
We met downstairs to leave on our walk. It quickly became evident that the bus was not going to start. (He fixed it and later caught up with us on the walk.) We opted to go ahead and walk up to Compatsch rather than skip the hike. The altitude was high, so the air was thin but walking was very doable with short rests. Lisa handed out maps and pointed out places of interest for those who might want to explore on their own. One of the things we really liked about this tour was the combination of group activities and time on our own. There was no pressure to participate and the balance was perfect. About half the group, including us, ended up going on the hike.
Kerry’s new friend.
We started out walking together, but before long we were separated into several smaller groups. The walk was a great place to get to know some of our fellow travelers. A lovely morning of crisp air, beautiful landscapes and the company of friends unfolded. After the initial hill, the hike was mostly flat and fairly easily traversed. Lisa pointed out little ‘huts’ that dotted the landscape. Many served food and we stopped at one for lunch. The waitress spoke German and the menu was in German and Italian. We were thankful for Google Translate and Lisa’s and Adrian’s knowledge. We had bowls of hearty soup and shared a dessert of apple strudel. Some of the group decided to hike back but we opted to take a bus.
“We arrived back at the hotel in time to take a short rest. Maryann read a book while I took my laptop to the bar to post some photos online. Before long I was joined by a very friendly cat that decided being curled up next to me was THE place to be.”-K
We stopped at one of the huts for a hot lunch and a break.
That night, we all met in the bar before dinner for a get acquainted session. Afterward we had another gazillion course dinner. We sat with Kate and Andy and enjoyed getting to know them a bit. We hit it off and decided to spend some time together in Venice too. After dinner we packed. Lisa suggested that couples put what they would need into a single suitcase for Venice as everything had to be hauled in by boat and then on foot. We could leave the rest on the bus. That sounded like a great idea and we’d end up very thankful we did.
“Not wanting to let the jacuzzi go unused I opted to try it out. I obviously cannot be trusted around water jets. Apparently when I turned the jets on they were set to high. The water shot out like a cannon and I was so startled I practically jumped out and ran. It is a good thing there wasn’t a camera in the room. We both ended up in tears we were laughing so hard.”-K