Italian Dolomites + Croatia

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Trip start
July 6, 2025
Italian Dolomites + Croatia Traveler
Venice!
July 7, 2025 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F
Well, like a previous trip, I wasn’t going to do this but once I get rolling realize it was not a bad way separate, remember and share the details of the trip. So i’m adding the first 4-5 footprints setting here at Fodara Velda mountain hut in the Dolomites and catching up. I got into Venice around noon and spent 2 nights, left at 6:40am the 3rd day. So without further ado here are some photos of my first day. I give you some of my thought on Venice on the next footprint.Read more
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Italian Dolomites + Croatia Traveler
Second day in Venice!
July 8, 2025 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 68 °F
Venice, what an amazing maze of a city!!
Thoroughly enjoyed my time there wondering around and trying to figure it all out. Dead ends, canals of all sizes and bridges, surprises around every corner. Got a vaporetto (water bus) pass today and it was useful to got from one side of the grand canal to the other and to get another view of the city. Also took it to the adjacent island of Murano which is known for glass art fabrication (blowing, etc)Read more
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Italian Dolomites + Croatia Traveler
To Cortina in the Dolomites
July 9, 2025 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 59 °F
It’s always a relief when you see your bus! I must say it’s one of my biggest trepidations, what if… something!!
But it arrived right on time 6:40am and I was in more of less the right place!
Arrived to Cortina about 4 hours later, a bit late as there was a huge landslide and the main mountain road was blocked. Wasn’t sure what to expect, didn’t expect so MANY construction cranes. Turners out Cortina and Milan at the home for the 2026 Winter Olympics!
Walked around a bit the first day. Had a nice hotel with a balcony.Read more
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Italian Dolomites + Croatia Traveler
Day 2 Cortina
July 10, 2025 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 55 °F
Took the 3 cable cars today to get to the top of whatever mountain that was (I don’t have internet as I sit here and try to get you up to date so can’t search it.) the first one passed over the Luge connection for the Olympics, can’t wait to watch it and say “I saw that!” Walked around each level and had a great day!Read more
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Italian Dolomites + Croatia Traveler
Lets start trekking!!
July 11, 2025 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 50 °F
Got a 7:30am pick up and started hiking around 8:30 at Lago de Bràies heading to Fodara Velda hut where I will spend 2 nights (and where am now, as I have been catching you up) I don’t have the stats with me as I write this. But it was tough!! A LONG up. And the trail was everything that is was not possible to train for in northern Indiana; loose scree, rocks, and steps.
Stoped at Bella hut along the way for lunch, from there all the hard ups were done. Lost my iPods at one point, when I picked up my phone and it said they were separated for
me by around .8 miles I decided I didn’t have enough left in me to go back, try to find them and continue on. (More on that tomorrow) I make it to Fodara Velda around 2:30 and had a glass of win, an ibuprofen (2) a rest wondered around. Felt pretty good by evening and had a great meal!!Read more
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Italian Dolomites + Croatia Traveler
Day 2 at Vodara Velda
July 12, 2025 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 43 °F
So we are now up to date (yea!!) it is today, here and now, as I catch you all up!! Woke up feeling great. Decided to do the easy day hike (once again I don’t have the stats with me as I sit here drinking an aporol spritz, really didnt think I would make it this far but here we are!!
Early on in he hike I checked Find my again and saw that my iPods had moved from were I lost them to Senes hut!! Best case someone turned them in, worst case someone had them but would leave with them. Continued on this great and relatively easy hike (incline but no steps!) stopped several time to toot on my harmonica. As I got close to being down and loosing cell signal I checked find my again and they were still at the hut, it was only 40 min walk away so after a bit a rest and lunch (the main reason decided to do a short walk, saw the lunches coming out of the kitchen yesterday!!) decided to to go for the ‘find my iPods’ adventure! And got them! The person who left them had left but left the a nice tip at the bar. That will teach me to keep ahold of my shit 🤣
I had resigned myself to not listening to podcasts and actually kind of liked the idea, the news all sucks anyway so continuing on with than.
Life is good!
And here we are!
Until tomorrow
❤️
Addendum: and finally some photos from dinner. I didn’t mind eating alone, prefer it actually. Was reading a good book, one of the main characters died in Afghanistan during my meal. I wanted to cry.Read more
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Italian Dolomites + Croatia Traveler
To Rifuio Fanes
July 13, 2025 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 52 °F
Started off around 8:00 with a a misty rain, a bit up then hard down (then back up, of course) about a 4 hr walk. Not a lot of sun all day. Got in just before noon and had a good lunch, dropped my bag off and explored some more.Read more
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Italian Dolomites + Croatia Traveler
To Rifugio Scotoni
July 14, 2025 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 54 °F
Had breakfast at 7:00. It was really misty with low fog/clouds. By 7:45 the sun had came out and burned it all away and it was a great day! A little afternoon shower after I got to my hut and now sunny again. I think maybe that is mountain normal?!? The thing today was a big climb up and down a saddle/pass, great views on either end, and then a bit of a down to the Refugio that I have to go back up tomorrow morning to start the trek

So I forgot to add earlier. When I got the ride to the Dolomite hike starting point the gentleman driving pointed out that the signes were in German and Italian. Before WW1 this was Austria and the borders got changed after the war and the German/Austrian heritage is strong. His father was here when it was Austria!Read more
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Italian Dolomites + Croatia Traveler
To Rifugio Scoiattoli
July 15, 2025 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 57 °F
A bright beautiful day! Up up up, then took the cable car down, then sideways, then the cable car up. Was feeling a weak, took a quick lay down and nap on a balcony that I thought was a closed for the season ski lift. It wasn’t but it was ok. Many WW1 trenches, tunnels, gun placements as I am very close to the Austrian border of Italy. Looking into this interesting person history’s bit more.Read more
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Italian Dolomites + Croatia Traveler
To Passo Staulanza
July 16, 2025 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F
There was some rain in the forecast and I knew it would be a long day (7 he) so I started right after breakfast at 7:30. I but of a difficult day but I’m definitely getting stronger! I need more mountains in my life to keep in shape!
It was an absolute stunning day as far as scenery, and the rain held off until well after I got in at 2:30.
I have a rest day here, which is great. There is a bit of a hike I can do tomorrow.Read more
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Italian Dolomites + Croatia Traveler
Rest day Passo Staulanza
July 17, 2025 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 63 °F
Saw this marvelous green saddle on the hike in and thought that would be a good easy hike for today, and it was (first photo, the second is looking back on yesterdays route) it was also rather windy and it was a good spot to soak up some sun and read. Then hiked down to a small farm with cheese and bought some for tomorrow, did some hand laundry, took a nap and that’s about it 😊Read more
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Italian Dolomites + Croatia Traveler
To Rifugio Tissi
July 18, 2025 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 61 °F
A pretty tough day, up, lots of exposed rock trails. Stopped at a refugeo along the way for coffee and a nice slice of ricotta pie with a blackberry topping I think. Pushed really hard on the last up and really got my heart pumping. I felt really good when I got there. I still feel the need to push a bit when staying in a shared room to try to get a bottom bunk and a plug outlet if possible. The refugeo was perched high on a cliff. Got in around 12:30 claimed my spot and hung out on the cliff. Played my harmonica a bit. Have not been doing much of that. Waiting for dinner now and think I’ll sleep well tonight… oh yea, and when I got here had 2 big beers and potato, speck, and eggs!! (Speck is something between ham and bacon) I don’t think the photos quite did justice to the drop off behind the Rifugio, it’s more appreciated from the farther shots shots of the refugeoRead more
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Italian Dolomites + Croatia Traveler
To Rifugio Bruto Carestiato
July 19, 2025 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 63 °F
Woke up around 2:00am Something furry crawling around my head, scared the crap out of me for a moment. I let him out, went to the bathroom. He showed back up through the window again a round 6:00 which was great, we hung out until 6:30 breakfast! Wish I’d have gotten a photo of him! My 2 other roommates
Left super early. Today was the longest and very had, stopped for a coffee break about 2 hrs in. Lots of open rocks. At on point I got a bit turned around, there was a rock fall and I had lost the trail and drifted down the dive further than I should have. Fortunately I say someone on the trail above me. Other than that a sunny day and a good place with a great view! The next to last night on the trail.Read more
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Italian Dolomites + Croatia Traveler
To Malaga Prampèr
July 20, 2025 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 66 °F
Was expecting an easier day but it really wasn’t. Pretty hard climbing, rocks, scree. Had lunch at a mt farm (nothing there) and stayed at a agroturismo. Done tomorrow with the hike. I’m sure I will miss it, but got to say, I’m ready for a break.Read more
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Italian Dolomites + Croatia Traveler
To Forno di Zoldo
July 21, 2025 in Italy ⋅ 🌧 66 °F
An easy 2 hr walk downhill into town. Sent several hours switching gears and getting ready for the next phase of the trip, Took a nap, wondered around a bit and had a nice pizza for dinner.
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Italian Dolomites + Croatia Traveler
To Rovinj for RnR
July 22, 2025 in Croatia ⋅ ☀️ 81 °F
8:00am pick up from the hotel and a ride to the Venice airport. Then a GoOpti shuttle a parking lot near my guest house ( no vehicles allowed in the old city.)
… A glorious 4 nights here, no daily updates, but amazing! I really want to return and explore this area some more!Read more
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Italian Dolomites + Croatia Traveler
One more night in Venice, then home
July 26, 2025 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 77 °F
Back to Venice battled the people and visited San Marco Basilica and square (eh, I guess I’m jaded) wondered around, had a great meal. Now on the 6:50a bus to the airport and home! It time.
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Trip end
July 27, 2025